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German terror suspect Jaber al-Bakr's jail death a scandal, says lawyer German terror suspect Jaber al-Bakr's jail death a scandal, says lawyer
(about 1 hour later)
The death in a prison cell of a Syrian refugee suspected of planning a bomb attack in Germany is a judicial scandal, his lawyer has said.The death in a prison cell of a Syrian refugee suspected of planning a bomb attack in Germany is a judicial scandal, his lawyer has said.
Jaber al-Bakr, 22, hanged himself in a jail in Leipzig with his shirt and the government has demanded an immediate inquiry. Jaber al-Bakr, 22, strangled himself in a jail in Leipzig with his shirt and the government has demanded an immediate inquiry.
His lawyer said the prison was aware Bakr was a suicide risk after he was captured on Monday.His lawyer said the prison was aware Bakr was a suicide risk after he was captured on Monday.
However, regional authorities said he had not been considered an acute risk.However, regional authorities said he had not been considered an acute risk.
Sebastian Gemkow, justice minister in the eastern state of Saxony, told reporters a psychological assessment of the prisoner had been made and safety measures had been taken. "It shouldn't have happened, but it did," he said. Jaber al-Bakr was detained on Monday on suspicion of plotting to bomb an airport in Berlin, possibly in the coming days.
'How could this happen?' When police raided his flat in the eastern city of Chemnitz early on Saturday, they found 1.5kg of TATP, a home-made explosive used in the deadly jihadist attacks in Paris last year and in Brussels last March.
Bakr's defence lawyer, Alexander Huebner, insisted the suspect had already broken light bulbs and tampered with power sockets. What went wrong at the jail?
"How could this happen?" he asked, pointing out that Bakr had been refusing food and drink. "He must have been the best-guarded prisoner in Germany," the lawyer said. Sebastian Gemkow, justice minister in the eastern state of Saxony, told reporters a psychological assessment of the prisoner had been made and safety measures had been taken. And the head of the prison described Bakr during the day as "calm and on an even keel".
Prison officials rejected reports that Bakr was only being checked on an hourly basis, insisting he had top-level supervision, involving 15-minute intervals. His body was found at 19:45 (17:45 GMT) on Wednesday evening during a regular check, they said. "It shouldn't have happened, but it did," the justice minister said, adding that he took responsibility for the suicide but would not resign.
There was disbelief in Germany's federal government. "What on earth's going on?" tweeted family affairs minister Manuela Schwesig. Prison officials rejected reports that Bakr was only being checked on an hourly basis.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere demanded a "rapid and comprehensive inquiry". He told German TV that Bakr's death in jail had made the task of investigating an alleged bomb plot on a Berlin airport much harder. Originally, he was given top-level supervision, involving 15-minute intervals, but a panel of experts agreed hours before he died, to lower the regular checks to every 30 minutes.
There is no video monitoring of prisoners held in remand cells in Saxony, said prison governor Rolf Jacob. A guard stationed outside the cell door would have been more appropriate, he acknowledged.
Jabr al-Bakr's body was found at 19:45 (17:45 GMT) on Wednesday evening 15 minutes after a regular check, the prison governor said. Attempts to resuscitate him failed.
Defence lawyer Alexander Huebner was adamant his client was a risk as he had already broken light bulbs and tampered with power sockets. He had also been refusing food and drink.
The prison governor said later that the damage had been assessed as vandalism rather than an indication of potential suicide.
"How could this happen?" Mr Huebner asked. "He must have been the best-guarded prisoner in Germany."
How serious is the blow to German intelligence?
German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere demanded a "rapid and comprehensive inquiry".
He told German TV that Bakr's death had made the task of investigating the possible Berlin airport bomb plot much harder.
Centre-right CDU politician Wolfgang Bosbach said it was a tragedy to lose such an important source of intelligence.Centre-right CDU politician Wolfgang Bosbach said it was a tragedy to lose such an important source of intelligence.
The authorities in the eastern state of Saxony were due to give an initial briefing later on Thursday.
Leading centre-left SPD politician Burkhard Lischka blamed the Saxony authorities for the death in custody and said years of underfunding were to blame.Leading centre-left SPD politician Burkhard Lischka blamed the Saxony authorities for the death in custody and said years of underfunding were to blame.
Home-made explosive Family Affairs Minister Manuela Schwesig simply tweeted: "What on earth's going on?"
Jaber al-Bakr was granted asylum after coming to Germany in February 2015. German police had been watching him for months on suspicion of being linked to jihadist group Islamic State, but failed to arrest him when they raided his flat on Saturday. Who was Jaber al-Bakr?
He was turned over to police on Monday by three other Syrian refugees after being on the run for two days. Granted asylum last year after coming to Germany in February 2015, he had been under surveillance for months on suspicion of being linked to jihadist group Islamic State.
Call to reward Syrian refugees who arrested fugitive But when police raided his flat early on Saturday, he escaped. Police fired a warning shot but were wary of harming neighbours.
After a two-day manhunt Bakr made his way to Leipzig, where he asked three Syrian asylum seekers for help.
The three told police they had heard about the manhunt and tied him up while one of them knelt on him. One of the men took a photo of the captive to a police station and he was detained in the early hours of Monday.
Widely hailed as heroes in Germany, the three men were apparently implicated by Bakr in the bomb plot, German media reported, citing security officials in Leipzig.Widely hailed as heroes in Germany, the three men were apparently implicated by Bakr in the bomb plot, German media reported, citing security officials in Leipzig.
When police raided his flat in the eastern city of Chemnitz early on Saturday, they found 1.5kg of TATP, a home-made explosive used in the deadly jihadist attacks in Paris last year and in Brussels last March. The explosives were "extremely dangerous", police said. Call to reward Syrian refugees who arrested fugitive
But Bakr managed to slip the net, and made his way to Leipzig, where he asked the Syrians for help.
The three told police they had heard about the manhunt and tied him up while one of them knelt on him.
They alerted police who finally managed to arrest him.