Another apparently imminent attack foiled in Europe - this time it's Germany though officials are currently denying the target was Ramstein AFB specifically.


CNN: 3 held over German 'airport plots' - "There was an imminent threat," German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung told Germany's ARD broadcaster. ... The men were arrested Tuesday evening and were close to carrying out the attacks, the Sudwestrundfunk public broadcaster said. ... Ramstein Air Base is located in western Germany's Rhineland-Palatinate state and is about 125 kilometers (75 miles) southeast of Frankfurt. The base is a major transit point for the U.S. military into the Middle East and Central Asia.


AP: Germany: 3 Arrested for Terror Plot - Three suspected Islamic militants were arrested on allegations of plotting attacks on the U.S. military base in Ramstein and Frankfurt's international airport, German authorities said Wednesday ... prosecutors said only that they had arrested three suspected members of "an Islamic-motivated terrorist organization." ... the men were arrested Tuesday evening and were close to carrying out the attacks.


NBC: Reporting live by phone - terrorists "were in possession of a large number of chemicals" ... "at least enough for 3 car bombs" ... and were in the processing of preparing to mix the chemicals for ready deployment when the arrests were made.


AFP: Two of the suspects were Germans who had converted to Islam while the third held Turkish and German passports ... the three had links to Pakistan

NYT: Terror Suspects Arrested in Germany - Authorities decided to move in on the group after members were observed moving a stock of chemicals easily obtainable in Germany, but which can be used for making a bomb, from a storehouse to another ... German and U.S. officials have warned of the possibility of a terrorist attack, and security measures have been increased. Navy Capt. Jeff Gradeck, spokesman for the U.S. military's European Command in Stuttgart, said German authorities had contacted them concerning the alleged plot, but had no further information. "We extend our gratitude to Germany for their efforts in protecting us," Gradeck said.


NOTE: With world focus on APEC Europe must have appeared an inviting target for the terrorists. Interestingly alerts were issued in May about these kinds of threats in Germany prior to G8.





PRIOR POST: Denmark Terror Plot Foiled


PRESS CONFERENCE: Head of Germany's anti-terrorist efforts provides fairly extensive details. The plan was for simultaneous attacks that would have been larger and more deadly than the attacks in London and Spain. The chemical agents included hydrogen peroxide and another unspecified catalyst. Apparently, it might be inferred from what was stated, it sounds like agents were able to substitute some of the precursors with less potent materials over the 6 months these terrorists were under surveillance, dating back to the CNN report in May (above). Over 300 German agents were involved during the investigation and arrests today which were accompanied by raids on 41 other sites around the country where they've taken some unspecified number of people into custody and retrieved documents and computers, etc., from the widespread network of (previously) safe-houses.

(Reuters) - A frame grab taken from video footage shows containers of 35 percent hydrogen peroxide displayed during a news conference in Karlsruhe, Germany, September 5, 2007. (Reuters TV/Reuters)

MORE: During the primary arrests two of the men were taken down immediately while the third escaped through a bathroom window. Some degree of gunfire was exchanged taking the 3rd man into custody and it's unclear whether it was the terrorist or his captor that was grazed by a bullet. Fortunately the terrorist's gun ultimately failed him as he was taken into custody. Multiple terror cells involved including one in Copenhagen and terrorists were trained at Al Qaeda center in Pakistan. Investigators also report that the terrorists were thrown a little off guard when they were inadvertently stopped by a traffic officer while they were in the process of finalizing their preparations on September 2.


PM UPDATE: Germany: Plot Targeted U.S. Facilities





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