German Police Fear Suicide Bomber Attack on Bundeswehr Camp in Iraq

German police expressed concern that a suicide bomber from Germany’s Hamburg may possibly attack a camp of Bundeswehr, the German forces, in Iraq’s Erbil, local media reported Monday, citing sources.

BERLIN (Sputnik) – In autumn, Hamburg law enforcement learned that the 20-year-old suspected extremist could be planning a terrorist attack, Der Spiegel newspaper reported. According to the media, the suspect has pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State (or Daesh in Arabic), a jihadist organization outlawed in many countries including Russia. He reportedly told Daesh affiliates in Germany that he was ready to sacrifice himself for the group’s aims.

The suspect’s current location is unknown to the German police, but they suspect he might be in Syria, according to the media.

Being a member of the US-led coalition against Daesh militants, Germany has so far provided only logistical and technical assistance to the international alliance, refraining from participation in the coalition’s airstrikes. Berlin also trained Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq. Nearly 100 German military instructors participate in the mission of combat training of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

Earlier in December, Germany’s parliament approved launching a military campaign in Syria against Daesh. The mission is expected to involve up to 1,200 German troops.