12-year-old was directed by Islamic State to plant bomb in German Christmas market

A Christmas market in Germany was the subject of an attempted bombing by a 12-year-old boy, German prosecutors said on Friday.

It is reported that the attempted attack, as well as a previous incident involving the boy, was directed by Islamic State.

Officials said that a first attack was attempted in the town of Ludwigshafen at the end of November, as a backpack with an explosive device was left in the town's popular market.

The second device was placed near the city hall in the town on 5 December, before it was defused by specialists.

The boy was born in the town and no proceedings were launched against him as he is under the German age of criminal responsibility. One of his parents is thought to be from Iraq.

Focus magazine in Germany reported that security and judicial sources said the boy was "strongly radicalised" and apparently instructed by an unknown IS member.

"A backpack included a glass container with a drilled hole, through which a wire was pulled. It was filled with explosive powder … and prepared with nails," the magazine reported.

Germany has been under alert from terrorist attacks since attacks were carried out in the country in July, with figures released indicating that 820 jihadis have left Germany for Syria and Iraq.