A Libyan man suspected of pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group and planning to carry out an attack on the Israeli embassy in Germany was arrested on Saturday, the German federal prosecutor’s office told AFP.

“It is believed that he was planning an attack on the Israeli embassy in Berlin,” explained a spokeswoman for the federal prosecutor’s office. It is estimated that he “supports a terrorist organization abroad”, the same source added, clarifying that he was referring to IS.

According to a report in the Bild newspaper, authorities conducted the operation following information received from a foreign intelligence agency — it was not specified which one.

A police special operations unit raided an apartment in the city of St. Augustine (west), according to the tabloid’s information. Tenants of the building where the apartment is located were questioned and items that may constitute evidence were seized, always according to Bild.

It is unclear at this stage whether the suspect had obtained any weapons or how he planned to carry out the attack.

The suspect is expected to be brought before a court in Karlsruhe later today, a spokeswoman for the federal prosecutor’s office told the German Agency. In this preliminary hearing it will be decided whether the suspect should remain in custody while the investigation is carried out.

Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prossor thanked the German authorities for “guaranteeing the security of our embassy”.