German authorities have arrested five men suspected of planning an attack on a Christmas market. This was reported by DPA, citing the Munich prosecutor's office.
The failed plot was aimed at a Christmas market in the Dingolfing area of the southern German state of Bavaria.
The Munich prosecutor's office said that formal arrest warrants had been issued for four of the men and that the other was in preventive detention.
German authorities suspect that the plans for the attack were based on Islamist motives and that it was to be carried out by car.
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told "Bild" that thanks to "excellent cooperation from our security authorities" multiple suspects could have been arrested in a short time, preventing a possible Islamist-motivated attack in Bavaria.
The security of German Christmas markets during the winter holiday season is a top priority for German authorities, especially after failures to prevent attacks in recent years.