German authorities have detained an 18-year-old man after he allegedly discussed carrying out a knife attack on a synagogue in the south-western German city of Heidelberg.
The suspect, who comes from the town of Weinheim, is being held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, public prosecutors and criminal investigators in the south-western German state of Baden-Württemberg announced on Friday.
He allegedly plotted the potential attack with another 24-year-old suspect, who was shot and captured by police earlier this month after a raid on the man's flat turned violent.
"The killing of one or more visitors during the attack on the synagogue with a subsequent martyr's death was discussed as the intended goal, in which both people wanted to be shot by emergency services," the authorities said.
The 18-year-old suspect is a German-Turkish dual national, and the 24-year-old suspect is a German citizen, authorities said.
On May 3, police raided the home of the 24-year-old suspect in the town of Bad Friedrichshall on suspicion of his preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state.
According to police, the 24-year-old suddenly took several kitchen knives and fled outside through a window while officers were in his flat.
He was caught by officers but, instead of surrendering, he threw a knife toward a policeman and charged. The officer shot the man.
The 24-year-old man was treated for his injuries and remains in police custody on allegations of attempted manslaughter and a particularly serious case of assault on police officers.
An analysis of evidence seized during the search revealed a link to the 18-year-old man from Weinheim, with whom the 24-year-old is said to have discussed a possible knife attack on visitors to a synagogue in Heidelberg in April this year, according to investigators.
The 18-year-old's apartment was searched on May 18. He was arrested and remains in custody.
Prosecutors said there are indications that the 24-year-old suspect may have travelled abroad to prepare a terrorist attack, citing "facts in connection with a possible departure of the accused from Germany."
Authorities declined to disclose further details, however, and did not say whether the alleged attack plot was the same knife attack discussed with the other suspect.
Authorities said that there were no indications of an imminent threat to visitors to the synagogue and that authorities acted early enough to avoid any real risk.
"An attack on Jewish life in Germany is always an attack on our values and therefore an attack on all of us," said Baden-Württemberg's state interior minister, Thomas Strobl.
He applauded police and intelligence agencies for successfully intervening.
The Jewish community in Heidelberg reacted with shock to the news of the arrests.
Rabbi Jona Pawelczyk-Kissin and board member Halyna Dohayma said on Friday that they are worried about their community members and were trying to address concerns.
They feared that Jews in Heidelberg "would now lock themselves away and stop coming to our services."
A demonstration to form a human chain in front of the synagogue has been called for 7 pm (1700 GMT) on Friday evening.
The synagogue in Heidelberg was inaugurated in 1994. According to the Jewish Community of Heidelberg, the congregation consists of 420 members.
The Central Council of Jews in Germany also welcomed the police operation.
A spokesman for the council said that authorities in Germany have significantly improved security for synagogues and other Jewish institutions in the country since a deadly October 2019 attack on a synagogue in the eastern German city of Halle.
"We have confidence in the security authorities and the case in Heidelberg unfortunately shows us once again how necessary such protection is," he said.