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| German police capture Syrian man suspected of planning bomb attack | German police capture Syrian man suspected of planning bomb attack |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| German police have detained a 22-year-old Syrian man who was the subject of a nationwide hunt and is believed to have been preparing a bomb attack. | German police have detained a 22-year-old Syrian man who was the subject of a nationwide hunt and is believed to have been preparing a bomb attack. |
| Jaber Albakr was detained overnight in the eastern city of Leipzig, police in the eastern state of Saxony tweeted early on Monday. | Jaber Albakr was detained overnight in the eastern city of Leipzig, police in the eastern state of Saxony tweeted early on Monday. |
| Albakr, from the Damascus area of Syria, escaped from authorities on Saturday during a raid of his apartment in nearby Chemnitz. Investigators said they found “several hundred grammes” of a volatile explosive hidden in the apartment, enough to cause significant damage. | Albakr, from the Damascus area of Syria, escaped from authorities on Saturday during a raid of his apartment in nearby Chemnitz. Investigators said they found “several hundred grammes” of a volatile explosive hidden in the apartment, enough to cause significant damage. |
| The weekend raid came after Saxony police were told by Germany’s domestic intelligence service that Albakr may be planning an attack. He had been on the agency’s radar, but police said over the weekend that it was not clear for how long. | The weekend raid came after Saxony police were told by Germany’s domestic intelligence service that Albakr may be planning an attack. He had been on the agency’s radar, but police said over the weekend that it was not clear for how long. |
| On Saturday morning, Albakr was seen leaving his apartment building as police prepared to raid it. Police fired a warning shot but were unable to stop him. | On Saturday morning, Albakr was seen leaving his apartment building as police prepared to raid it. Police fired a warning shot but were unable to stop him. |
| Experts are trying to determine whether the explosives they found in the apartment were the same ones used in the November attacks in Paris and the ones in Brussels in March. The explosives used in those attacks are known as TATP, or triacetone triperoxide. | |
| TATP has been used in many attacks over the years, and is favoured by violent extremists because it is fairly easy to make and detonate. | |
| The explosives were destroyed on Saturday in a controlled detonation by bomb squad experts in a pit dug outside the five-storey apartment building because they were considered too dangerous to transport. | The explosives were destroyed on Saturday in a controlled detonation by bomb squad experts in a pit dug outside the five-storey apartment building because they were considered too dangerous to transport. |
| German media have said Albakr is believed to be connected to Islamic extremist groups, but Saxony police have not commented on his possible motive or the bomb plot’s target. | German media have said Albakr is believed to be connected to Islamic extremist groups, but Saxony police have not commented on his possible motive or the bomb plot’s target. |
| Germany has been on edge since two attacks this summer claimed by Islamic State in which many people were injured and both assailants died. Two other attacks unrelated to Islamic extremism, including a deadly mall shooting in Munich, have also contributed to fears. | Germany has been on edge since two attacks this summer claimed by Islamic State in which many people were injured and both assailants died. Two other attacks unrelated to Islamic extremism, including a deadly mall shooting in Munich, have also contributed to fears. |
| During the manhunt, federal police had increased security around the country, particularly around “critical infrastructure” such as train stations and airports. | During the manhunt, federal police had increased security around the country, particularly around “critical infrastructure” such as train stations and airports. |