Terror shock in Augsburg: IS suspect at Christmas market!

Terror shock in Augsburg: IS suspect at Christmas market!

Shocking revelations in Augsburg! A 37-year-old Iraqi asylum seeker, Ali Al-G., is now in detention pending deportation after being suspected of planning an attack on the Augsburg Christmas market. The Bavarian police arrested the man in an asylum accommodation on Wednesday evening. This dramatic development came to light after Ali Al-G. had taken suspicious photos of the popular “Christkindlesmarkt”. Authorities suspected he was in contact with members of the notorious Islamic State (IS) and made a dangerous series of online posts glorifying jihad.

The suspect, who came to Germany at the beginning of 2023 and applied for asylum, had already attracted the attention of the security authorities. A foreign intelligence service provided crucial evidence showing that Ali Al-G. had repeatedly posted explicit videos and potentially threatening messages. A scenario in which a car crashes into the Christmas market - a gruesome notion that has been famously discussed in chats - alerted authorities and ultimately led to an arrest. An arrest warrant to secure his deportation was issued by the Augsburg district court.

Fear of being attacked by car

This measure was also supported by Section 58a of the Residence Act, a rarely used but powerful tool that can be used in acute dangers. The Central Office for Foreigner Extremism of the Bavarian State Office thus made it possible to react quickly to the impending danger. There is currently no official information about the arrest itself, but fears of a car attack on Christmas markets remain present. Augsburg can now breathe a sigh of relief thanks to the quick and decisive response of the anti-terror units.