Germany: 2 detained over suspected mall attack plot

In this Dec. 22, 2016 photo police units walk through the shopping centre "Centro" in Oberhausen, Germany. Two men were arrested in Duisburg on the suspicion of planning an attack on the shopping centre. (Arnulf Stoffl/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this Dec. 22, 2016 photo a police officer holds a submachine gun during an operation at the shopping centre "Centro" in Oberhausen, Germany. Two men have been arrested in Duisburg since they were suspected to plan a terror attack on the shopping center. (Arnulf Stoffel/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this Dec. 22, 2016 photo police units walk through the parking lot of the shopping centre "Centro" in Oberhausen, Germany. Two men have been arrested in Duisburg on the suspicion of planning a terror attack on the shopping centre. (Arnulf Stoffel/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)

Police say that two Kosovo-born brothers have been detained on suspicion that they were planning an attack on a shopping mall in western Germany.

Police said that the men, ages 28 and 31, were detained in Duisburg in the industrial Ruhr region in the early hours of Friday. Authorities suspect that they may have been planning an attack on the Centro mall in nearby Oberhausen.

They say authorities are probing how far along the suspected attack plan was and whether anyone else was involved.

Police say they increased their presence at Centro and a nearby Christmas market on Thursday evening after receiving a tip.