German police arrest five men over Christmas market attack plot

German authorities have apprehended five individuals suspected of planning an attack on a Christmas market in the Dingolfing-Landau region of Lower Bavaria. Special operations forces made the arrests Friday evening, after security officials became aware of the suspects' plans two days prior. The method of identification has not been released.

The suspects include a 56-year-old Egyptian man, three Moroccans aged 30, 28, and 22, and a 37-year-old Syrian national. Following court appearances on Saturday, four of the men are now in custody; the fifth is being held in preventive detention.

The Egyptian suspect, identified as an Islamic preacher, allegedly advocated for an attack during gatherings at a mosque in the Dingolfing-Landau area. According to authorities, he encouraged followers to use a vehicle to inflict casualties at a Christmas market. Such actions are currently classified as attempted murder under German criminal law.

Investigators believe the three Moroccan men agreed to carry out the attack, while the Syrian man allegedly encouraged their plan. While authorities are operating under the assumption of an Islamist motivation, no connections to the Islamic State (ISIS) have been confirmed at this time.

According to multiple media outlets, the arrests occurred near the Suben border crossing on the German-Austrian border.

'Threat stopped at a very early stage'

Authorities have not specified which Christmas market was targeted or the planned date of the attack. The Christmas markets in Dingolfing and nearby Landau concluded on December 7.

Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann stated Sunday that, based on current investigations, there were no plans for an attack "on a specific day or at a specific Christmas market." Herrmann added that the attack was not believed to be imminent, stating, "The threat was stopped at a very early stage."

The Central Unit for Combating Extremism and Terrorism of the Munich Public Prosecutor General's Office led the operation, with support from Bavaria's Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Contrary to earlier reports, no foreign intelligence service played a role.

Herrmann expressed his gratitude to the involved authorities, emphasizing the "high level of responsiveness and efficiency of our security forces." He noted that the arrests prevented "a potentially Islamist-motivated attack in Bavaria." As part of the ongoing investigation, technical devices, including mobile phones, will be analyzed.

Threat level remains high

District administrator Werner Bumeder has confirmed that Christmas markets in the Dingolfing-Landau district will proceed as planned.

Security measures at Bavarian Christmas markets will not be increased, as the threat level remains "abstractly high," a designation already in place at the start of the season. A strong police presence will be maintained, though authorities have stated there are no specific known targets.

At the end of November, Herrmann announced a strong police presence at the markets, including checks on people and bags, as well as enforcement of a knife ban that has been in effect since October 2024.

German Christmas markets have been the target of attacks in recent years. In December 2016, a radicalized Islamist drove a truck into a crowd at Berlin's Breitscheidplatz Christmas market, resulting in 13 fatalities.

Last year, a car attack at Magdeburg's Christmas market caused six deaths and injured 338 individuals. The trial of the confessed attacker, a Saudi-born doctor residing in Germany since 2006, is currently underway at Magdeburg District Court.