4 Detained After Threat To German Synagogue On Yom Kippur

Investigators in western Germany say they have not discovered any bomb components during searches in connection with a suspected planned attack on the synagogue in Hagen mid-week, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

Photo Insert: Hagen synagogue

Four suspects were detained after what authorities described as an extremist threat to attack a synagogue in the western city of Hagen. Electronic devices such as mobile phones and storage media have been seized and must now be evaluated, a spokesperson for the Dusseldorf public prosecutor's office said on Thursday.

A 16-year-old boy with a Syrian passport was among those initially arrested. Authorities are investigating allegations of preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state.

It is still unclear whether the 16-year-old suspect will be formally arrested. He is still being questioned by detectives. The three other people who were detained are his father and brothers. They were not arrested as suspects, but under police law, the spokesperson said. They were also to be questioned.

State Interior Minister Herbert Reul talked about evidence of "an Islamist-motivated threat." Reul said earlier that "there was the risk of an attack on the synagogue in Hagen" which was "likely prevented" by police.

The apparent threat on Wednesday evening came on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews, and led to the cordoning off of the areas around the synagogue and the cancellation of services there. Searches for more evidence, including at the main suspect's residence, were underway.

Terrorism authorities are also involved in the investigation, prosecutors in Dusseldorf said.

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