German authorities announced Thursday the arrest of an Iraqi national suspected of attempting to form a jihadist cell and planning an armed attack on a church in the northwestern city of Bremen.
The suspect, identified as Kilan Al-M., was detained in Barnim district in the eastern state of Brandenburg. He is accused of attempting to establish a terrorist organization, preparing for a serious act of violence, and committing weapons-related offenses.
According to German prosecutors, the suspect allegedly embraced an extremist ideology linked to ISIS and, during the spring, worked with other individuals to plan potential attacks in Germany targeting Christian sites.
Prosecutors said he had obtained a firearm and carried out surveillance of a church in Bremen, which he allegedly intended to make the group’s first target.
The prosecution added that Kilan managed to recruit one additional person, whose identity has not been disclosed, while later efforts to recruit further members to the alleged cell were unsuccessful
