German authorities arrest man suspected of plotting an attack on the Israeli embassy

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities have arrested a man with suspected ties to the Islamic State extremist group who was allegedly planning an attack on the Israeli embassy.

The man was arrested on Saturday in Bernau, a town just outside Berlin.

“Our security authorities struck in time to thwart possible plans to attack the Israeli embassy in Berlin,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said in a statement. “This shows that protecting Jewish and Israeli institutions in our country is vital and of utmost importance to us.”

The German news agency dpa reported that the suspect is expected to appear before an investigating judge at the country’s highest court, the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, on Sunday.

Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor thanked the German security authorities “for ensuring the security of our embassy,” dpa reported.

The report on the case initially came from the Bild newspaper, which reported that a heavily armed elite police unit had stormed the suspect’s apartment in Bernau and that the police were also searching an apartment in the western German city of Sankt Augustin in connection with the case have.

Bild reported that German authorities responded after receiving a tip from an unnamed foreign intelligence agency.

“In view of the high threat posed by Islamist, anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli violence, we are acting with the greatest vigilance and attention,” said Faeser.