German court sentences Syrian refugee plotting attack in Denmark

BERLIN, Germany (Kurdistan24) – A German court on Wednesday convicted a Syrian refugee on terrorism charges after he was suspected of plotting an attack in Denmark.

The German court found the unnamed 21-year-old guilty “of collecting components to make bombs with the intent of carrying out attacks in Denmark.”

The Syrian refugee was convicted in Ravensburg state court where he was found guilty of “preparing an act of violence,” according to the DPA news agency.

The man was handed a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

He was arrested in November 2016 where he was found with 17,000 matches, a package of fireworks, 17 batteries, six walkie-talkies, and two kitchen knives.

German authorities said the Syrian refugee was attempting to travel to Denmark at the time.

Court officials stated the 21-year-old arrived in Germany in 2015 where they said he became radicalized, greatly brainwashed by Islamic State (IS) propaganda.

Officials added the man wanted to carry out several attacks “involving many bombs in Copenhagen that he hoped would cause multiple casualties.”

With violence on the rise in Europe, German security officials have consistently warned the country is under threat by international terrorist groups, including IS.

On May 30, German authorities arrested a 17-year-old Syrian teenager who was allegedly planning a suicide attack in the capital, Berlin.

In December 2016, a Tunisian citizen launched an attack at a Berlin Christmas market, driving a truck into a crowd which killed 12 people and injured dozens more.

Editing by Ava Homa