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German teens held for alleged Christmas market attack plot

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German authorities have apprehended two teenagers, aged 15 and 16, under suspicion of planning a militant Islamist attack on either a Christmas market or synagogue. The younger individual, a German-Afghan from Burscheid, was taken into custody after a search of his residence, while the 16-year-old, described as a Russian national, was detained in Wittstock/Dosse. The alleged seriousness of the plot prompted police intervention, as the boys had specified a time and place for the potential attack.

The targeted location initially mentioned in reports was Cologne, southwest of Burscheid, but subsequent information suggested it might be the nearby city of Leverkusen. The suspects had reportedly exchanged information on the Telegram messaging app, discussing the use of homemade incendiary devices or a van to carry out their plans. The arrests come amid concerns about a heightened risk of Islamist militant attacks in Germany, with authorities acting on a tip from abroad regarding a potential threat involving an individual from North Rhine-Westphalia.

The arrests unfolded as Thomas Haldenwang, the head of Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), warned of an increased risk of Islamist militant attacks. Haldenwang linked this elevated threat to the Israel-Hamas conflict and highlighted the potential for attacks on Jewish, Israeli individuals, and institutions in the West. He emphasized that various groups were spreading hatred, incitement, and antisemitism, with jihadist groups like al-Qaeda and Islamic State exploiting the situation to convey a victim narrative to Muslims in the West. The intelligence chief underscored the urgency of the situation, stating that an attack could happen in Germany at any time.

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Switzerland: Hundreds of sex abuse cases ‘tip of the iceberg’, say researchers

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A recent official investigation into the Roman Catholic Church in Switzerland has revealed nearly 1,000 cases of sexual abuse dating back to 1950. The report, compiled by researchers from the University of Zurich, found that the majority of victims were children, with 56% of them being male. Most of the accused individuals were men, and there was also evidence of a widespread cover-up within the Church.

The study, which was commissioned by Church authorities and conducted over a year, granted access to Church archives and included interviews with victims of sexual abuse. However, the researchers noted that many relevant documents had not been provided. They also uncovered instances of records being destroyed in two dioceses, and some cases of abuse were not documented or archived.

The report suggests that the identified cases represent only a fraction of the actual abuse cases, as many likely went unreported. A significant portion of the abuse occurred during pastoral activities, such as confession, altar service, and religious education in children’s clubs and associations. About 30% of the abuse took place within institutions like Catholic children’s homes, day schools, and boarding schools.

The researchers criticized Church officials, including bishops, for their inadequate response to these cases, often keeping them secret, covering them up, or downplaying their significance. They found evidence of clerics accused of abuse being systematically reassigned to different roles, sometimes abroad, to avoid prosecution, prioritizing the Church’s interests over the safety of parishioners.

This culture of secrecy and protection persisted until the 21st century, when various sex abuse scandals began to surface. Groups representing sexual abuse victims expressed their disappointment in the Church’s actions over the decades, accusing it of prioritizing the institution’s reputation over the well-being of victims.

In response to the report, the president of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference acknowledged that the organization had made numerous excuses and had fallen short in its response to victims’ needs. Church authorities pledged to fund a follow-up project by the University of Zurich, set to begin in 2024.

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