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A man suspected of being an Islamic State 'sleeper agent' was arrested in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, just hours after warnings of potential extremist attacks during Euro 2024. The Iraqi detainee, Mahmoud A., was taken into custody in Esslingen, near Stuttgart, on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack for ISIS. He had arrived in Germany in October 2022 but has been affiliated with ISIS since 2016.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized Germany's vigilance and commitment to tackling the Islamist threat. The arrest came shortly before Germany's Euro 2024 match against Hungary in Stuttgart and a day after Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (BfV), highlighted an increased terror threat linked to Berlin's support for Israel following the October 7 Hamas attacks.
Germany Interior Minister Nancy Faeser
To prevent potential attacks, police leave has been canceled, and 22,000 officers have been deployed nationwide to secure borders, railways, and airports during the tournament. Additional officers from overseas have been brought in to manage the extensive security operations for the four-week event, which expects around 2.7 million stadium attendees and millions more at public viewing events.
Recent incidents highlighting the heightened threat include a policeman's fatal stabbing by an Afghan knifeman at an anti-Islam rally in Mannheim, a deadly attack by an Afghan man in Wolmirstedt, and an axe-wielding man being shot by police in Hamburg.
Source: Daily Mail
