BioterrorismGerman prosecutors widen bioterrorism plot probe
German prosecutors have widened their investigation into a thwarted biological terror attack. Two suspected accomplices were arrested in Tunisia, one of whom planned a “simultaneous” attack in Tunisia. In June, Sief Allah H. was arrested in a police raid on his apartment in the western city of Cologne. Investigators found “toxic substances” that were later determined to be deadly ricin poison. The 29-year-old was also found to have bomb-making materials in his possession.
German prosecutors have widened their investigation into a thwarted biological terror attack. Two suspected accomplices were arrested in Tunisia, one of whom planned a “simultaneous” attack in Tunisia.
These were among the details revealed Friday by German prosecutors.
In June, Sief Allah H. was arrested in a police raid on his apartment in the western city of Cologne. Investigators found “toxic substances” that were later determined to be deadly ricin poison. The 29-year-old was also found to have bomb-making materials in his possession.
As part of a widening probe, investigators said Friday that prosecutors on 1 August charged the Tunisian, who is married to a German woman, with “planning a serious act of violence against the state” and membership in a foreign terrorist organization.
His wife was arrested last month on suspicion of being an accomplice.
According to the Karlsruhe-based Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the Tunisian intended to carry out a biological terror attack against “unbelievers” in Germany.
“He wanted to explode a ricin bomb packed with shrapnel in a busy indoor place,” prosecutors said in an update into their investigation. It was unclear if there was an exact target.
DW reports that the suspect had previously sought on two occasions in 2017 to enter Syria through Turkey, but failed to join ISIS there for unknown reasons. In September and October last year, Sief Allah H. made contact on social media with unknown IS members living outside Germany who encouraged him to prepare a bombing in Germany.
By February, he had made the decision to carry out a bioterror attack. Prosecutors also said that he vowed allegiance to IS.
Prosecutors say that in April and May, Sief Allah H. had already acquired on the internet more than 2,000 castor beans, which are processed to make ricin in white powder form. He also received 1,000 extra castor beans for free due to an initial delivery problem.
During this period, the suspect had been in contact with an unknown person outside of Germany who instructed him on the production of ricin. By the end of May he had produced 84.3 milligrams of ricin. He then tested the poison on a hamster he and his wife bought at a pet store.
Throughout, Sief Allah H. was in contact on the internet with another person outside of Germany who instructed him in bomb making skills. The suspect then bought bomb-making material online, including 250 metal balls intended to be used as shrapnel.
Tunisian authorities said on Friday that they had arrested two men in connection with the terror plot in Cologne. It is not clear whether the two Tunisians are the same as those with whom Sief Allah H. had contact on the internet.
Tunisia’s Interior Ministry said the two men were in close contact with Sief Allah H. One of the men is said to have prepared a false passport for him.
The other plotted with Sief Allah H. “to simultaneously carry out in Tunisia and Germany two attacks using homemade bombs,” according to Tunisian anti-terrorism spokesman Sofiene Sliti.
