14-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack in Germany

Today, a 14-year-old boy was arrested in Cologne on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack, reportedly linked to the Islamic State group.

Emirhan A. is accused of plotting an attack in the name of the Islamic State, potentially targeting a Christmas market later this year. The Cologne prosecutors are investigating him for promoting propaganda for unconstitutional organizations and for his affiliation with the Islamic State.

While the prosecutor’s office stated that Emirhan A. had previously not raised concerns with German authorities, he recently posted a video on TikTok pledging allegiance to the Islamic State, captioned “Before it’s too late.” The investigation revealed additional online profiles containing extremist content, including one where he had renamed himself to “Suicide Bomber/Martyr” and described himself with the phrase “I am on my way to death.” The extent of his preparations for a potential attack remains unclear.

“TikTok has evolved from a platform for dancing to a hotbed of extremism. Radicalization is occurring in real time, right in our pockets. We must increase scrutiny of these channels, which also means holding platform providers accountable,” stated North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Roehl, who praised the prompt action of security authorities. “It is shocking that a 14-year-old is engaging in glorifying and disseminating Islamic State propaganda along with attack fantasies,” he added.