Investigators believe that 22-year-old Albakr, who arrived in Germany last year, had planned a terrorist attack. German authorities believe he had links to the Islamic State militant group and was planning to attack a Berlin airport, possibly as soon as this week.
German police said that Albakr’s “approach and behavior” during the thwarted plot suggested a link to terror group ISIS.
German officials are demanding answers after the suspect was found lifeless in his jail cell. Authorities tried to resuscitate him for about half an hour, but he was declared dead after their attempts failed.
Interior minister, Thomas de Maiziere, said Albakr’s death would make the investigation into whether he had accomplices far more difficult. “What happened last night demands a very rapid and comprehensive explanation,” he said on ZDF public television.
Albakr’s lawyer, Alexander Huebner, told Focus magazine that the Leipzig prison had been aware of the suicide risk the suspect posed. “I’m unbelievably shocked and absolutely speechless that something like this could have happened,” he said.
The Saxony Justice Minister Sebastian Gemkow told reporters that Albakr had strangled himself with his shirt but it was not clear if he had hanged himself in his cell. There are no video surveillance of prison cells in accordance with local law, Gemkow explained.
Gemkow said Albakr had been seen by a psychologist during the same day, but it was assessed that suicide was unlikely. Authorities then decided to reduce cell checks on him from every 15 minutes to every 30.
The Syrian had been under surveillance by German domestic intelligence since last month. Albakr was granted asylum after coming to Germany last year.
He was arrested on Monday in Leipzig.
