Image copyright AP Image caption Police failed to find the suspect in a raid on an apartment

Police in the eastern German city of Chemnitz have detained three people as they continue a search for a suspect believed to be planning a bomb attack.

Acting on a tip-off from the domestic intelligence service, police raided a flat but failed to find the suspect, Jaber al-Bakr, 22, who was born in Syria. He remains on the run.

Several hundred grams of "highly volatile" explosives were found at the property, investigators said.

They were destroyed by a bomb squad.

About 100 people were evacuated from the block of flats as the explosives were moved for a controlled detonation.

Two people in contact with Mr al-Bakr were detained at Chemnitz railway station and another person was detained near the flat in the Fritz-Heckert neighbourhood, Kathlen Zink of Saxony's criminal investigation office said.

She said they were suspected of being "linked with the suspect somehow" and had been taken in for questioning.

Image copyright AFP Image caption A robot capable of disarming bombs has been deployed at Chemnitz railway station

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Police check cars at Berlin's Schoenefeld

The "where, when, how and why" of the planned attack remained unknown according to Tom Bernhardt, a spokesman for the same office.

He said the explosives in the flat were "relatively well hidden".

Saxony police have released pictures of Damascus-born Mr al-Bakr wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt with a colourful print.

They have not provided any information about how long he had been in Germany.

They have urged anyone with information about him to come forward.

Image copyright @PolizeiSachsen

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's popularity has waned since her decision to open the borders to refugees and migrants last year, admitting more than a million people, many of them Syrian.

In July, an axe attack on a train near Wuerzburg and a suicide bombing in Ansbach wounded 20 people and were claimed by so-called Islamic State (IS).</s>BERLIN: The German city of Chemnitz was in lockdown Saturday after armed police launched a huge manhunt for a Syrian suspected of planning a bomb attack, as the country grapples with a weakened sense of security following recent terror assaults.

Police, who told people to stay in their homes, named the suspect as 22-year-old Syrian Jaber Albakr. Photographs posted on social media showed armed police clad in black balaclavas and helmets at an apartment building in the eastern city.

Germany has been on edge after suffering two attacks claimed by the Islamic State group (IS) in July — an axe rampage on a train in Wuerzburg that injured five and a suicide bombing in Ansbach that left 15 wounded.

In the latest alert, police in the state of Saxony issued a search warrant for Albakr, saying he was born in Syria in January 1994.

They said Albakr was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and was “suspected of preparing a bomb attack”.

A search of an apartment in Chemnitz detected traces of explosives but failed to capture the suspect or find a bomb, a police spokesman said.

He said police launched Saturday’s operation after receiving information from domestic intelligence services.

“We are carrying out in Chemnitz a large-scale operation due to suspicions that a bomb attack was being prepared,” police said on Twitter, urging residents to stay at home.

“The explosion heard in the area was a police entry measure. The wanted person has not been found,” police added.

The attacks in July rattled Germans’ sense of security and fuelled concerns over the country’s record influx of migrants and refugees last year.

German police said previously they had identified 523 people who posed a security threat to the country, around half of whom were known to be currently in Germany.

On September 21 German officials said a 16-year-old Syrian refugee had been arrested on suspicion of planning a bomb attack in the name of IS.

The youngster, thought to have been radicalised only recently, was detained in a special forces operation at a shelter for asylum-seekers in the western city of Cologne, police and prosecutors said.

Initial information gathered from the teenager’s mobile phone showed that he had expressed an “unmistakeable willingness” to carry out an attack, Klaus-Stephan Becker of the Cologne police told reporters.

A week earlier, German police detained three men with forged Syrian passports accused of being IS militants and labelled a possible “sleeper cell” with links to the assailants behind the November attacks in Paris.

More than 200 police took part in pre-dawn raids in northern Germany to detain the men, suspected of either plotting an attack or awaiting orders to commit one.

German authorities have urged the public not to confuse migrants with “terrorists”, but have acknowledged that more jihadists may have entered the country among the one million asylum-seekers who arrived last year. -AFP</s>Police cars are lined up in front of an apartment building in Chemnitz, Germany, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016.

BERLIN — German police are searching for a man suspected to have been planning a bombing attack after a raid on his apartment in the eastern city of Chemnitz turned up nothing, authorities said Saturday.

Police raided the apartment after receiving information from Germany's domestic intelligence agency on Friday night about the alleged attack plans, Saxony police spokesman Tom Bernhardt told reporters.

Neighbors reported hearing an explosion, but that was the police assault team blowing open the apartment's door, police spokeswoman Kathlen Zink told The Associated Press.

She said police found nobody in the apartment, that that they are now searching for the suspect.

She refused to provide details about the suspect or about whether any explosives had been found in the apartment.

"The investigation is continuing," she said.

Germany has been on edge since two attacks this summer claimed by the Islamic State in which multiple people were injured and both assailants died. Two other attacks unrelated to Islamic extremism, including a deadly mall shooting in Munich, have also contributed to fears.</s>BERLIN -- German police searched nationwide Sunday for a 22-year-old Syrian man believed to have been preparing a bombing attack, who slipped through their fingers as they were closing in on him, and were questioning a second Syrian man on suspicion he was involved in the plot.

The man in custody was one of three apprehended in the eastern city of Chemnitz on Saturday. He was the renter of the apartment that police raided in their search for the main suspect, Jaber Albakr from the Damascus area of Syria, Saxony police spokesman Tom Bernhardt told The Associated Press. The other two men have been released.

He said the man in custody was Albakr's "countryman" but would not give other details.

"We believe he is a possible co-conspirator," Bernhardt said.

On Saturday morning, as police prepared to raid the apartment building, Albakr was observed leaving the premises. Police fired a warning shot but were unable to stop him, Bernhardt said, confirming German media reports.

They thought he had turned back into the building but was not the case, he said.

Bernhardt also confirmed reports that Albakr had come to Germany in the flood of 890,000 migrants who entered the country in 2015 and had been granted asylum.

Nobody was in the apartment when police SWAT teams blew down the door Saturday, but investigators found "several hundred grams" of a volatile explosive hidden in the flat, enough to cause significant damage, Bernhardt said.

"With this highly volatile explosive, even a few hundred grams is no trifle," he said. "For an explosive of this type, it was a considerable amount."

He said experts were still trying to determine whether it was the same explosive used in the deadly Nov. 13 attacks in Paris and the March 22 attacks in Brussels known as TATP, or triacetone triperoxide.

"It's comparable to that," he said.

TATP has been used in many attacks over the years, and is favored by violent extremists because it's fairly easy to make and detonate.

The explosives were destroyed Saturday in a controlled detonation by bomb squad experts in a pit dug outside the five-story apartment building because they were considered too dangerous to transport.

The raid came after Saxony police were given a tip from Germany's domestic intelligence service that Albakr may be planning an attack. He had been on the agency's radar, but Bernhardt said it was not clear how long.

 German media have reported that Albakr is believed to be connected to Islamic extremist groups, but Saxony police have not commented on his possible motivation or the bomb plot's target.

Germany has been on edge since two attacks this summer claimed by the Islamic State in which multiple people were injured and both assailants died. Two other attacks unrelated to Islamic extremism, including a deadly mall shooting in Munich, have also contributed to fears.

Federal police have increased security around the country, particularly around "critical infrastructure" like train stations and airports, as authorities search for Albakr.</s>BERLIN — German police searched nationwide Sunday for a 22-year-old Syrian man believed to have been preparing a bombing attack and were questioning a second Syrian man on suspicion he was involved in the plot.

The man in custody was one of three apprehended in the eastern city of Chemnitz on Saturday. He was the renter of the apartment that police raided in their search for the main suspect, Jaber Albakr from the Damascus area of Syria, Saxony police spokesman Tom Bernhardt told The Associated Press. The other two men have been released.

He said the man in custody was Albakr's "countryman" but would not give other details.

Bernhardt also confirmed reports that Albakr had come to Germany in the flood of 890,000 migrants who entered the country in 2015 and had been granted asylum.

Nobody was in the apartment when police SWAT teams blew down the door midday Saturday, but investigators found "several hundred grams" of a volatile explosive stashed in the flat. Even though it was a relatively small quantity, it could have been enough to cause significant damage, Bernhardt said.

"With this highly volatile explosive, even a few hundred grams is no trifle," he said. "For an explosive of this type, it was a considerable amount."

He said experts were still trying to determine whether it was the same explosive used in the deadly Nov. 13 attacks in Paris and the March 22 attacks in Brussels known as TATP, or triacetone triperoxide.

TATP has been used in many other attacks over the years, and is by violent extremists because it's fairly easy to make and detonate.

The explosives were destroyed Saturday in a controlled detonation by bomb squad experts in a pit dug outside the five-story apartment building where they were found because they were considered too dangerous to transport.

The raid came after Saxony police were given a tip from Germany's domestic intelligence service that Albakr may be planning an attack. He had been on the agency's radar, but Bernhardt said it was not clear how long.

Der Spiegel magazine, citing Saxony police, said Albakr left the apartment building Saturday morning while police were at the scene preparing their raid. It was not immediately clear how he eluded police.

Germany has been on edge since two attacks this summer claimed by the Islamic State in which multiple people were injured and both assailants died. Two other attacks unrelated to Islamic extremism, including a deadly mall shooting in Munich, have also contributed to fears.</s>Germany is on a terror alert after armed cops launched a frantic hunt to find a suspect preparing to launch an imminent bomb attack on an airport.

Parts of the city of Chemnitz are on currently on lockdown as dozens of heavily-armed officers flood the region in search of a suspected terrorist.

Saxony Police revealed they were hunting Syrian national Jaber Albakr who is originally from Damascus.

Photographs of the 22-year-old suspect were also released with officers pleading for anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.

It is not known if he is armed or has explosives on him.

Terrified residents posted images of officers clad in black helmets, balaclavas and body armour with their assault weapons raised and poised.

Dozens of officers swooped on a housing estate in the east German region this morning and immediately cordoned off an area while taking people from their homes and taking them to safety.

A police spokeswoman has told German media the operation is in response to evidence of a 'serious threat'.

He added: "Major road closers and evacuations are necessary.

"We have a static threat situation in the Fritz Heckert district and have deployed a large taskforce on the ground."

Some residents told how they were woken in the morning by police brandishing machine guns.

The officers told them to leave their homes quickly and quietly before centring on one particular home.

Officers circled a particular flat and then used explosives to blast their way in but found the property empty - sparking fears a potential terrorist was on the run.

A police spokesman did confirm 'explosives residue' was found inside the flat and announced an 'international manhunt' was now underway for the suspect.

Saxony Police tweeted: "We are currently carry a large-scale operation on suspicion of preparing a bomb attack.

"The explosion heard was an access measure of the police. A relevant person could not be found."

Terrified residents have been posting images of officers clad in black with their weapons poised in the area around the home.

Police have taken to Twitter warning people to stay clear of the 'risk situation'.

Pictures from the scene show huge numbers of officers filing down roads and alleys - apparently surrounding the area.

The force tweeted: "At the moment we have a static threat situation in the Fritz-Heckert area in Chemnitz, C0810 and with strong forces on the ground."

The Fritz Heckert district, known locally as Fritz-Heckert-Gebiet, was built as one of the largest housing developments in Communist East Germany, consisting of large tower blocks once housing 90,000 people.

Germany is already on high alert after a number of attacks in recent months.

In the space of just a week in July this year there was a horrifying axe attack on train passengers and then a bomb attack on a cafe by ISIS sympathisers.

Teenage refugee Muhammad Riyad was shot and killed as he tried to flee the bloody carriage where he hacked at terrified passengers.

Incredibly he failed to kill anyone but five were left with serious injuries.

Just five days later 15 people were injured when Mohammad Daleel detonated a suicide bomb outside a wine bar in Ansbach.</s>Three people have been arrested after German police found several hundred grams of explosives in an apartment they raided in connection with a Syrian man suspected of planning a bomb attack in the eastern city of Chemnitz.

The explosives were “relatively well hidden” in the apartment, which was raided yesterday, said Saxony police spokesman, Tom Bernhardt.

Police are still searching for the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Jaber Albakr, from Damascus.

Two people who knew Albakr have been taken into custody in the Chemnitz train station area, with a third held in Chemnitz centre. The three are being questioned.

The explosives were not considered stable enough to move and they would probably be destroyed in place once other residents in the area have been evacuated, said Bernhardt.

The apartment was raided after local authorities received a tip-off from Germany’s domestic intelligence agency that the suspect might be there, and that he was thought to be planning a bomb attack.

When police knocked down the door, however, no-one was inside.

Saxony police put out an alert, identifying the suspect and urging anyone with any information of his whereabouts to contact authorities. They released a photo of a dark-haired man wearing a hooded sweatshirt.

“We have to assume that he is dangerous,” Bernhardt said. Authorities have not said where they think the suspected attack was going to take place.

The suspect is believed to be connected to Islamic extremist groups. Bernhardt said, however, that police are still trying to determine what his motivation might be.

Authorities released no details about how long the suspect had been in Germany, and Bernhardt said it was unclear whether he had come in the wave of asylum seekers in 2015.

Germany took in 890,000 asylum seekers last year, with Syrians fleeing civil war forming the single largest group.

Neighbours reported hearing an explosion during the raid, but that was the police assault team blowing open the apartment door, said police spokeswoman Kathlen Zink.

Germany has been on edge since two attacks this summer claimed by Islamic State in which several people were injured and both assailants died.

Two other attacks unrelated to Islamic extremism, including a deadly mall shooting in Munich, have also contributed to heightened fears.</s>BERLIN — German investigators found several hundred grams of explosives in an apartment they raided Saturday in the eastern city of Chemnitz as they sought a Syrian man suspected of planning a bombing attack. The suspect remained on the run but three contacts were detained and being questioned, police said.

Saxony police spokesman Tom Bernhardt told reporters the explosives were found by investigators combing carefully through the apartment, which was raided earlier in the day.

"They were not just lying out on the kitchen table, they were relatively well hidden," he said.

He said the explosives were not considered stable enough to move and they would likely be destroyed in place once other residents in the area were evacuated.

The apartment was raided after local authorities received a tip from Germany's domestic intelligence agency that the suspect might be there and that he was thought to be planning a bombing attack. When police knocked down the door, however, no one was inside.

Saxony police put out an alert, identifying the suspect as 22-year-old Jaber Albakr from the Damascus area, and urging anyone with any information of his whereabouts to contact authorities. They released a photo of a dark-haired man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and said he was last seen wearing similar clothes.

"We have to assume that he is dangerous," Bernhardt said.

Two people who had "contacts" with Albakr were taken into custody near the Chemnitz train station and a third was found downtown in the city, Bernhardt said. They were being questioned with the hope that they might help authorities find Albakr, he said.

Authorities have not said where they think the suspected attack was going to take place.

The German news agency dpa reported, citing unidentified German security sources, that the suspect is believed to be connected to Islamic extremist groups. Bernhardt said, however, that police are still trying to determine what his motivation might be and would only say he was "known" to German intelligence.

Authorities released no details about how long the suspect had been in Germany, and Bernhardt said it was unclear whether he had come in the wave of asylum-seekers in 2015. Germany took in 890,000 asylum-seekers last year, and Syrians fleeing civil war were the single largest group.

Neighbors reported hearing an explosion during the raid, but that was the police assault team blowing open the apartment door, police spokeswoman Kathlen Zink said.

Germany has been on edge since two attacks this summer claimed by the Islamic State in which multiple people were injured and both assailants died. Two other attacks unrelated to Islamic extremism, including a deadly mall shooting in Munich, have also contributed to fears.</s>THE PICTURE CAN NOT BE USED AFTER THE SUSPECT HAS BEEN ARRESTED - In this photo provided by police Sachsen shows Syrian 22-year-old Jaber Albakr from Damascus, and is urging anyone with any information of his whereabouts to contact authorities. German police have raided an apartment building in the eastern city of Chemnitz Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 after receiving information someone may be planning a bombing attack. (Police Sachsen via AP)

BERLIN (AP) — German investigators found several hundred grams of "highly volatile" explosives in an apartment they raided Saturday in the eastern city of Chemnitz as they sought a Syrian man suspected of planning a bombing attack. The suspect remained on the run but three contacts were detained and being questioned, police said.

Saxony police spokesman Tom Bernhardt told reporters the explosives were found by investigators who combed carefully through the apartment, which was raided midday.

"They were not just lying out on the kitchen table, they were relatively well hidden," he said.

About 100 people were evacuated from the five-story apartment building in Chemnitz as the bomb squad removed the explosives, which were not considered stable enough to move far. They were then destroyed in a controlled detonation, police said.

"It's a highly volatile mixture," Bernhardt said, adding that experts said it was considered it more dangerous than TNT. He did not identify the type of explosive.

The apartment was raided after local authorities received a tip from Germany's domestic intelligence agency that the suspect might be there and that he was thought to be planning a bombing attack. When police knocked down the door, however, no one was inside.

Saxony police put out an alert, identifying the suspect as 22-year-old Jaber Albakr from the Damascus area, and urged anyone with information of his whereabouts to contact authorities. They released a photo of a dark-haired man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and said he was last seen wearing similar clothes.

"We have to assume that he is dangerous," Bernhardt said.

Two people who had "contacts" with Albakr were taken into custody near the Chemnitz train station and a third was found downtown, Bernhardt said, adding they were being questioned with the hope that they might help authorities find Albakr.

Authorities have not said where or when they think the suspected attack was going to take place.

The German news agency dpa, citing unidentified German security sources, said the suspect is believed to be connected to Islamic extremist groups. Bernhardt said, however, that police are still trying to determine what his motivation might be but said the man was "known" to German intelligence.

Authorities released no details about how long the suspect had been in Germany, and Bernhardt said it was unclear whether he had come in the huge wave of asylum-seekers in 2015. Germany took in 890,000 asylum-seekers last year, and Syrians fleeing civil war were the single largest group.

Neighbors reported hearing an explosion during the raid, but that was the police team blowing open the apartment door, police spokeswoman Kathlen Zink told The Associated Press.

Germany has been on edge since two attacks this summer claimed by the Islamic State in which multiple people were injured and both assailants died. Two other attacks unrelated to Islamic extremism, including a deadly mall shooting in Munich, have also contributed to fears.</s>Officers are carrying out a major operation in the German city of Chemnitz "because of the suspected preparation of an attack with explosives," Saxony police said via Twitter on Saturday.

No suspect has yet been detained, police said. An explosion heard at the scene "was a protective measure taken by the police," the police force said, as it warned people in the area to stay indoors.

Saxony Police spokeswoman Kathlen Zink told CNN a controlled explosion had been carried out by police.

She could not give any information as to where the suspected attack with explosives was meant to take place.

The police urged people via Twitter not to post photographs or video to social media as the operation, in a residential area, was ongoing.

Earlier, the police tweeted that large areas of the city were cordoned off. Chemnitz, a city of more than 200,000 people, is in Germany's east, lying to the south of Berlin and Leipzig, not far from the border with the Czech Republic.
After authorities in Chemnitz, Germany, uncover a suspected terrorist bombing plot, police seek the suspect.