Three teenagers from North Rhine-Westphalia have been arrested on suspicion of planning an Islamist attack. The Düsseldorf District Court issued warrants for the suspects, who are 15 and 16 years old. They are believed to have glorified the Islamic State (IS) and planned a terrorist attack motivated by Islamism. The youth discussed attacking cities such as Dortmund, Düsseldorf, and Cologne using knives and Molotov cocktails on people in churches or police stations. The suspects include a 15-year-old from Düsseldorf, a 15-year-old from the Soest district, and a 16-year-old from the Märkischer Kreis.
Security sources revealed that the teenagers formed a chat group where they discussed their plans, although no specific target or time had been determined. Authorities conducted searches and found a machete and a dagger in Düsseldorf, but no evidence of bomb-making materials was discovered. The father of the Düsseldorf suspect had previously collected donations for the IS. The warrants were issued over the Easter weekend, with the State Security Service in Hagen uncovering the teenagers’ activities. The investigators did not disclose how they identified the suspects, stating that foreign intelligence services were not involved this time.
In addition to the three teenagers in North Rhine-Westphalia, a 16-year-old from Baden-Württemberg is also in custody on terrorism charges. He was arrested on April 1 and is being investigated for allegedly preparing a serious act of violence against the state. The charges are linked to the case in North Rhine-Westphalia, where two 15 and 16-year-olds were apprehended in November for planning a Christmas market attack with a vehicle. They were detained in NRW and Brandenburg, but no fuel was discovered during searches. The General Prosecutor’s Office stated that they had a well-developed plan at the time, despite not finding any materials.
The investigation in North Rhine-Westphalia is ongoing, with the suspects remaining in custody. Authorities have not released further details about the case. The teenagers’ radicalization and planning highlight the ongoing threat of terrorism in Germany, particularly among younger individuals. The arrests have raised concerns about the influence of extremist ideologies on vulnerable youth, prompting law enforcement to monitor and intervene when necessary. The latest incidents add to the growing number of cases involving young individuals attracted to Islamist extremism, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and preventive measures to combat terrorism in the country.
