BERLIN

German police arrested an Iranian citizen on suspicion of planning a chemical terror attack, authorities said on Sunday.

The 32-year-old man was arrested in the western city of Castrop-Rauxel after special police forces stormed his home.

“The accused is suspected of having prepared a serious act of violence,” Dusseldorf Prosecutor's Office said in a press release, adding that he is believed to have obtained toxic chemicals such as ricin and cyanide to carry out a religiously-motivated attack.

Police officers and experts wearing protective clothes searched the home of the suspect for evidence.

“The search serves to find corresponding toxins and other evidence. The accused and one other person have been taken into custody, evidence has been secured and is being evaluated,” the Prosecutor's Office said.

According to the public broadcaster ARD, the police have seized electronic devices and memory cards, but no toxic chemicals were found at the suspect’s home.

The German daily Bild reported that the police operation was conducted following a tip-off from US intelligence agencies, which monitored the suspect's internet activities.

He was a sympathizer of the Daesh//ISIS terror group, searched for instructions to develop a chemical weapon, and obtained highly toxic substances, according to the report.