German officials say they foiled terror plot targeting bike race

Police outside of the apartment where explosives were found.
(Image credit: Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)

German officials said they thwarted an attack that they believe would have targeted a professional cycling race from Eschborn to Frankfurt set for Friday.

Authorities raided a home outside of Frankfurt where they seized weapons, including a pipe bomb, and chemicals that can be used to make explosives, The Associated Press reports. A 35-year-old Turkish-German man and his 34-year-old Turkish wife were detained, and officials said they both had been under surveillance. "According to our current information, we have prevented an attack," said Stefan Mueller, the chief of police for Hesse State. He did not say if the husband and wife are thought to be tied to any extremist groups.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.