Three suspected jihadists aged 15, 16 and 18 were recently arrested in Switzerland due to possible plans for explosive attacks, cases linked to investigations carried out by the public prosecutor's office in Düsseldorf (Germany), said Saturday the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPC). On Friday, German justice announced that four minors suspected of preparing an “Islamist-motivated” attack in Germany had been arrested over the Easter weekend and placed in pre-trial detention.
In Switzerland, after being arrested in the canton of Schaffhausen (in northern Switzerland), the local prosecutor's office said on Saturday. They were arrested due to “suspicion of participation in or support for a terrorist organization (prohibited terrorist organization Islamic State, IS) and preparatory acts with a view to intentional homicide,” according to the same source. The investigation relates in particular to “possible plans for explosive attacks”, added the prosecution.
Germany on alert
The MPC indicated that a third person, an 18-year-old Swiss man, had been arrested for the same reasons in the canton of Thurgau (north). However, the date of his arrest was not specified. “According to the current state of knowledge, the two minor defendants from the canton of Schaffhausen were in contact with the 18-year-old defendant,” said the federal prosecutor.
The MPC is in contact with the German authorities, in particular to “clarify the intentions and roles” of the various people arrested. German authorities are on guard regarding the jihadist threat, particularly since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023 between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas. Especially as Germany is preparing to host the Euro football tournament (June 14-July 14).
In March in the cantons of Geneva and Vaud, three minors were arrested. They were active on a social network where extremist or radical content circulated. The authorities “did not want to specify what type of extremism was involved,” according to the Tribune de Genève.