In an ongoing investigation, four teenagers from North Rhine-Westphalia are suspected of planning an Islamist terrorist attack. The teenagers have had arrest warrants issued against them, with the latest information being provided by Benjamin Jendro, spokesperson for the Police Union Berlin, on WELT TV. NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul expressed frustration at the situation, as yet another group of minors has been implicated in a potential terrorist plot.
The teenagers in question were allegedly plotting attacks on churches, synagogues, and police stations using knives, homemade explosives, and firearms. While the targets were said to be initially in Dortmund, Düsseldorf, and Cologne, there were no concrete plans regarding the timing or location of the attacks. There is no indication that the plans were guided by an overseas instructor affiliated with the Islamic State (IS). The suspects were identified through monitoring of online chats by the police State Security in Hagen, with two girls planning to travel to Syria to join the IS terror group.
Further investigation led to the identification of two more teenagers involved in the chats, one from Lippstadt in North Rhine-Westphalia and another from the Esslingen district in Baden-Württemberg. The arrest warrants against the four teenagers stemmed from conversations discussing potential attacks in their local areas. One of the girls, Albina H., was living with her parents in a quiet suburb in Iserlohn, while the father of another suspect, Wiam S., had previously come under scrutiny for suspected fundraising for IS and possession of a firearm during a vehicle check several years ago.
Herbert Reul praised the authorities for acting swiftly from the initial tip to the final arrests, only taking five days. While he was relieved that the potential terror plots were disrupted, he expressed concern over the involvement of minors in such activities. The President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, had previously warned about the increasing trend of younger individuals becoming involved in violent extremism, highlighting the need for a collaborative effort to address the issue.
This incident is not isolated, as similar cases involving teenagers planning terrorist acts have been reported in the past. In November of the previous year, two teenagers from North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg were arrested for planning an attack on a Christmas market in Leverkusen. The rise of young extremists who piece together their ideologies from online sources poses a challenge for law enforcement agencies, prompting the need for vigilance and cooperation to prevent such incidents in the future. The WELT Investigative Team encourages individuals to come forward with any information regarding similar activities, ensuring confidentiality.
