Terrorists targeted Americans
The week's news at a glance.
Karlsruhe, Germany
A German terror cell was plotting “imminent” and “massive” attacks against a U.S. Air Force base in Germany and Frankfurt International Airport, prosecutors said this week. Police arrested three men, two German converts to Islam and a Turkish national, who had trained in Pakistan last year and belonged to the Islamic Jihad Union, an al Qaida–linked group. The three were caught with 12 barrels of liquid explosive—more than the amount used in the 2005 Madrid and London bombings—that they allegedly intended to pack into car bombs. “This was one of the most serious terror attacks ever planned in Germany,” said chief prosecutor Monika Harms. U.S. and German intelligence had been watching the men since 2006, when one was spotted staking out a U.S. base near Frankfurt.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Aston Martin Vantage Roadster: 'a rare treat indeed'
The Week Recommends The Roadster version of Aston Martin's new Vantage coupé makes even 'the most mundane journey feel special'
-
Bad Friend: Tiffany Watt Smith explores why women abandon friendships
The Week Recommends A 'deeply researched' account of female friendship through history
-
Brazil's reborn dolls craze
Under The Radar The 'hyper-realistic' babies soaring in popularity in South American nation have spawned controversy