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Jan. 8 (UPI) -- An Iranian man has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of plotting a terror attack, German officials said Sunday. The 32-year-old man, who has not been identified, allegedly procured cyanide and ricin to commit an "Islamist-motivated attack," police in the town of Munster in northwest Germany said in a statement. Another man was also taken into custody amid the investigation.
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Police raided his home in the city of Castrop-Rauxel where the biochemical toxins were found and he is expected to face charges including the preparation of a serious act of violence endangering the state, which is punishable by a sentence of six months to 10 years in prison.
The German tabloid Bild reported that the man was arrested by a special task force that wore protective suits during the raid.
Ricin is a highly toxic biological agent produced in the seeds of the castor oil plant and has long been researched for its uses as a weapon.
In June 2018, police in the German city of Cologne found ricin meant for the production of a biological contaminating device and arrested a 29-year-old man from Tunisia.
Former actress Shannon Richardson pleaded guilty after she mailed letters containing ricin to U.S. politicians including former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former President Barack Obama in 2013.
The news came as authorities in Iran executed two men Saturday after they were convicted of killing a paramilitary officer during nationwide protests in November.
