BERLIN -- Three suspected Islamic militants were arrested for allegedly plotting attacks on Ramstein Air Base, a key U.S. and NATO military hub, and Frankfurt International Airport, one of Europe's busiest, German authorities said today.
"There was an imminent threat," German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung told ARD broadcaster.
Prosecutors said they arrested three suspected members of "an Islamic-motivated terrorist organization," while Jung told ARD the men were suspected of targeting the airport and base.
The Sudwestrundfunk public broadcaster, citing unnamed security officials, reported that two suspects had German citizenship while the third was Pakistani. Authorities closed in on the men after they were seen moving possibly dangerous chemicals, the leading Der Spiegel weekly reported, citing investigators.
Prosecutors in Karlsruhe said the arrests took place Tuesday afternoon.
