Germany Bomber Pledged Allegiance To IS

failed asylum seeker who blew himself up outside a bar in Germany had pledged allegiance to the leader of Islamic State in a video found on his mobile phone, officials say.

The 27-year-old Syrian man, named by prosecutors as Mohammad D, was killed in the attack in Ansbach and 15 people were injured, including four seriously.

In the video, he talked of "revenge" and German police found chemicals, gasoline and other materials at his home that could be used to build another bomb.

IS said he carried out the attack in response to calls to target coalition countries fighting the militant group.

Joachim Herrmann, Bavaria's interior minister, said: "He expressly announces, in the name of Allah, and testifying his allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a famous Islamist leader, an act of revenge against the Germans because they're getting in the way of Islam. 

"I think that after this video there's no doubt that the attack was a terrorist attack with an Islamist background." 

Mr Herrmann said videos containing "Salafist content" had been found on storage devices at the suspect's home. 

The man, who had been denied asylum in Germany, carried out the attack outside a wine bar in the southern city. 

Security officials say he detonated an explosive device after being turned away from a music festival, attended by thousands of people, because he didn't have a ticket.

Mr Herrmann said the contents of his backpack had the potential to kill and injure many more victims as they included both explosives and metal parts. 

The pack used to carry an explosive device

The suspect was known to the authorities and had repeatedly received psychiatric treatment, including for attempted suicide.

Interior ministry spokesman Tobias Plate said the intention had been to deport the man.     

"Syrians cannot be deported to Syria at the moment, but that doesn't mean that Syrians overall cannot be deported," he said at a news conference. 

"The Syrian in Ansbach was facing deportation and this was to Bulgaria" (where he had first submitted a request for asylum).        

Mr Plate said the suspect had received two deportation notices, most recently on 13 July. 

A large-scale operation involving 200 police and 350 rescue workers was launched, and a helicopter brought in.  

Armed police have raided a building used to house asylum seekers three kilometres from the scene. 

Detectives have asked anyone with mobile phone footage to send it in. 

Police officers leave after a search at a refugee shelter in Ansbach 

Witness Thomas Debinski said: "People were definitely panicking. The rumour we were hearing immediately was that there had been a gas explosion. 

"But then people came past and said it was a rucksack that had exploded. Someone blew themselves up.

"After what just happened in Munich, it's very disturbing to think what can happen so close to you in such a small town." 

More than 2,000 people were evacuated from the nearby festival.  

Germany has been on high alert following a series of incidents in recent days. 

Germany's Interior Minister, Thomas de Maiziere, has said police presence will be boosted at airports and railway stations following four violent incidents since last Monday.    

Sturgeon Says UK Govt 'Shameful' On Brexit

The Government response to Brexit has been "one of the most shameful abdications of responsibility in modern political history", Nicola Sturgeon has said.

Scotland's First Minister slammed the Government and Leave politicians for having no plan for a UK vote to leave the European Union.

She said instead there had been an "absence of any leadership" and warned the UK was heading for a "hard rather than a soft Brexit" with "limited access" to the single market and restrictions on the freedom of movement.

She said attempts to make the UK competitive outside the EU could trigger a "race to the bottom" with serious consequences for workers' rights.

And she stressed that a second independence referendum for Scotland was still on the cards if the country's interests could not be protected in a "UK context".

:: May: Brexit Does Not Mean Old Ireland Borders

Setting out her plans to secure Scotland's position in Europe, she said it had been the job of UK politicians "not to pretend somehow that we instantly had all the answers but to give a sense of direction, to try to create some order out of the chaos".

"That's what I was determined to do for Scotland and I assumed that UK politicians would do likewise," she said.

"It turned out I was wrong about that.

"In fact, the absence of any leadership and the lack of any advance planning both from the politicians who proposed the referendum and from those who campaigned a leave vote surely must count as one of the most shameful abdications of responsibility in modern political history."

Prime Minister Theresa May met Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last week

Speaking at the conference of the Institute for Public Policy Research, she said that there would be five Brexit tests to determine whether there as a need for a second independence referendum.

:: Hammond: Global Economy Faces Brexit 'Shadow'

They were "democracy, economic prosperity, social protection, solidarity and influence".

She said: "… I am equally clear about this - if we find that our interest can't be protected in a UK context, independence must be one of those options and Scotland must have the right to consider that option.

"That's why we will take the preparatory steps to make sure it is an option open to the Scottish Parliament if the Scottish Parliament considers it necessary."

Ms Sturgeon spoke as Theresa May visited Northern Ireland, where she said Brexit should not mean a "return to borders of the past".

The Prime Minister insisted she would work with Scotland and Northern Ireland, both of whom voted to Remain in the EU, to make a success of leaving the bloc.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker echoed Ms Sturgeon's words saying the UK had not been prepared for a leave vote.

He said there would be no deadline on the UK triggering Article 50, the official process for leaving the EU.

He said: "I would have liked the UK to present us with its resignation letter as soon as possible, because I would have expected that the British, especially those who wanted to leave the EU, would have prepared themselves for this possibility.

"Well, that wasn't the case. The British Government needs several months to fine tune its position. Our British friends know that there will be no negotiation before notification of their farewell letter."

He also insisted there would be no full access to the single market for the UK unless it accepted EU rules on freedom of movement.

There had been speculation over the weekend that Mrs May could be willing to consider a seven-year brake on freedom of movement in return for access to the single market.

EU Warns Turkey Over Death Penalty After Coup

Turkey has been warned if it brings back the death penalty all negotiations to join the European Union are off.

EU chief Jean Claude Juncker also said the country is in no position to become a member of the bloc "any time soon" following the attempted coup.

His comments come after Preisdent Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a crackdown detaining thousands of soldiers, police, judges, teachers and civil servants.

Amnesty International has claimed it has received "credible evidence" of detainees being beaten, tortured and raped.

Jean-Claude Juncker with Recep Tayyip Erdogan last year

:: Turkey Extends Detention Without Charge Period

Mr Juncker, the EU Commission President, said: "I believe that Turkey, in its current state, is not in a position to become a member any time soon and not even over a longer period."

He added that a country with the death penalty had no place in the bloc.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu responded by telling Mr Juncker not to threaten Turkey or look down on the country.

Fethullah Gulen has been accused of orchestrating the coup

Mr Cavusoglu has also demanded the US extradite Fethullah Gulen, warning ties with the NATO ally will be affected if it fails to do so. He is due to visit America to raise the issue.

The US-based Muslim cleric is accused of orchestrating the failed 15 July coup, but he has denied any involvement in the insurrection.

Mr Erdogan's administration has detained 13,000 people since the attempted coup after declaring a three-month state of emergency.

On Monday, it was reported arrest warrants had been issued for 42 journalists, including the prominent reporter Nazli Ilicak, who has opposed the clampdown.

Amnesty International's Europe Director John Dalhuisen has called for Turkey to let in international observers to ensure the correct treatment of those rounded up in the security crackdown.

He said: "It is absolutely imperative that the Turkish authorities halt these abhorrent practices and allow international monitors to visit all these detainees in the places they are being held."

Turkey has been in discussions to join the EU since 2005, but its membership is controversial and has been strongly opposed by Germany.

The UK had supported Turkey's membership, which became a contentious issue during the EU referendum.

David Cameron argued the country would not gain access to the EU "for decades" but the winning Leave camp argued it would be much sooner.

EU Warns Turkey Over Death Penalty After Coup

Turkey has been warned if it brings back the death penalty all negotiations to join the European Union are off.

EU chief Jean Claude Juncker also said the country is in no position to become a member of the bloc "any time soon" following the attempted coup.

His comments come after Preisdent Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a crackdown detaining thousands of soldiers, police, judges, teachers and civil servants.

Amnesty International has claimed it has received "credible evidence" of detainees being beaten, tortured and raped.

Jean-Claude Juncker with Recep Tayyip Erdogan last year

:: Turkey Extends Detention Without Charge Period

Mr Juncker, the EU Commission President, said: "I believe that Turkey, in its current state, is not in a position to become a member any time soon and not even over a longer period."

He added that a country with the death penalty had no place in the bloc.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu responded by telling Mr Juncker not to threaten Turkey or look down on the country.

Fethullah Gulen has been accused of orchestrating the coup

Mr Cavusoglu has also demanded the US extradite Fethullah Gulen, warning ties with the NATO ally will be affected if it fails to do so. He is due to visit America to raise the issue.

The US-based Muslim cleric is accused of orchestrating the failed 15 July coup, but he has denied any involvement in the insurrection.

Mr Erdogan's administration has detained 13,000 people since the attempted coup after declaring a three-month state of emergency.

On Monday, it was reported arrest warrants had been issued for 42 journalists, including the prominent reporter Nazli Ilicak, who has opposed the clampdown.

Amnesty International's Europe Director John Dalhuisen has called for Turkey to let in international observers to ensure the correct treatment of those rounded up in the security crackdown.

He said: "It is absolutely imperative that the Turkish authorities halt these abhorrent practices and allow international monitors to visit all these detainees in the places they are being held."

Turkey has been in discussions to join the EU since 2005, but its membership is controversial and has been strongly opposed by Germany.

The UK had supported Turkey's membership, which became a contentious issue during the EU referendum.

David Cameron argued the country would not gain access to the EU "for decades" but the winning Leave camp argued it would be much sooner.

EU Warns Turkey Over Death Penalty After Coup

Turkey has been warned if it brings back the death penalty all negotiations to join the European Union are off.

EU chief Jean Claude Juncker also said the country is in no position to become a member of the bloc "any time soon" following the attempted coup.

His comments come after Preisdent Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a crackdown detaining thousands of soldiers, police, judges, teachers and civil servants.

Amnesty International has claimed it has received "credible evidence" of detainees being beaten, tortured and raped.

Jean-Claude Juncker with Recep Tayyip Erdogan last year

:: Turkey Extends Detention Without Charge Period

Mr Juncker, the EU Commission President, said: "I believe that Turkey, in its current state, is not in a position to become a member any time soon and not even over a longer period."

He added that a country with the death penalty had no place in the bloc.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu responded by telling Mr Juncker not to threaten Turkey or look down on the country.

Fethullah Gulen has been accused of orchestrating the coup

Mr Cavusoglu has also demanded the US extradite Fethullah Gulen, warning ties with the NATO ally will be affected if it fails to do so. He is due to visit America to raise the issue.

The US-based Muslim cleric is accused of orchestrating the failed 15 July coup, but he has denied any involvement in the insurrection.

Mr Erdogan's administration has detained 13,000 people since the attempted coup after declaring a three-month state of emergency.

On Monday, it was reported arrest warrants had been issued for 42 journalists, including the prominent reporter Nazli Ilicak, who has opposed the clampdown.

Amnesty International's Europe Director John Dalhuisen has called for Turkey to let in international observers to ensure the correct treatment of those rounded up in the security crackdown.

He said: "It is absolutely imperative that the Turkish authorities halt these abhorrent practices and allow international monitors to visit all these detainees in the places they are being held."

Turkey has been in discussions to join the EU since 2005, but its membership is controversial and has been strongly opposed by Germany.

The UK had supported Turkey's membership, which became a contentious issue during the EU referendum.

David Cameron argued the country would not gain access to the EU "for decades" but the winning Leave camp argued it would be much sooner.

EU Warns Turkey Over Death Penalty After Coup

Turkey has been warned if it brings back the death penalty all negotiations to join the European Union are off.

EU chief Jean Claude Juncker also said the country is in no position to become a member of the bloc "any time soon" following the attempted coup.

His comments come after Preisdent Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a crackdown detaining thousands of soldiers, police, judges, teachers and civil servants.

Amnesty International has claimed it has received "credible evidence" of detainees being beaten, tortured and raped.

Jean-Claude Juncker with Recep Tayyip Erdogan last year

:: Turkey Extends Detention Without Charge Period

Mr Juncker, the EU Commission President, said: "I believe that Turkey, in its current state, is not in a position to become a member any time soon and not even over a longer period."

He added that a country with the death penalty had no place in the bloc.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu responded by telling Mr Juncker not to threaten Turkey or look down on the country.

Fethullah Gulen has been accused of orchestrating the coup

Mr Cavusoglu has also demanded the US extradite Fethullah Gulen, warning ties with the NATO ally will be affected if it fails to do so. He is due to visit America to raise the issue.

The US-based Muslim cleric is accused of orchestrating the failed 15 July coup, but he has denied any involvement in the insurrection.

Mr Erdogan's administration has detained 13,000 people since the attempted coup after declaring a three-month state of emergency.

On Monday, it was reported arrest warrants had been issued for 42 journalists, including the prominent reporter Nazli Ilicak, who has opposed the clampdown.

Amnesty International's Europe Director John Dalhuisen has called for Turkey to let in international observers to ensure the correct treatment of those rounded up in the security crackdown.

He said: "It is absolutely imperative that the Turkish authorities halt these abhorrent practices and allow international monitors to visit all these detainees in the places they are being held."

Turkey has been in discussions to join the EU since 2005, but its membership is controversial and has been strongly opposed by Germany.

The UK had supported Turkey's membership, which became a contentious issue during the EU referendum.

David Cameron argued the country would not gain access to the EU "for decades" but the winning Leave camp argued it would be much sooner.