Two brothers have been detained on suspicion of plotting a terror attack at one of Germany's largest shopping centre.
The arrests come as an international manhunt continues for Anis Amri over the Berlin Christmas market truck attack that left 12 people dead and 48 others injured.
Police said the Kosovan-born brothers, aged 28 and 31, were held in Duisburg in the industrial Ruhr region in the early hours of Friday.
They suspect the pair may have been planning an attack on the CentrO shopping centre in nearby Oberhausen.
After receiving a tip from the intelligence services, police dressed in civilian clothing attended the shopping centre and a Christmas market nearby late on Thursday.
Authorities are investigating what stage of preparation the suspected attack plan was and whether anyone else was involved, Essen police said in a statement.
CentroO shopping centre has around 250 shops that are usually crowded before Christmas.
Police did not immediately mention any connection to the Christmas market attack in Berlin on Monday.
Press Association contributed to this report
