Three teens suspected of backing Islamic State arrested in Switzerland

Two of the arrests took place in canton Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland. KEYSTONE/KEYSTONE/Ennio Leanza

Three teenagers from the northern Swiss cantons of Schaffhausen and Thurgau have been arrested for allegedly planning explosives attacks in the country. They are also suspected of supporting the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organisation.

The detainees are a 15-year-old Swiss national and a 16-year-old Italian from canton Schaffhausen, as well as an 18-year-old from canton Thurgau. The aim of investigations is to clarify their exact intentions.

The three young men were arrested over the Easter weekend, and according to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), proceedings have been opened on suspicion of preparing acts of intentional homicide.

Schaffhausen public prosecutor Peter Sticher, who is also carrying out investigations, said that the suspicions are specifically related to the planning of attacks in Switzerland.

+ Read more: how the heightened IS terror threat affects Switzerland

According to the OAG, there is also a link between the Swiss arrests and similar investigations in Germany, where four 15- and 16-year-old youths were arrested over Easter on suspicion of IS-related terrorist activities.

Adapted from German by DeepL/dos

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