German media is reporting that a thirty two year old Iranian citizen has been arrested by the North Rhine-Westphalia Central Office for the Prosecution of Terrorism (ZenTer NRW) of the Düsseldorf Public Prosecutor’s Office. The press release reads below:
“In an investigation by the, the living quarters of a 32-year-old suspect, who is an Iranian citizen, were searched in Castrop-Rauxel by order of a judge.
The accused is suspected of having prepared a serious act of violence that endangers the state by procuring cyanide and ricin to commit an Islamist-motivated attack.
The search serves to find corresponding toxins and other evidence. The accused and one other person have been taken into custody, evidence has been secured and is being evaluated. A decision will be made at a later date on the presentation before the competent magistrate to issue an arrest warrant. The investigations are ongoing. Further information will be given if this is possible without jeopardizing the purpose of the investigation.”
Local German media familiar with details of the story revealed that the suspected terrorist had ricin and cyanide at his residence in Castrop- Rauxel and was planning on releasing it in a targeted attack. The suspect is said to an Islamic extremist.
The German government has launched dozens of raids since December targeting mostly far right groups accused of preparing armed coups across the country. This seems to be the first announced raid concerning Islamic extremists, especially an Iranian citizen.
