German security and intelligence forces are conducting nationwide operations to detect terrorist cells, following the revelations that a jihadist group from Dusseldorf was planning large scale attacks across Germany. According to new information, German authorities suspect over 180 people are linked to the Islamic State (IS) and other jihadist groups.

The German Justice Ministry representative said that over 120 investigations were under way, while German media say three of the Syrians arrested in police operations had applied for asylum as refugees, with a fourth man caught in February confessing that a group was preparing terrorist attacks in Dusseldorf with 10 gun men. He revealed the plan involved two suicide attacks, planting explosive devices in various locations and multiple assaults with automatic weapons in different places in the city. The German Interior Ministry believes there could be 500 jihadists on German soil.