German authorities said Saturday they had arrested five men on suspicion of involvement in a plot to plough a vehicle into people at a Christmas market.
Officials have been on high alert during the festive season, after a deadly car-ramming attack at a market in the city of Magdeburg last Christmas shocked the nation.
Police and prosecutors said they had detained an Egyptian, three Moroccans and a Syrian on Friday over the plan to carry out the attack in southern Bavaria state.
Investigators suspect "an Islamist motive" for the plot, according to the statement.
All the suspects were brought before a magistrate on Saturday after their arrest and are in custody.
Joachim Herrmann, state interior minister in Bavaria, told Bild the "excellent cooperation between our security services" had helped to prevent "a potentially Islamist-motivated attack".
Authorities did not say where the suspects were arrested.
It was also not clear when the attack was supposed to take place, how detailed the plans were, and which market was to be targeted.
Last year's attack in Magdeburg, which saw a car barrel through a crowded market, killed six people and wounded more than 300.
Some cities have cancelled the beloved winter tradition because of the mounting costs and complexity of ensuring security.
Magdeburg's Christmas market went ahead this year but only received approval shortly before opening.
