15-year-old suspect detained in Germany over alleged plan to set fire to a refugee shelter

Detention after a witness report

German police reported preventing an alleged far-right arson attack on a refugee shelter in the north of the country. According to the Anadolu agency, citing local authorities,, a 15-year-old suspect is in pre-trial detention on charges including preparation of a terrorist act.

Course of the investigation

The Lüneburg prosecutor's office confirmed that police searched the homes of two suspects being investigated for an alleged conspiracy to commit arson. The teenager was detained after witnesses reported seeing him walking through the town with a canister of gasoline. According to the public broadcaster NDR, which the prosecutor's office cites, the coincidence proved significant: the detention took place on the very day that had been named in online chats as the planned time of the attack on the shelter in Winsen, in the state of Lower Saxony. In the chats, young neo-Nazis reportedly discussed a plan to attack the shelter on Friday evening.

Preventive measure

The Flensburg prosecutor's office announced on Monday that the 15-year-old remains in custody. In addition to the alleged arson conspiracy, the investigation charges the teenager with preparing a serious terrorist act and expressed concern that, if at large, he could commit similar crimes. The publication does not report on the fate of the second suspect or whether charges have been brought against him.