Bavaria Syrian allegedly planned attack on German soldiers

A 27-year-old Syrian man has been remanded in custody for allegedly planning attacks on Bundeswehr soldiers in southern Germany. Investigators assume that he is a follower of a radical Islamic ideology.

It is assumed that the man wanted to kill as many soldiers of the German armed forces as possible with two machetes during their lunch break in the city center of Hof in the federal state of Bavaria, according to the Munich public prosecutor's office. The suspect had already purchased the weapons. The barracks in Hof is the only remaining Bundeswehr base in the Upper Franconia region and is located on the outskirts of the city.

Suspect in custody

With the attack, he wanted to unsettle the population and cause a stir. He is suspected of preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state. However, the presumption of innocence applies until a final conviction is handed down.

According to information from the Public Prosecutor General's Office, the man entered Germany ten years ago. He enjoys so-called subsidiary protection. This limited protection applies to people who are not recognized as individually persecuted refugees, but who provide valid reasons why they would face serious harm - such as civil war - if returned to their country of origin.

According to the information provided, there were no plans to deport the 27-year-old. "The accused has no previous convictions", according to the public prosecutor's office. According to the district administrator of Hof, Oliver Bär (CSU), the man had rented an apartment in the district of Hof.

On Friday morning, an investigating judge at Hof district court issued an arrest warrant, the public prosecutor's office added. The suspect is now in custody. The Bavarian Central Office for Combating Extremism and Terrorism at the Munich Public Prosecutor General's Office is continuing to investigate the case.

"Our city stands together"

Hof's mayor Eva Döhla (SPD) was shocked by the suspected attack plans. "There has never been anything like this in Hof before - living together with more than 48,000 people from 127 countries has always been peaceful, and we will do everything we can to ensure that this remains the case in the future," she said. "I am therefore wholeheartedly grateful to the police and security forces for their decisive action in preventing a terrible crime."

All those involved are now working flat out to solve the case. "The further investigations remain to be seen. Our city stands together. Public safety and peaceful coexistence in Hof are our top priority."

Bundeswehr base with around 450 troops

The barracks in Hof are home to the Bundeswehr's Central Investigation Office for Technical Reconnaissance. According to the unit, its main focus is the "development and investigation of new technical reconnaissance capabilities in the Bundeswehr's reconnaissance spectrum". The office has around 450 employees.

There is also an office for civilian vocational training and further education in Hof: soldiers can learn a civilian profession here in cooperation with the Chamber of Crafts and other vocational training institutions in order to be professionally prepared for the time after their time in the Bundeswehr. It is not least because of this facility that members of the German Armed Forces are quite present in the cityscape of Hof, for example at public transport stops.

The Public Prosecutor General's Office and other authorities initially kept a low profile regarding further details of the case. For the time being, it remained unclear how far the suspected attack plans had progressed and whether soldiers were actually in danger.

SDA