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Jaber al-Bakr: How Germany caught elusive Syrian 'bomb-maker' Jaber al-Bakr: How Germany caught elusive Syrian 'bomb-maker'
(35 minutes later)
An anti-terror alert that gripped Germany ended with the capture of a Syrian suspect - but only after he had slipped away from elite commandos.An anti-terror alert that gripped Germany ended with the capture of a Syrian suspect - but only after he had slipped away from elite commandos.
Syrian refugee Jaber al-Bakr, 22, is suspected of links with so-called Islamic State (IS). Police seized powerful explosives at the flat where he had been staying in Chemnitz, eastern Germany.Syrian refugee Jaber al-Bakr, 22, is suspected of links with so-called Islamic State (IS). Police seized powerful explosives at the flat where he had been staying in Chemnitz, eastern Germany.
There were fears that Mr Bakr may have been targeting an airport in Berlin.There were fears that Mr Bakr may have been targeting an airport in Berlin.
"The methods and behaviour of the suspect suggest an IS context," said Saxony State Police chief Joerg Michaelis."The methods and behaviour of the suspect suggest an IS context," said Saxony State Police chief Joerg Michaelis.
"It is reasonable to assume that an explosives belt was nearly ready, or had been prepared already," he said."It is reasonable to assume that an explosives belt was nearly ready, or had been prepared already," he said.
Late on Sunday night, anti-terror commandos from the SEK unit and a bomb squad rushed to a block of flats in Leipzig and captured Mr Bakr there at 00:42 (22:42 GMT).Late on Sunday night, anti-terror commandos from the SEK unit and a bomb squad rushed to a block of flats in Leipzig and captured Mr Bakr there at 00:42 (22:42 GMT).
He was in the apartment of a fellow Syrian, in the city's Paunsdorf district. Police swooped on the flat and found Mr Bakr tied up on the floor. They had received a call from the other Syrian, who had heard about the manhunt, investigators said.He was in the apartment of a fellow Syrian, in the city's Paunsdorf district. Police swooped on the flat and found Mr Bakr tied up on the floor. They had received a call from the other Syrian, who had heard about the manhunt, investigators said.
It is not clear how Mr Bakr was overpowered.It is not clear how Mr Bakr was overpowered.
He had approached the other Syrian at Leipzig's main railway station and asked him if he could sleep at his apartment, German media report.He had approached the other Syrian at Leipzig's main railway station and asked him if he could sleep at his apartment, German media report.
Mr Bakr, registered as a Syrian refugee in June 2015, is suspected of plotting a major terrorist attack in Germany.Mr Bakr, registered as a Syrian refugee in June 2015, is suspected of plotting a major terrorist attack in Germany.
He had entered Germany illegally in February 2015. According to his Syrian passport, he was born in a Damascus suburb in January 1994.He had entered Germany illegally in February 2015. According to his Syrian passport, he was born in a Damascus suburb in January 1994.
The German news website Der Spiegel says German intelligence had reports last week that he might be planning such an attack, and they alerted police in the eastern state of Saxony.The German news website Der Spiegel says German intelligence had reports last week that he might be planning such an attack, and they alerted police in the eastern state of Saxony.
The intelligence service found out on Thursday that he had used the internet to get bomb-making instructions and had obtained explosives.The intelligence service found out on Thursday that he had used the internet to get bomb-making instructions and had obtained explosives.
On Friday anti-terror police began watching a flat in a run-down residential area of Chemnitz, called Fritz Heckert. They were preparing to storm it when Mr Bakr managed to slip away at 07:04 on Saturday morning.On Friday anti-terror police began watching a flat in a run-down residential area of Chemnitz, called Fritz Heckert. They were preparing to storm it when Mr Bakr managed to slip away at 07:04 on Saturday morning.
Defending their actions, police chief Michaelis said they "were not certain if that person was al-Bakr. Defending their actions, police chief Michaelis said they "were not certain if that person was Bakr.
"He was told to stop, but he then ran off, police fired a warning shot, but they could not shoot at him because there were other people around."He was told to stop, but he then ran off, police fired a warning shot, but they could not shoot at him because there were other people around.
"At dawn the police were visible - so they had to get into the flat as soon as possible," he said. People were evacuated from neighbouring flats and police used explosives to get in quickly, he said."At dawn the police were visible - so they had to get into the flat as soon as possible," he said. People were evacuated from neighbouring flats and police used explosives to get in quickly, he said.
A witness in the block of flats, Stefan Breitsprecher, told the BBC: "I saw police officers with ladders... and then there was a loud bang, so heavy that the eighth floor was vibrating."A witness in the block of flats, Stefan Breitsprecher, told the BBC: "I saw police officers with ladders... and then there was a loud bang, so heavy that the eighth floor was vibrating."
In the Chemnitz apartment, police found at least 400g of "highly volatile" explosives. Later they detonated the explosives safely in the ground nearby.In the Chemnitz apartment, police found at least 400g of "highly volatile" explosives. Later they detonated the explosives safely in the ground nearby.
Mr Michaelis said the substance appeared to be TATP, a home-made explosive used in the deadly jihadist attacks in Paris last year and Brussels in March.
During a nationwide manhunt, police arrested three suspects at Chemnitz railway station on Saturday. One of them remains in custody - the man who was renting the apartment.During a nationwide manhunt, police arrested three suspects at Chemnitz railway station on Saturday. One of them remains in custody - the man who was renting the apartment.
Extra security checks were mounted at railway stations and airports.Extra security checks were mounted at railway stations and airports.
The German broadcaster ARD says German authorities got their first tip-off about Mr Bakr from foreign intelligence sources about two weeks ago.The German broadcaster ARD says German authorities got their first tip-off about Mr Bakr from foreign intelligence sources about two weeks ago.
The hunt led to Leipzig's Paunsdorf district, some 68km (42 miles) from Chemnitz, on Sunday night.The hunt led to Leipzig's Paunsdorf district, some 68km (42 miles) from Chemnitz, on Sunday night.
Germany's Tag24.de news website says the SEK commandos and bomb squad were supported by a helicopter, which used a searchlight to illuminate the area.Germany's Tag24.de news website says the SEK commandos and bomb squad were supported by a helicopter, which used a searchlight to illuminate the area.
"Tired but overjoyed: we captured the terror suspect last night in Leipzig," the police said in a tweet."Tired but overjoyed: we captured the terror suspect last night in Leipzig," the police said in a tweet.
The so-called Islamic State said it had inspired two terror attacks in Bavaria, southern Germany, in July.The so-called Islamic State said it had inspired two terror attacks in Bavaria, southern Germany, in July.
A Syrian man wounded 15 people when he blew himself up at a music festival in the town of Ansbach. A few days earlier, a teenager attacked passengers on a train with an axe, wounding five people.A Syrian man wounded 15 people when he blew himself up at a music festival in the town of Ansbach. A few days earlier, a teenager attacked passengers on a train with an axe, wounding five people.