Asylum seeker arrested in Austria for planning Christmas terror attack
AN ASYLUM seeker from Morocco has been arrested on suspicion of planning an attack in the city of Salzburg, Austria.
Austrian police have arrested an asylum seeker from Morocco
Police believe that the man was planning a serious attack in the period between Christmas and New Year in Salzburg.
Authorities searched the 25-year-old asylum seeker's accommodation but found no materials "clearly required for the execution of an attack".
However, it is believed that the suspect belongs to an unspecified terrorist organisation.
Police believe the suspect was planning an attack in Salzburg
The police were informed in recent months that unidentified men had discussed an alleged terrorist attack in Salzburg in the period around Christmas/New Year
The police arrested seven people, but the police say that the Moroccan is the main suspect who was reportedly planning an attack and the other men were arrested for drugs offences.
Austria is deploying more police at busy public places and tightening other security measures in response to Monday's attack on a Christmas market in Berlin in which 12 people were killed
The prosecutor's office in Austria said: "The police were informed in recent months that unidentified men had discussed an alleged terrorist attack in Salzburg in the period around Christmas/New Year.
"Along with smaller amounts of drugs and cash in the amount of more than £7,000 several electronic devices were seized, which will be assessed.
Sniffer dogs were used during the raid
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The men were arrested in a refugee home in Fuschl, which is in the state of Salzburg.
The mayor of Fuschl, Franz Vogl, said that the asylum seekers "had seemed well integrated and had helped out in the community".