Six Syrian men were arrested in raids across Germany on Tuesday morning on suspicion of planning a terror attack on behalf of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

According to unconfirmed reports, the target of the planned attack was a traditional Christmas market which opens in the western city of Essen next week.

The men all entered Germany as asylum seekers, and are believed to have known each other in Syria before travelling to Europe.

Authorities were alerted to the suspects by other asylum seekers who recognised them as jihadists who had fought for Isil in Syria, Welt newspaper reported.

Officials have yet to comment on the target of the planned attack. A statement by prosecutors said the men were “planning an attack with weapons or explosives on a public target in Germany”.