Tunisian man, identified only as Sief Allah H, is accused of procuring materials for creation of deadly toxin

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

German prosecutors say they have thwarted an alleged plot to launch an attack with the deadly toxin ricin.

A 29-year-old Tunisian man, identified only as Sief Allah H, who was arrested on Wednesday, is accused of procuring material online including seeds needed for the creation of ricin, federal prosecutors said on Thursday.

They allege he succeeded in creating the toxin this month and investigators found it in a search of his apartment in Cologne. They are still investigating exactly how the suspect may have planned to use the toxin, but allege he was working on an attack in Germany.

Prosecutors said they currently had no evidence of a connection with any extremist organisation.

They did not immediately comment on a Bild newspaper report that American intelligence had tipped off German investigators.