NRW
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Police may prevent attack at Essen school
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Police officers carry items, including several stabbing weapons and spears, from the suspect’s home.
Photo: David Young/dpa
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Düsseldorf/Essen Special forces search the apartment of a student in Essen and arrest the 16-year-old. He is said to have had material for bombs and is suspected of being a terrorist.
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The Essen police may have prevented a terrorist attack at one or two schools. She arrested a 16-year-old student in the Borbeck district early Thursday morning after receiving information.
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In addition, the investigators confiscated right-wing extremist documents, explosives and tubular bodies for 16 bombs, as NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) announced in Düsseldorf. The public prosecutor’s office in Düsseldorf, which is responsible for terrorism, has taken over the investigation, the authority said.
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With their operations in Essen, the police may have “prevented a nightmare,” said Reul. However, explosives and material for building a bomb were found on the youngster, but no explosive device capable of being ignited. The suspect and his parents were questioned.
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Police vehicles are parked in front of the Don-Bosco-Gymnasium in Essen.
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Photo: David Young/dpa
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Two schools searched for explosives
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During a large-scale operation, the police searched the Don Bosco high school in Essen-Borbeck and the secondary school at Borbeck Castle. Reul said ten explosive dogs were also used in the two schools. So far, however, no explosive devices have been found during the search of the schools.
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SS runes and numerous right-wing extremist, anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim documents were found on the arrested 16-year-old. At the same time, there are indications of psychological problems in the young person. Recordings were secured that could be read as “an urgent call for help from a desperate young man,” said Reul on Thursday. The 16-year-old may have massive mental problems and suicidal thoughts. According to the current status of the investigation, he was apparently a lone perpetrator.
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According to the police, the suspect is a high school student and had previously attended secondary school. The police had received indications that he might have planned a crime at his current or former school. The two schools remained closed on Thursday.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa:220512-99-255276/18
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