German police release Syrian teen detained over attack fears

BERLIN – Police in Germany say they have released a 17-year-old Syrian asylum seeker detained this week on suspicion of planning a suicide attack in Berlin.

Brandenburg state police said Wednesday they wouldn’t be seeking an order to keep the teenager in investigative detention.

He was apprehended Tuesday at a home for refugees in Gerswalde, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) northeast of Berlin. Authorities say he sent a WhatsApp message to his mother saying farewell and announcing he would be joining jihad, or holy war.

Herbst says A., whose last name wasn’t released in line with privacy laws, was questioned for several hours. His cellphones and a tablet were confiscated and examined but authorities found no evidence he was planning a terrorist attack.