Germany: 4 charged in assassination plot

• German federal prosecutors have charged four Islamic extremists with forming a terrorist cell
• Two were caught scoping out the home of a far-right German political leader
• Prosecutors say they had acquired bomb-making material

BERLIN (AP) — German federal prosecutors say they've charged four Islamic extremists with forming a terrorist cell with the goal of killing a small far-right party's leader.

The prosecutor's office said in a statement Thursday that Tayfun S., 23, Marco G., 26, Enea B., 42, and Koray D., 24, were all charged with membership in a terrorist organization, weapons violations and other crimes.

All are German citizens; their last names were not released due to privacy regulations.

Authorities have said the four are ultraconservative Salafi Muslims. That religious movement faces increasing scrutiny since its members clashed last year with police at a demonstration of the far-right pro-NRW party.

Officials say the suspects were arrested in March after two were caught scoping out the pro-NRW leader's home. Prosecutors say they had acquired bomb-making material.