German authorities thwart potential terror attack on Christmas market in Bavaria

German officials have successfully prevented a potential terror attack on a Christmas market in Bavaria following a tip-off from a foreign intelligence agency. A 37-year-old Iraqi man was arrested Wednesday evening at a shared asylum-seeker accommodation in Augsburg. Bavarian police confirmed the arrest on Friday.

According to reports from German newspaper Welt, the suspect had posted pro-Islamic State (IS) content on social media and had taken photographs of the Christmas market. He allegedly expressed intentions of driving a car through the market. Authorities were alerted to his online activity by a foreign intelligence agency, leading to his swift arrest and detention for deportation.

This incident comes after previous terror attacks at Christmas markets, including the 2016 attack in Berlin, where 13 people were killed when a man pledged allegiance to IS and drove a truck into a crowd. Another deadly attack took place in Strasbourg in 2018, claiming five lives.

Germany is preparing for a snap election in February following the collapse of its three-party coalition, amid growing concerns over migration and rising support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

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