Germany Foils Terrorist Plot to Target Christmas Market

German authorities announced on Saturday that they had foiled a terrorist plot aimed at one of the Christmas markets in Bavaria, southern Germany, after arresting five individuals suspected of being involved in planning the attack.

According to the police and the public prosecutor’s office, the suspects include an Egyptian man, three Moroccans, and a Syrian, who were arrested on suspicion of planning to drive a vehicle into the Christmas market in the Dingolfing Landau area.

Authorities clarified that the plot involved running over as many visitors as possible inside the market, describing the threat as serious.

All of the detainees appeared before a judge on Saturday, who decided to keep them in custody pending further investigation.

Following the operation, German authorities announced an increase in security levels at Christmas markets across the country, due to fears of potential attacks, particularly after the car-ramming incident in the city of Magdeburg last year.