ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 64

search

German police said to foil an attempted school ‘Nazi attack’ by teenager

‘Police prevented a nightmare,” says state minister Herbert Reul, noting that right-wing extremist, antisemitic and anti-Muslim materials were found at suspect’s home

Illustrative: Police vehicles are parked on the grounds of Heidelberg University in Heidelberg, Germany, January 24, 2022. (R.Priebe/Pr-Video/dpa via AP)
Illustrative: Police vehicles are parked on the grounds of Heidelberg University in Heidelberg, Germany, January 24, 2022. (R.Priebe/Pr-Video/dpa via AP)

German investigators said Thursday that they foiled a “Nazi terror attack” in a school, after arresting a 16-year-old suspect.

An overnight search of the suspect’s apartment yielded bomb-making materials and large amounts of right-wing extremist, antisemitic and anti-Muslim writings in the teen’s possession, North Rhine-Westphalia state minister Herbert Reul told a press conference. Essen police said they also found spears and other sharp weapons.

“The police prevented a nightmare,” Reul told reporters.

Reul said officers did not find any detonators at the teen’s apartment, noting that the materials found were “functional but not yet ready for use.”

The suspect was allegedly planning to target the Don-Bosco-Gymnasium, the school he currently attends, or another local school he previously attended, the Realschule am Schloss Borbeck, police said.

Both schools were closed Thursday because of the police operations. A statement on the Don-Bosco-Gymnasium’s website Thursday morning said they had “received indications that a crime was being planned at the school.”

Illustrative: Policemen stand guard in front of the Hohe Weide synagogue in Hamburg, northern Germany, on October 5, 2020 (MORRIS MAC MATZEN / AFP)

While both schools are not explicitly Jewish, the Nazi propaganda found at the teen’s apartment convinced investigators that the motive for a potential attack would have been “Nazi in nature.”

Reul said Thursday afternoon that thus far, no bombs or bomb-related materials had been found at the schools.

The suspect is believed to be suffering from a psychiatric disorder with suicidal tendencies, added Reul, noting that notes had been found that could “be read as an urgent cry for help by a desperate young man.”

“All Democrats have a common task to fight against racism, brutalization and hate,” said NRW’s deputy premier Joachim Stamp, as he thanked police for “preventing a suspected Nazi terror attack.”

Thomas Kutschaty, the state parliamentary leader of the center-left SPD, tweeted Thursday that reports of the alleged plot “shocked me deeply.” He praised the “high level of civil courage and the courageous intervention of the police” that kept students and teachers safe.

The suspect is being questioned while investigators are still combing his home for evidence.

read more:
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.