A 21-year-old citizen of Tajikistan has been deported from Germany after being detained in December on suspicion of planning an attack targeting crowded public areas.
According to Die Zeit, the man was arrested in the city of Magdeburg and placed in custody over concerns he posed a threat to public safety. German authorities said the alleged plot was linked to his radical religious beliefs.
Officials reported that the young man had undergone a process of radicalization and demonstrated a growing interest in firearms. During his time at a vocational training school, he allegedly engaged in repeated conflicts with fellow students over religious matters.
Mario Schwan, head of the Saxony-Anhalt state police, said there was a “concrete threat” associated with the suspect.
The man had legally entered Germany in June 2024 on an Au Pair visa, citing interest in the German language and culture in his application. He later enrolled in a medical training program at a university clinic in Magdeburg.
Despite the security concerns, the Halle city prosecutor’s office declined to open a criminal case, stating that the suspect’s alleged plans lacked sufficient specificity — there were no clear details about the time, place, or method of a potential attack. Germany’s federal prosecutor also chose not to pursue charges.
Following his arrest, the German Interior Ministry explored the option of voluntary departure. The man ultimately agreed to leave the country and was deported to Tajikistan.
