Germany arrests Libyan suspected of planning terror attack on Israeli embassy

Germany arrested a Libyan citizen suspected of plotting an attack against Israel’s embassy in Berlin, the federal prosecutor’s office said on Sunday.

The authorities identified the man only as Omar A. and said he is “strongly suspected” of supporting the terror organization Islamic State (IS) and intended to carry-out an attack with firearms on the Israeli embassy. He would have discussed this online with a member of IS, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

The German government is under pressure to increase security measures and address migration after a series of violent attacks allegedly perpetrated by people who entered the country as asylum-seekers, like the knife attack in the western city of Solingen in August.

In reaction, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced several measures to curb migration, including border checks within the Schengen area and a plan to speed deportations.

Migration has also come to the forefront at the European level as leaders discussed the topic during this week’s European Council. The EU leaders seem to be backing deportation centers, sending migrants back to Afghanistan and Syria. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also promised tougher laws following the Council meeting.

Meanwhile, Italy sent 12 migrants to processing centers in Albania this week, but had to bring them back after a judge said the move was illegal.