Germany arrests Syrian national over plot to kill soldiers

MUNICH – A 27-year-old Syrian national suspected of radical Islamist views has been arrested over a plot to kill German soldiers with machetes in the Bavarian town of Hof, prosecutors said on Sept 13.

The accused obtained two machetes approximately 40cm long.

He planned to attack Bundeswehr soldiers in Hof, who were spending their lunch break there, and to kill as many of them as possible, a statement said.

“With the act, the accused wanted to attract attention and create a feeling of uncertainty among the population,” it added. 

Germany is tightening border controls after recent deadly knife attacks in which the suspects were asylum seekers.

The

Islamic State in Iraq and Syria group claimed responsibility

for a knife attack in the western city of Solingen that killed three people in August.

Immigration and security concerns have shot up the agenda ahead of the election in the state of Brandenburg, where the far-right Alternative for Germany is polling strongly. REUTERS