German police arrest 10 people suspected of plotting major attacks

German police have arrested 10 people suspected of planning major attacks with stockpiled weapons and explosives, a prosecution spokesman says.

Officials gave little details about the case but one of the suspects was confirmed as a Tajikistan national.

The arrests were made in pre-dawn raids on Saturday in western and southern parts of Germany.

Prosecutors said the suspects were arrested for allegedly plotting a "serious, state-endangering crime."

Local media reported that they were sympathizers of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

However, a prosecution spokesman later said that the suspects had been released after no evidence of a cache of weapons or explosives was found.

Germany has been the scene of several terrorist attacks claimed by Daesh in recent years, including a 2016 truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market.

The incident took place in December 2016 when a truck plowed into a popular Christmas market packed with tourists as well as local shoppers, killing 12 people outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church near Berlin's Zoo station.

SS