A 29-year-old man has been arrested in Berlin on suspicion of preparing a serious act of violence that posed a threat to national security, Die Welt reports.
The operation was carried out by officers from the Berlin State Criminal Police Office. During a search of an apartment on Sonnenallee, authorities seized mobile phones and inspected the suspect’s vehicle. He was subsequently taken into custody.
According to investigators, the German citizen is believed to have undergone terrorist training in Lebanon and to have ties with the radical Shiite group Hezbollah. Authorities allege that he intended to join the group in armed conflict following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
It is believed that between November 2023 and May 2024, the suspect was preparing to take part in the conflict. In early 2024, he reportedly received firearms training in Lebanon.
Authorities became aware of the suspect due to his online activity. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, security sources have indicated that an attack was not imminent.
On Tuesday, the suspect is scheduled to appear before an investigating judge, who will determine whether to issue an official arrest warrant.
