Syrian refugee helps German police capture man suspected of planning terror attack on Chemnitz airport
Fellow countryman ties up Jaber al-Bakr and alerts authorities
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Syrian national has aided German police in catching a suspect believed to be planning an attack on Chemnitz airport.
Authorities found Jaber al-Bakr, a Syrian refugee, tied up in an apartment in Leipzig after his fellow countryman invited him in.
Al-Bakr apparently met the Syrian, who had heard police were searching for him, at Leipzig Central Station.
The police had been looking for al-Bakr, who had been on the run for three days, after raiding a flat in Chemnitz and finding several hundred grams of “highly volatile” explosives, The Guardian reported.
Three others, who are thought to be linked to the potential bomb plot, have also been arrested.
The explosives were destroyed by bomb squad experts in a controlled detonation.
More than one million asylum seekers arrived in Germany in 2015 when Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the country’s border to help those feeling Syria’s civil war.
The policy has received criticism from right-wing and anti-immigration groups. These organisations have gained increasing popularity in Germany amid concerns over terrorism and mass sexual assaults in the country.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments