Explosive material discovered in German flat was the same home-made substance used by Paris and Brussels attackers
The suspect, Jaber Albakr, arrived as a refugee from Syria last year and was reportedly suspected of plotting an airport attack
German police were carrying out a huge manhunt for a 22-year-old Syrian suspected of planning a bomb attack, after finding “highly explosive” materials in his apartment. Security has been boosted at Berlin’s two airports and at train stations in the capital.
The suspect, Jaber Albakr, could have had “an Islamist motive”, police sources said. German news agency DPA, citing security sources, reported that Albakr had links to Islamic State (IS). The magazine Focus reported that he was suspected of plotting to attack an airport.
Police said “several hundred grams” of an “explosive substance even more dangerous than TNT” were found in Albakr’s apartment in the eastern city of Chemnitz, about 260km south of Berlin.
“Even a small quantity of this substance could have caused enormous damage,” police said.
Even a small quantity of this substance could have caused enormous damage
A spokesman for Germany’s domestic intelligence agency said Albakr, who arrived last year as a refugee, had been under surveillance. Investigators raised the alarm on Friday, sparking Saturday’s raid. Three people with links to Albakr have been arrested in Chemnitz.