German authorities have arrested five suspects, including an imam, for planning a terrorist attack at a Christmas market in Bavaria.

The authorities in Germany thwarted a terrorist attack targeting a Christmas market in Bavaria, arresting five individuals suspected of preparing a car bomb attack. Among the suspects are an Egyptian, three Moroccans, and a Syrian, arrested during an operation carried out on Friday. Investigators suspect an Islamist motivation behind the plan, and the Egyptian, an imam from near the town of Dingolfing-Landau, is accused of inciting the attack. The three Moroccans agreed to carry out the attack, while the Syrian encouraged them. All suspects have been sent to trial and placed in detention. The Minister of the Interior of Bavaria highlighted the effective cooperation between security services, which led to the prevention of this attack. Christmas markets in Germany benefit from increased security following previous attacks, including the one in 2016, which resulted in 13 deaths.