Advertisement

Top prosecutor takes on Islamist murder plot

Author thumbnail
Top prosecutor takes on Islamist murder plot
Photo: DPA

Germany's top state prosecutor on Monday took control of an investigation into a suspected plot to assassinate a xenophobic politician by Islamist extremists.

Advertisement

Police last Wednesday foiled an attempt to murder Markus Beisicht, head of the anti-Muslim far-right Pro NRW party by arresting four suspects from across the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).

Due to the politically charged nature of the case, Germany's federal prosecutors on Monday said they would be leading the probe into what they called “a homegrown terrorist group with radical-Islamist leanings.”

The regional prosecutor in Dortmund had been handling the case since the plot was uncovered last week.

The police apprehended two of the suspects in Leverkusen near Cologne, where they were apparently observing Beisicht. Two others were arrested in Essen and Bonn, where the police discovered ingredients to make explosives and a gun.

One of the arrested men was reportedly involved in a failed bomb attack at Bonn’s main train station on December 10. Although the explosive device was detonated, it did not go off.

Beisicht and Pro NRW have been involved in violent clashes with Salafists over the past year.

DAPD/The Local/jcw/mry

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also