German soldier held for plotting terror attack

Berlin: A German soldier, suspected of planning a terrorist attack, was arrested on Thursday, a prosecutor said.

According to the prosecutor in Frankfurt Am Main, the 28-year-old soldier had been stationed in Illkirch city and planned to carry out a terrorist attack out of xenophobic reasons.

The soldier first came under suspicion when he hid a firearm in the toilet of Vienna Airport at the end of January, officials said.

Searches were made by 90 policemen on Wednesday in connection with the suspect in Germany, Austria and France.

A 24-year-old student was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of being the soldier's accomplice, the prosecutors said.

Further investigation was underway.