Germany says threat of terrorist attacks not as severe as thought

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A threat of possible terrorist attacks in Germany, based on a tip from Lebanese authorities after they interrogated an al-Qaida suspect, is less severe than initially thought, the Interior Ministry said Monday. The tip came after Lebanese police arrested suspect Mohammed Naddoum last Thursday on allegations that he called the German Embassy in Beirut threatening to strike German security targets. Officials have given no details of the possible threats, but German news reports said Lebanon told officials here that the suspect indicated terrorists inside Germany were prepared to attack targets such as Berlin's Justice Ministry building. The ministry said it had heightened security. But Stefan Kaller, spokesman for Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, told a regular government news conference that he received word late Monday morning that the threat was less severe than initially thought.