3 men indicted in a case involving an alleged plan to attack a Jewish target in Germany

BERLIN (AP) — Three men have been charged in a case that involves an alleged plan to attack a Jewish target in western Germany, prosecutors said Tuesday.

The 25-year-old main suspect, a German citizen whose name wasn’t released in line with local privacy rules, flew to Istanbul in April with the intention of continuing to Syria to join with Islamic extremist fighters, prosecutors in Stuttgart said. That plan failed and he returned to Germany.

Along with an 18-year-old German-Turkish dual national, he then allegedly planned an attack on a Jewish facility in either Heidelberg or Mannheim. The pair also discussed getting fatally shot by police after such an attack and then having a video claim of responsibility released with recriminations against German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his policy toward Israel, prosecutors said.

The aim of the planned attack was an end to cooperation between Germany and Israel, they added. Germany is a staunch ally of Israel.

The main suspect is already in custody because he is accused of the attempted manslaughter of a German police officer during a raid in May related to the alleged attack plan. He has now been charged with preparing a serious act of violence and conspiracy to murder

The 18-year-old, who is also in custody, was charged with being an accessory to preparing a serious act of violence and conspiracy to murder.

A second 25-year-old German is accused of driving the main suspect to Stuttgart Airport, knowing that the man’s plan was to try to travel to Syria. He was charged with being an accessory to preparing a serious act of violence.

The state court in Heilbronn will have to decide whether, and if so when, to send the case to trial.