Former Islamic State Member Arrested in Germany Over Suspected Plot to Attack Pro-Israel Rally

29-year old German-Egyptian national, previously convicted and jailed for links with Islamic State, alleged to have planned truck attack on pro-Israel rally in possible response to recent Israel-Hamas conflict.

The suspect, Tarik S., a 29-year old German-Egyptian national, had allegedly planned a truck attack on a pro-Israel rally. His motivation is believed to be linked to the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Tarik S. was arrested at his home in Duisburg following a tip-off from an unnamed foreign intelligence service. His alleged threats and online activities had prompted his arrest under the Risk Prevention Act.
Previously, Tarik S. had been convicted and served five years in jail for links with the Islamic State. He had travelled to Syria via Turkey at the end of 2013 to join the terrorist group, becoming known by the name 'Osama the German'.
While in Syria, Tarik S. is reported to have posed next to a beheading victim and urged German believers to join him in Syria. On his return to Germany in 2016, he was arrested and sentenced to five years' imprisonment for his links with terrorism.
Tarik S. had allegedly expressed wanting to die as a martyr and plotted to drive a lorry into the pro-Israel demonstration. His actions have striking similarities to those of Anis Amri, an Islamic State-inspired terrorist who drove a truck into a Berlin Christmas market in December 2016, killing 12 people.