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Police officers stand in front of the synagogue in Hagen
Photo: Markus Klümper / dpa
North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) has described the failed attack on the synagogue in Hagen as an "Islamistically motivated threat situation".
The crime scene, the perpetrator and the time of the crime were named for a possible attack.
Therefore, the authorities immediately initiated measures.
An event planned for Wednesday evening was canceled at short notice.
When the synagogue was searched with explosive detection dogs, no dangerous objects were found, said Reul.
Federal Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) spoke of a "very serious threat situation".
The security authorities had prevented an apparently prepared bomb attack on the synagogue in the Westphalian city.
According to SPIEGEL information, a 16-year-old Syrian is suspected, he and three other suspects were arrested.
Reul said it was so far unclear whether the people arrested alongside the 16-year-old suspect were involved in the act.
The security authorities had previously received a tip from a foreign secret service.
The partner service therefore warned of a suspected Islamist in Germany who behaved suspiciously on the Internet.
According to SPIEGEL information, the extremist is said to have spoken of an explosives attack on a synagogue in a monitored communication with a chat partner.
The investigation led to the 16-year-old Syrian who lives in Hagen in an apartment with his father.
The reason for his possible plan is said to have been the beginning of the highest Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur.
The public prosecutor's office in Düsseldorf is investigating the young person on suspicion of preparing a serious act of violence that is dangerous to the state.
Since the early evening hours, a large number of police had protected the Hagen synagogue.
The incident awakens horrific memories of the attack on the synagogue in Halle two years ago, said the SPD politician on Thursday, according to a statement from her ministry.
"It is unbearable that Jews are once again exposed to such a terrible threat and were unable to celebrate the beginning of their highest festival, Yom Kippur, peacefully together."
kha / mxw / rol / dpa