BERLIN, June 13 (Xinhua) -- German police are investigating a 29-year-old Tunisian living in Cologne after they found highly toxic substance in his apartment, local media reported on Wednesday.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) received a tip that a 29-year-old sympathizer of the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS) may plan a bio-chemical attack, according to German media Focus Online.
Focus Online said, thanks to the note from the BfV, the Cologne police were "apparently able to prevent a terrorist attack with a highly toxic attack weapon".
On Wednesday, the Federal Prosecutor's Office confirmed that the suspected Tunisian was being prosecuted on suspicion of preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state.
Focus Online and several other media outlets said the substance discovered was ricin, but authorities did not want to confirm it.
Police raided the suspect's apartment late on Tuesday. German SEK police commandos and specialized chemical units from the police and fire departments were sent to ground late Tuesday. A mobile laboratory was mounted in the entrance area of the apartment to analyze the substance, according to German media DW.
The suspect was said to have arrived in Germany in November 2016.
