Two German-born men of Palestinian Arab descent were charged in Germany with planning to attack either Israel’s embassy or another Israeli institution, according to Benjamin Weinthal, writing in the Jerusalem Post.
The two men are believed to have “been animated” by Islamic State (ISIS), according to Tobiah Kaehni, the spokesperson for Berlin’s Criminal Court.
The two 21-year-old men, identified as Mohamed El-N. and Ali El-I., are charged with “planning a massive act of violence.”
Both men were inspired by internet stories about ISIS, and assembled munitions similar to those used in terrorist attacks in Tunis. ISIS attacked a Tunisian resort hotel in June. Ali Al-I. had ISIS propaganda on his cell phone.
The state prosecutor, who opened his case against the two men on Tuesday, said Ali Al-I. was “determined to detonate explosives targeting Israel’s embassy or another Israeli institution,” Weinthal reported.
Despite the fascination with ISIS and patterning their explosives and attacks on ISIS attacks, the men did not have contact with the Middle East or contact to Salafist circles in Berlin, according to information known thus far.