A 21-year-old from Dinslaken in the Lower Rhine is suspected of having prepared an Islamist terrorist attack with a car bomb. From today (10:30 a.m.) the man must answer as a defendant before the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court. The public prosecutor’s office also accuses the Syrian of being a member of the Islamic State terrorist group. The man has been in custody since April 23rd. He has denied having prepared an attack.
Charge: Pledge of allegiance to IS via Telegram
According to the public prosecutor’s office, the young man is said to have been trying to contact the terrorist organization via messenger since the end of May last year at the latest. In June 2023, he swore an oath of loyalty to IS via the Telegram messenger service.
A suspected Islamist terrorist has to go to court in Düsseldorf. – © Franz-Peter Tschauner/dpa
For his intentions to carry out an attack, he had chat partners send him links with information on how to make explosives. In July he inquired about making an explosive belt.
In October 2023, IS is said to have contacted the defendant “in order to use him as an assassin for the association at the appropriate time.” According to the prosecutor’s findings, the defendant announced that he wanted to become a suicide bomber.
A suspected Islamist terrorist has to go to court in Düsseldorf. – © David Young/dpa
