Libyan man arrested in Germany for suspected ISIS plot to attack Israeli embassy

A Libyan national has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of involvement in an Islamic State (ISIS) plot to attack the Israeli Embassy in Berlin, according to various news sources.

The 28-year-old suspect, identified only as Omar A. by German authorities in accordance with the country’s privacy laws, was apprehended at his home in Bernau, a town approximately six miles northeast of Berlin, on Saturday night.

“He planned to carry out a high-profile attack using firearms on the Israeli Embassy in Berlin,” stated the Federal Prosecutor’s Office. The statement also revealed that the suspect had communicated with an ISIS member through an encrypted messenger app.

Local media reports that German authorities were alerted to the plot by an unnamed foreign intelligence service, according to Al Jazeera. 

According to Bild, a German news outlet, the suspect arrived in Germany in November 2022, but his asylum request was denied in September 2023.

Authorities also searched the residence of another individual near Bonn, though that person is considered a witness, not a suspect.

Following the G7 meeting of interior ministers on October 6th, Germany issued a warning about the heightened risk of terrorist threats.

“G7 countries remain potential targets for terrorist groups, particularly the Islamic State,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. She added, “This is not just about threats to our countries, but also to our global interests and institutions.”

The Libyan suspect is expected to appear before an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, Germany’s highest court.

In the past year, tensions between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and supporters of Israel have escalated, with some pro-Palestinians claiming they were subject to violence by police and counter-protesters during protests over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.