Germany arrests teen for planning terror attack; synagogue said to be among possible targets

BERLIN — A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of planning and preparing a terror attack, authorities announce today.

Prosecutors in Duesseldorf say the teenager was detained yesterday during a search at his home. A court in nearby Leverkusen ordered him kept in custody pending a possible indictment, they say in a statement. The prosecutors say they cannot give additional details for now.

German news agency dpa, which cites unidentified security sources, reportes that the 15-year-old and a 16-year-old in the eastern German state of Brandenburg were arrested after allegedly discussing carrying outan attack on “infidels.”

The younger suspect allegedly named a synagogue and a Christmas market as possible targets, dpa says. It’s not immediately clear how serious the alleged plans were.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency said earlier today that the threat situation in the country has escalated following Hamas’ October 7 attack in southern Israel.

The agency pointed to the risk of a radicalization of lone assailants who use simple means to attack “soft targets,” adding that “the danger is real and higher than it has been for a long time.”