Syrian Suspect in Bomb Plot, Jaber Albakr, Kills Self

Jaber Albakr, 22, who was arrested in Germany for a suspected Islamic militant bomb plot killed himself in a prison cell in Leipzig on Wednesday, according to Saxony’s state Justice Ministry.

Justice Ministry spokesman Joerg Herold said Albakr killed himself sometime in the evening and the incident is still under investigation.

This development will surely raise pressure on state authorities. Saxony state officials have already been criticized for letting Albakr escape on Saturday as they prepared to raid an apartment in Chemnitz where he had been staying.

The suspected Islamic militant had been under German intelligence surveillance since last month. The authorities fired a warning shot when he was seen exiting the apartment building. Nevertheless, he was able to evade police on the scene and flee the city. Officers found highly volatile explosives and a home-made bomb vest inside the apartment.

Detained by fellow Syrians

Albakr was granted asylum after arriving in Germany last year. He was eventually arrested in Leipzig on Monday after three fellow Syrians tied him up and notified the police.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said earlier Wednesday that Albakr had undergone a security assessment. They did the evaluation last year but nothing suspicious turned up.

German authorities believe he had connections to the Islamic State group. Furthermore, as soon as this week, he was thought to be preparing to attack a Berlin airport.

According to reports from German media, after he first came to Germany, Albakr returned to Syria through Turkey and then went back to Germany. That part was also being investigated and De Maiziere said he would not comment on it.

The three Syrians who captured the suspect, in response to calls for their applications to be accelerated, have already been awarded asylum.

De Maiziere said that their behavior deserves praise and recognition

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Suspect In California Officers’ Fatal Shooting Arrested by Police

Law enforcement officers arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of two California police officers. The arrest happened on early Sunday morning in Palm Springs, California.

A SWAT team took John Felix, 26, into custody after an hours-long confrontation. The drama started when four officers appeared at the suspect’s home to look into a report of a family disturbance.

Felix was wearing concealable soft body armor and had high-capacity ammunition magazines but was not armed when he was captured.

A neighbor, Frances Serrano, said on Saturday that the suspect’s terrified father earlier said his son had a gun.

Serrano said that the older Felix told her that his son is inside, acting crazy and that they’re scared. When she suggested that they call the police he said that he already knows they’re coming and he is going to shoot them.

Serrano said that police cars arrived and gunfire erupted within minutes she went back inside her house.

The slain officers, who were identified by Chief Bryan Reyes, were Lesley Zerebny, 27, and Jose Gilbert Vega, 63.

Zerebny had been on the force for 18 months and had just returned from maternity leave after giving birth to a daughter. Vega, on the other hand, was a 35-year veteran who planned to retire in December.

The wounded officer was not named but his injuries were non-life threatening, according to Reyes. He added at a news conference that the officer was speaking with investigators. He will be released from a nearby hospital shortly.

After the initial shooting, a number of officers in tactical gear established positions outside the suspect’s home and continued to shoot.

Non-lethal means

Police discharged chemical agents inside the home after failing to pinpoint the suspect’s location despite using robots within the house.

Officers utilized less lethal ammunitions to suppress the suspect when he still refused to give up, the Riverside County Sheriff Department’s chief deputy said.

Authorities said in a statement that Felix would be charged with two counts of murder of a police officer. If convicted, he could receive the death penalty.

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