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Police officers carry items from the suspect's home
Photo: David Young / dpa
In the case of the alleged attack plans against two schools in Essen, the arrested 16-year-old student is now being investigated on suspicion of preparing a serious act of violence that is dangerous to the state.
The Central Office for the Prosecution of Terrorism in North Rhine-Westphalia (ZenTer) at the Düsseldorf Public Prosecutor's Office took over the investigation.
This was announced by spokesmen for the authority and the NRW Ministry of the Interior of the dpa news agency and a police spokeswoman for SPIEGEL.
The police had discovered material for a bomb on the 16-year-old suspect – but no explosive device.
The material was functional but not operational, said NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU).
The 16-year-old is under strong suspicion of having planned an attack.
He was arrested and has been interrogated ever since.
With their operations in Essen, the police may have "prevented a nightmare," says Reul.
So far, no explosive devices have been found during the search of the two schools: "Every corner of the classrooms is turned inside out."
Police found guns in the youth's home.
Among them, in addition to the material for a bomb, a self-made firearm and a crossbow with arrows.
It is now being determined to what extent the possible bomb material could have been functional.
The suspect is said to have had mental health problems
The investigators also found “clearly xenophobic and right-wing extremist material”.
Including SS runes, as well as anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim documents.
The notes could also be read as a "desperate young man's call for help," according to Reul.
There are indications that the young person had massive mental problems and suicidal thoughts.
North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst announced that the horror of the prevented attack was deep.
According to the CDU politician, a terrible act and a terrible tragedy were probably prevented.
According to Wüst, the exact background has yet to be clarified, but he is certain: “Xenophobia, extremism and violence have no place here in North Rhine-Westphalia.
As a state and as a society, we oppose right-wing terror with all determination.«
The deputy prime minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Joachim Stamp (FDP), had written on Twitter that the police operation might have prevented a Nazi terrorist attack.
The police had been deployed to a larger extent at two schools in the morning.
Both schools will initially remain closed today.« It has been investigated since the evening.
The affected Don-Bosco-Gymnasium in Essen-Borbeck, with almost 800 students, initially only announced that an operation was in progress.
It was later added: "We have received information that a criminal offense was planned at the school." In order to look for evidence, access to the school had to be blocked.
ptz/apr/dpa
