Attack thwarted?: Suspected IS supporter arrested in Augsburg

After the arrest of a suspected IS supporter in Augsburg, Bavarian security authorities see no evidence of concrete attack plans – for example on Christmas markets. Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) emphasized that there was “no reason not to visit the Christmas market due to security concerns.” Because of the fundamental danger posed by Islamist terror, the authorities are “highly vigilant.”

Investigations into terrorist financing

According to Herrmann, the authorities in Bavaria have had the 37-year-old Iraqi on their radar since October, “based, among other things, on information about posts on social media.” The Central Office for Combating Extremism and Terrorism of the Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the man primarily because of initial suspicion of terrorist financing. He is also said to have shared violent IS propaganda on the Internet.

According to information from the German Press Agency, the Iraqi, who most recently lived in Augsburg, entered Germany in March 2023 and applied for asylum. However, the authorities had not yet decided on this. He is now in detention pending deportation in Eichstätt, Upper Bavaria.

According to dpa information, he was now receiving psychiatric treatment in the Augsburg district hospital. The “Augsburger Allgemeine” had previously reported on it.

After the asylum seeker’s arrest on Wednesday, the “Welt” reported that the man had allegedly spied on the Christmas market in the city center and taken photos. There has so far been no confirmation from security authorities.

As the “Welt” also reported, the arrested man was said to have been described as a “coordinator for terrorist operations” by IS, according to an intelligence tip. According to dpa information, it is unclear whether this is just a title or an actual description of the work for the organization. In any case, the security authorities had no indication that the man was actually coordinating terrorist attacks for IS.

Detention to avert danger

The fact that the 37-year-old Iraqi is now in detention pending deportation makes a provision in the residence law to avert danger possible. Accordingly, “a deportation order can be issued against a foreigner based on a fact-based forecast to avert a particular threat to the security of the Federal Republic of Germany or a terrorist threat without prior expulsion.”

Many Christmas markets – like the Augsburg Christkindlesmarkt – have been more secure against possible attacks in recent years, for example with bollards, road closures and more police on site.

This year, Bavarian police officers are also allowed to check visitors for prohibited weapons without any reason in order to prevent attacks.