By A. S.
An Iranian national was arrested yesterday in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia on suspicion of planning an Islamist terrorist attack using biological weapons, reports Remix News.
According to the Dusseldorf public prosecutor’s office, the 32-year-old Iranian is believed to have been preparing a serious attack using cyanide and ricin, two very powerful poisons. His motive was to cause an Islamist terrorist attack. Both poisons are considered lethal and there is no antidote for ricin.
The German police reportedly received a tip-off about the attack from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States. US FBI agents reportedly intercepted a message from the suspect in an online chat room, which they found suspicious because of his sympathies for the Islamic State. Police searched the suspect’s home but found no toxic substances.
Another person, also of Iranian origin, was also reportedly detained during the search of the suspects home. It is not yet known at what stage of the planning of the attack the suspect was involved and what his target was. In the coming days, the Iranian will be brought before an investigating judge, who is likely to order that he remain in custody pending trial. He could also face up to ten years in prison.