German authorities announced Saturday evening the arrest of five individuals suspected of plotting a vehicle-ramming attack targeting one of the country's many Christmas markets. The annual markets, which draw large crowds, have been under heightened security in recent years following several attacks.

The group, consisting of an Egyptian, three Moroccans, and a Syrian, is suspected of Islamist motives, authorities stated. The Egyptian, a 56-year-old imam at a mosque near Dingolfing-Landau (Bavaria), allegedly called for an attack targeting a crowded market “using a vehicle to kill or injure as many people as possible,” according to sources. The Moroccan nationals, aged 22, 28, and 30, reportedly agreed to carry out the attack, while the 37-year-old Syrian allegedly encouraged them. All suspects have been taken into custody pending charges.

“This demonstrates the excellent cooperation between security services," stated Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, adding that the intervention prevented a potentially devastating attack motivated by Islamist extremism. Authorities have not revealed the location of the arrests or the targeted market.

Increased Security Following Past Attacks

German Christmas markets have been fortified with increased security measures in recent years, following several attacks. In 2016, a truck-ramming attack at a Berlin Christmas market left 13 dead. Last year, a similar attack in Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, resulted in six deaths and over 300 injuries. The perpetrator, Taleb Jawad al-Abdulmohsen, a Saudi national with extremist views, is currently on trial.

The Magdeburg attack sparked renewed debate about security and immigration. The incident took place during a national election campaign, and contributed to a surge in support for the far-right Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party.

Despite these concerns, the majority of German Christmas markets reopened this year under increased police protection. Some, however, like the market in Overath near Cologne, were cancelled due to the high cost of security measures.

Last year, over 7,000 Christmas markets across Germany attracted 170 million visitors, generating approximately 4.2 billion euros in revenue, an average of 25 euros per visitor.

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