499 Islamic extremists pose threat to Germany: officials

PanARMENIAN.Net - German officials say they consider 499 Islamic extremists in the country to be a potential security threat, the Associated Press reports.

A spokesman for the Interior Ministry provided the figure Friday, June 3 following this week's arrest of three Syrians suspected of planning an attack for the Islamic State group.

Johannes Dimroth told reporters in Berlin it was too soon to say how Thursday's arrests affect the security assessment in Germany. The three men arrested all lived in refugee shelters, and Dimroth said authorities had received numerous tips about possible Islamic extremists coming to Germany as asylum-seekers.

Federal prosecutors say the men intended to carry out an attack in the western city of Duesseldorf, but hadn't made concrete plans yet. The plot was uncovered when a fourth suspect informed French authorities earlier this year.