Germany detains brothers from Iran over alleged terror plot involving cyanide and ricin

Berlin — Counterterrorism police in Germany raided an apartment in the west of the country over the weekend, arresting an Iranian national and his brother who now stand accused of preparing an attack motivated by Islamic extremism. The 32-year-old man who was the primary subject of the investigation is suspected of preparing an attack using cyanide and ricin, according to the General Prosecutor's Office in Düsseldorf.

The suspects were taken into custody on Sunday. How far the plan had progressed, whether there was any concrete target decided upon, or whether the men had already obtained either of the lethal substances remained unclear on Monday. The prosecutor's office said there was no indication of involvement by Iranian government agencies in the alleged plot.

According to the Robert Koch Institute, the German government's national health and disease control agency, ricin is classified as a "biological weapon" of war. Cyanide is also highly toxic; even the smallest amount can have a lethal effect on humans.