Car giant Volkswagen has been ordered by a German court to reinstate a suspected Islamist militant it fired over fears he might launch a terrorist attack on the company.

Samir B., 30, worked as a tyre fitter at Volkswagen's plant in Wolfsburg, 55miles east of Hanover, and was fired in 2016 after threatening co-workers and pledging to join ISIS in Syria.

Volkswagen said it had taken the threats against its employees 'seriously' and feared he might mount a terror attack at the corporate HQ in Wolfsburg during a meeting of thousands of workers and shareholders.

Court order: Volkswagen now have a month to re-instate tyre-fitter Samir B, pictured in court, whom they fired in 2016 for threatening co-workers and pledging to join ISIS,

Two of Samir B's known associates had travelled to Syria in 2014 to join ISIS and were later killed fighting for the Islamist terrorist organisation.

In December 2014, Samir B., who is of German-Algerian descent, was stopped at Hanover Airport before boarding a flight to Istanbul, Turkey, carrying 9,350 euros in cash (£8,293) and a drone.

Authorities were convinced that he had been planning to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS, and confiscated his passport.

Samir B, who had worked for Volkswagen for eight years before his 2016 dismissal, had reportedly threatened colleagues that they would 'all die'.

Volkswagen's lawyers said was proven that Samir B. 'was involved in the recruitment and support of Islamic fighters from Wolfsburg', and that the company had no alternative but to terminate his employment.

While working at Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, pictured, Samir B was stopped at an airport, suspected of trying to join ISIS in Syria, and had his passport confiscated

However Samir B sued the car manufacturer for unlawful dismissal, and a judge at Hanover State Employment Court ruled in his favour.

The judge said VW had not been able to state that the 'operational peace' of the plant had been 'specifically disturbed.'

During court proceedings, Volkswagen offered a 65,000 euro settlement, bur Samir B's lawyer refused, Bild.De reports.

Volkswagen is obliged to reinstate him in a month's time, but media report that the company will appeal the verdict to a higher court.