German police arrested four suspected members of the Islamic State that were planning an attack against American military facilities. The suspected terrorists were arrested in various locations in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The four have since been identified as Azizjon B., Muhammadali G., Farhodshoh K. and Sunatullokh K. all citizens of Tajikistan. The police further revealed that the ringleader of the group 30-year-old Tajikonly identified as Ravsan B. had been detained since last year for firearm charges.
Prosecutors said the men joined ISIS in January 2019 and were instructed to form a cell in Germany. They reportedly first planned to attack Tajikistan but later shifted their target to Germany, including U.S. Air Force bases in the country.
Preliminary intelligence further indicates that they were in contact with at least two high-ranking members of ISIS in Syria and Afghanistan. The cell had already obtained firearms and ammunition to carry out their attacks, while their leader had ordered materials to build an explosive device to facilitate the same.
