Turkey tipped off Germany in New Year’s Eve attack plot

Fevzi Kızılkoyun – ANKARA

People passing the secured main train station in Munich, Germany, January 1, 2016. REUTERS photo

Turkish intelligence reportedly tipped off Germany about the terror attack plot which caused a security alert in two metro stations in the Bavarian capital Munich on New Year’s Eve.

Turkey reportedly shared information with Germany, France, Austria, Italy and Belgium that a group of five Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants had crossed into Europe and would carry out simultaneous attacks on New Year’s Eve.

The warning notice said the group, who were linked to Syrians Hasan Al Talab and Muhammed El Suri, crossed into Europe via the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, had fake passports as of October and were plotting to carry out major simultaneous attacks in various cities. It also added the jihadist group had targeted churches in Europe and entertainment locations as part of a suicide bombing plot.

On New Year’s Eve, German police cleared Munich’s central Pasing stations after a tipoff that ISIL militants were plotting terror attacks. The two stations were reopened a few hours later.

Munich Police Chief Hubertus Andrae had said the intelligence had come from the secret service of a friendly nation.

Meanwhile, ISIL militant Aine Leslie Junior Davis, known as the assistant of Jihadi John, was captured in Turkey through joint intelligence sharing among Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT), the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the British MI-6. Davis had closely been followed through Raqqa, Kilis, Gaziantep and Istanbul.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere urged on Jan. 2 for closer cooperation among foreign security services after the security alert in Munich, as reported by Reuters.