Germany frees 2 'Daesh attack suspects' for lack of evidence

German police Friday released an Iraqi and a Nigerian man arrested a day earlier after finding no evidence for their initial suspicion that the two may have planned a jihadist attack.

Prosecutors had said Thursday the 46-year-old Iraqi and the Nigerian, 29, were being held in the Munich area on suspicion they had links with the Islamic State group and may have been planning a "major act of violence".

However, on Friday police in the southern state of Bavaria said that questioning of the men and searches of their residential premises had netted no evidence to back up the suspicion.

The men were released on Friday shortly before noon, said the Bavarian State Office of Criminal Investigation.

Since the November 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people, German authorities have repeatedly said they believe Germany also faces the threat of jihadist attacks.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere on Friday defended the police, saying that it was prudent, "if in doubt, to act earlier rather than too late".
Source: AFP