German Islamist terror suspect 'formerly a neo-Nazi' Published duration 27 February 2017

image copyright Getty Images image caption Explosives were found in Sascha L's flat in Northeim

A suspected German Islamist who was arrested last week for allegedly planning an attack was formerly a neo-Nazi, reports say.

Sascha L was part of the extreme-right scene until at least 2013 and appeared on videos railing against Muslims and left-wingers, Der Spiegel said.

The 26-year-old is then said to have converted to Islam in 2014.

He was planning to bomb police officers or soldiers after luring them into a trap. police said.

Chemicals used for making explosives and electronic equipment were found in his apartment.

In the YouTube videos, Sascha L said German civilisation was "dying a creeping death" and said Muslims were trying to introduce Sharia - Islamic religious law - in the country, Spiegel said.

Another video was called "Tips for fighting cockroaches" and called for attacks on immigrants.

In some of the videos he wore a scarf and dark glasses and in one he wore a white theatrical mask similar to those worn during marches by members of an extreme right-wing group called the Immortals.

The suspect is from Berlin but moved to Northeim, a small town in Lower Saxony, where he was unemployed and lived off social welfare, DPA news agency said.