A 15-year-old boy from the Augsburg district in Germany has been charged with allegedly preparing a terrorist attack targeting a synagogue, according to prosecutors in Munich.
The teenager is accused of having collected large quantities of pyrotechnic materials for the planned attack and of having previously detonated a homemade explosive device. He is currently being held in custody.
The indictment was submitted to the juvenile court of the Augsburg District Court and includes several serious charges, including preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state, the unlawful possession and handling of explosives, causing an explosion, and serious bodily harm.
According to reports by the German newspaper Bild, investigators believe the teenager had links to and sympathised with the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organisation.
The investigation began in autumn 2025. Prosecutors allege that, at the end of October 2025, the teenager caused an explosion using a spherical explosive device roughly the size of a tennis ball. The blast reportedly resulted in the loss of two of his fingers, while a friend standing nearby suffered minor injuries.
The case comes amid broader concerns over threats against Jewish communities in Germany. Security authorities have warned of increasing risks from extremist networks, including Islamist-inspired actors.
The teenager’s lawyer has rejected claims that he had planned an attack. As the legal proceedings continue, the suspect remains protected by the presumption of innocence.
