Alleged 2007 bomb plot in Germany

Infobox civilian attack
title = Alleged 2007 bomb plot in Germany


caption =
location = Medebach, Germany
target = Ramstein Air Base, Frankfurt Airport, discos and pubs
date =
time =
timezone =
type = attempted bombing
fatalities =
injuries =
perps =
susperps = 3 individuals
weapons = Hydrogen peroxide and military-grade detonatorsFollowing an extensive nine-month investigation, involving some 300 people,cite news | last = Landler | first = Mark | coauthors = Kulish, Nicholas | title = German Police Arrest 3 in Terrorist Plot | publisher = New York Times | date = 2007-09-06 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/06/world/europe/06germany.html | accessdate = 2007-09-08 ] three men were arrested on 4 September, 2007 while leaving a rented cottage in the Oberschledorn district of Medebach, Germany where they were alleged to have stored 700 kg (1,500 lb) of a hydrogen peroxide-based mixture and 26 military-grade detonators [cite news | last = Kulish | first = Nicholas | coauthors = Mekhennet, Souad | title = From Fritz to Adbullah: conversion shocks Germans | work = New York Times | publisher = theage.com.au | date = 2007-09-08 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/from-fritz-to-adbullah-conversion-shocks-germans/2007/09/07/1188783495046.html | accessdate = 2007-09-08 ] Der Spiegel: [http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/0,1518,509851,00.html Teenager schmuggelte Zünder nach Deutschland] , October 6, 2007] and were attempting to build car bombs. [cite news | title = Communications Intercept Led To Bomb-Plot Arrests | work = Los Angeles Times | publisher = TBO.com | date = 2007-09-07 | url = http://www.tbo.com/news/nationworld/MGBD1CJ4A6F.html | accessdate = 2007-09-08 ]

uspects

The three suspects were all unemployed.cite news | last = Schofield | first = Matthew | title = Germany considers monitoring converts to Islam on Internet | work = McClatchy-Tribune | publisher = Houston Chronicle | date = 2007-09-06 | url = http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/5115109.html | accessdate = 2007-09-08 ] Two were German converts to Islam from Christianity [Katrin Bennhold: [http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/12/europe/letter.php Letter from Europe: Local terrorism suspects puzzle Germany] , "International Herald Tribune", September 12, 2007] , who had attended Pakistani camps run by Islamic Jihad Union.cite news | last = Higgins | first = Alexander G. | title = Germans Concerned About Muslim Converts | work = Associated Press | publisher = Forbes.com | date = 2007-09-07 | url = http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/09/07/ap4094092.html | accessdate = 2007-09-08 ]

Born in Munich, Fritz Gelowicz, 28, moved to Ulm with his parents and brother at the age of 5. He converted to Islam between the ages of 15-18 while attending the "Multi-Kultur-Haus" in neighboring Neu-Ulm with friend Tolga Dürbin, and used the name "Abdullah".cite news | last = Kulish | first = Nicholas | coauthors = Mekhennet, Souad | title = In Plot Suspect, Germany Sees Familiar Face | publisher = New York Times | date = 2007-09-07 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/07/world/europe/07fritz.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin | accessdate = 2007-09-08 ] He was married in January 2007, to a German-Turkish woman. He was attending college in Ulm, studying to be an engineer.cite news | last = Boyes | first = Roger | title = German terror suspect 'met 9/11 hijacker' | work = The Times | publisher = Times Online | date = 2007-09-07 | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2407656.ece | accessdate = 2007-09-08 ] He was raised in an upper middle class family where his father was a solar heating salesman and his mother was a nurse. His parents separated when he was 15, and Gelowicz remained with his father. He was considered the leader of the plot.cite news | title = Die Bombenbauer aus der Provinz | publisher = Spiegel Online | date = 2007-09-07 | url = http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,504464-2,00.html | accessdate = 2007-09-08 ]

Daniel Martin Schneider, 21, lived in Saarbruecken, where he had disputes with his neighbours over his loud prayers. He dropped out of the twelfth grade after only a few weeks. He converted to Islam at the age of 19, and spent time studying the Koran and Arabic in Egypt.cite news | title = Die Bombenbauer aus der Provinz | publisher = Spiegel Online | date = 2007-09-07 | url = http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,504464-3,00.html | accessdate = 2007-09-08 ] Like Gelowicz, Schneider's parents were divorced when he was young and Schneider had many Turkish friends, who seem to have introduced him to Islam. Schneider also spent 9 months as a conscript in the German army and trained in munitions. He met Gelowicz and Yilmaz at an Islamic Jihad Union training camp in Pakistan.

Adem Yilmaz, varyingly reported as 28 or 29, was born in Turkey. [cite news | last = Gomez | first = Edward M. | title = Germany's thwarted bombers: "Not an abstract danger, but a very real threat" | publisher = SFGate.com | date = 2007-09-06 | url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=15&entry_id=20048 | accessdate = 2007-09-08 ] He came to Germany with his family in 1993. He has two younger sisters and a younger brother. His family lives in Germany's Hessian area.cite news | title = Die Bombenbauer aus der Provinz | publisher = Spiegel Online | date = 2007-09-07 | url = http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,504464-4,00.html | accessdate = 2007-09-08 ] Seven lesser figures are also being hunted. Only five are known by name. The other two have been identified by aliases. Four of the ten suspects (including Yilmaz) have been identified as Turkish.cite news | last = Dempsey | first = Judy | coauthors = Bennhold, Katrin | title = Germany Debates Security Measures | publisher = New York Times | date = 2007-09-08 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/world/europe/08investigation.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin | accessdate = 2007-09-08 ]

Investigation

The suspects had been under observation since the end of 2006, when Fritz Gelowicz had been spotted suspiciously observing a US airforce base in Hanau. [Die Welt online: [http://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article1166730/Klarer_Auftrag_fuer_Attentate_kam_aus_Pakistan.html?page=10 "Klarer Auftrag" für Attentate kam aus Pakistan] , September 7, 2007] The suspects had rented a vacation house in the remote town of Oberschledorn, where they amassed 700 kg. (1,500lbs) of hydrogen peroxide, and military-grade detonators from Syria. [Süddeutsche Zeitung: [http://www.sueddeutsche.de/deutschland/artikel/224/131986/ Spuren führen nach Syrien und Pakistan] , September 8, 2007]

The men were preparing to move the chemicals by van, when they were arrested outside the home on September 4. There was a minor scuffle and one of the men shot a German police officer in the hand before being subdued.cite news | last = Purvis | first = Andrew | title = German Plot Signals al-Qaeda Revival | publisher = TIME | date = 2007-09-05 | url = http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1659033,00.html | accessdate = 2007-09-08 ]

Some had speculated over a possible link between the German arrests and the ones in Denmark only hours earlier. Officials have denied that any such connection exists.

A July 20 conversation between two suspects mentioned targeting "a disco filled with American sluts", as well as Ramstein Air Base and the Frankfurt airport.Erik Kirschbaum: [http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0838154320070908 German suspects had deadline for attacks: report] , "Reuters", September 8, 2007]

A phone call from northern Pakistan in late August is purported to have set a September 15 deadline for the group's attacks.Erik Kirschbaum: [http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0838154320070908 German suspects had deadline for attacks: report] , "Reuters", September 8, 2007] The group was aware that they were being watched by police, one member even slashing an unmarked police car's tires while stopped at an intersection.Erik Kirschbaum: [http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0838154320070908 German suspects had deadline for attacks: report] , "Reuters", September 8, 2007]

A routine traffic stop by police not involved in the investigation led to the officers mentioning that the drivers were on a federal watchlist, a comment that federal bugs recorded the suspects overhearing and discussing. This led to the immediate unscheduled raid on their cottage.Erik Kirschbaum: [http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0838154320070908 German suspects had deadline for attacks: report] , "Reuters", September 8, 2007]

Materials

The solution containing 35% hydrogen peroxide [
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jGbU6dEXD4p3ZicM8uWUZ8wkxJgg Militant group claims responsibility for foiled bombing attacks in Germany] , "The Canadian Press", September 12, 2007] had been purchased legally. [David McHugh and Ann Cahill: [http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=world-qqqm=world-qqqa=world-qqqid=41808-qqqx=1.asp Suspected terror plot thwarted in Germany] , "Irish Examiner", September 6, 2007] The Pakistani terror camps had reportedly trained their members to make bombs using peroxide as it was easy to procure, and unlikely to rouse suspicion. [The Washington Post: [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/05/AR2007090500209_2.html Germany Says It Foiled Bomb Plot] , September 5, 2007]

Three used vans had also been purchased in France, and brought into Germany, possibly to be the carriers for the bombs.The Times of India: [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Terror_suspects_brought_3_vans_into_Germany_says_official/articleshow/2350738.cms Terror suspects brought 3 vans into Germany, says official] , September 8, 2007]

Aftermath

Tougher terror legislation was proposed by German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries. The new laws would make it illegal to train and/or obtain substances for an attack. The proposed penalty would be up to ten years in prison. [AP/Geir Moulson: [http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1663290,00.html New German Terror Laws Proposed] , Time, September 19, 2007]

References

External links

* [http://news.aol.com/story/_a/german-authorities-arrest-man-accused-of/n20070815111109990003 Story of Tolga D.'s arrest]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6979295.stm]
* [http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,504037,00.html]
* [http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/09/05/germany.terrorarrests/index.html]
* [http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0906/p06s01-woeu.html?page=2]