From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 12, 2022
German police foil ‘Nazi terror attack’ at school; teen suspect arrested
BERLIN — German investigators say today they foiled a school bomb attack, as they arrest a 16-year-old who is suspected to have been planning a “Nazi terror attack.”
“The police prevented a nightmare,” says Herbert Reul, interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state.
Police in the city of Essen had stormed the teen’s room overnight, taking him into custody and uncovering several explosives, as well as antisemitic and anti-Muslim material.
Reul says officers did not find any detonators.
The suspect was allegedly planning to target his current school or another where he studied previously.
He is also believed to be suffering from psychiatric disorder with suicidal tendencies, adds Reul.
“All democrats have a common task to fight against racism, brutalization and hate,” says NRW’s deputy premier Joachim Stamp, as he thanks police for “preventing a suspected Nazi terror attack.”
The suspect is being questioned while investigators are still combing his home for evidence.
