German prosecutors charge Russian citizen for planning attack on Israeli embassy

Germany’s Federal Prosecutor has now formally charged a Russian national with alleged sympathies for ISIS who stands accused of plotting attacks, including one on the Israeli embassy in Berlin.

The then-18-year-old was arrested in February at Berlin Brandenburg Airport while attempting to travel to Pakistan, Caliber.Az reports citing German media.

To finance his trip, prosecutors say, he signed two mobile phone contracts for expensive smartphones, which he later resold at a profit.

“Shortly before his planned departure, he sent a video pledge of allegiance to ISIS to a suspected member abroad,” the prosecutor’s office stated.

According to investigators, his intention was to continue preparing for an attack while abroad and to obtain the necessary resources there.

The initial tip about his attack plans reportedly came from a foreign intelligence service.

German security authorities also suspect he was linked to a broader network, with at least two additional accomplices. These other suspects are believed to have left Germany before investigators in Brandenburg were able to identify the main suspect.

The Israeli embassy in Berlin’s Schmargendorf district is under constant police protection. Entry is permitted only after strict security checks, while the surrounding street remains largely closed to traffic and secured with barricades.

By Nazrin Sadigova