Authorities in Germany have arrested four teenagers suspected of planning an Islamic extremist attack. The suspects include two 15-year-old girls, a 16-year-old girl, and a 15-year-old boy from different parts of the western North Rhine-Westphalia state, Germany's most populous region.
The arrests were made after warrants were issued over the Easter weekend by prosecutors in the city of Duesseldorf. A fourth suspect, a 16-year-old boy, was also arrested in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg.
The three teenagers detained in western Germany are believed to have expressed their willingness to carry out an 'Islamist-motivated terror attack' and were allegedly planning such an act. The exact details of their plans have not been disclosed due to the suspects' young age and the ongoing nature of the investigation.
The suspects are currently in detention pending potential charges related to declaring their intent to commit murder and manslaughter, as well as preparing a serious act of violence.
The investigation was initiated following suspicions that the 16-year-old girl intended to travel abroad to join the Islamic State group. Conversations on her cellphone revealed discussions about potential attacks in cities like Dortmund, Duesseldorf, and Cologne, as well as targeting churches and synagogues in her hometown of Iserlohn. These conversations led authorities to the other suspects.
According to security sources, the teenagers had not yet formulated a specific plan regarding the timing and location of the attack.
