Germany probes if Iran pondering attacks

The Associated Press

By DAVID RISING, Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — German prosecutors are investigating information authorities received that Iran has been planning attacks on American targets inside the country, but has no indication of anything in the works, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

Germany is home to many U.S. military installations, including the Ramstein and Spangdahlem air bases, and the investigation was opened after authorities received information that Iran might be planning retaliatory attacks to be launched in the event of an American strike on Iran.

A search turned up no evidence, however, and there have been no arrests, the prosecutors' office spokeswoman said on customary condition of anonymity. She would not say where the search took place, or how authorities received the information that led to the investigation.

"Despite the search, there are no indications that there was a planned crime nor an imminent danger," she said.

The Iranian Embassy could not be reached by phone and did not return an email request for comment.

Both the U.S. Embassy and U.S. military said they were aware of the reports, but could not comment on cooperation with German authorities or whether security had been heightened at bases.

"As a rule we do not discuss specific security measures," said U.S. Army Europe spokesman Joe Garvey. "We constantly monitor the security situation and take every credible threat very seriously."