German soldier posed as refugee, arrested for planning terror attack

POLICE HAVE arrested a German soldier who had posed as a Syrian refugee on suspicion he was planning an attack, apparently motivated by anti-foreigner sentiment, in a case that German prosecutors said Thursday was “more than strange.”

The 28-year-old lieutenant, whose name wasn’t released, faces charges of preparing an act of violence, Frankfurt prosecutor’s spokeswoman Nadja Niesen told reporters.

The officer, who was “of German background” and stationedinfrance,allegedlystashed a loaded pistol in a bathroom at the Vienna airport that was discovered,leadingaustrianauthorities to take him into temporary custody when he went to retrieve it in February, Niesen said.

Though under investigation in Austria, authorities there did not keep him in custody and he was arrested in Germany Thursday.

A 24-year-old student from the soldier’s hometown of Offenbach was also arrested. “We know from various voice recordings that both had antiforeigner views,” Niesen said.

The officer had registered as a Syrian refugee in the state of Hesse at the end of 2015 and had been living “sporadically” at a home for asylum seekers on and off since January 2016. Though he was officially stationed with the Bundeswehr in 2016, authorities say he wasn’t required to be present at all times.

German media reported that the officer intended to blame the attack on foreigners. Refugees have carried out several deadly attacks in Germany over the past year, stoking anti-migrant sentiment in the country.

“It sounds more than strange,” Niesen said. “I think we have to await more from the investigation to find out more about his motivation.” southern