German special forces have detained an allegedly high-ranking member of Islamic State in the southwestern town of Mutterstadt.

It was confirmed by a spokesman for the Interior Ministry in Mainz that a terror suspect believed to be a high-ranking member of Islamic State has been arrested in Mutterstadt, Rheinland-Pfalz, reports Bild.

The spokesman said: “There is a suspicion that we are dealing with a high representative of the terrorist militia Islamic State.”

The man had been picked up by a special task force (SEC), German authorities said to have tracked him down after receiving information from a prisoner in nearby North Rhine-Westphalia.

According to information received by Die Welt, the prisoner overheard a conversation between two migrants which gave details of the suspect before entering prison.

Allegedly there were indications that an attack was planned against the German Bundesliga – the equivalent of the English Premiere League.

The suspect is in custody, and prosecutors have requested a warrant.

This story is developing