Instagram 'bomb threat': German police arrest Afghan asylum seeker

Image source, EPA

Image caption, Last year a Tunisian asylum seeker killed 12 people at a Christmas market in Berlin

A 19-year-old Afghan asylum seeker has been arrested in Germany after posting a picture of a Christmas market with three bombs superimposed on it on Instagram, police say.

The picture of the market in Ravensburg, southern Germany, was uploaded on Thursday evening, prompting police quickly to boost security.

The Afghan later admitted uploading the image, saying it had been a joke.

He is to face charges of making threats to commit crime.

His accommodation was searched but , police said in a statement.

Last year a Tunisian asylum seeker drove a lorry at people visiting a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 and injuring 49.

In October an investigation into the attack revealed mistakes by German police and security services.

It said police missed several chances to arrest and deport attacker Anis Amri, who fled Berlin after the attack but was later shot dead by police in Italy.