The German Interior Ministry said on Tuesday that the Islamic Jihad Union militant group has taken responsibility for planning last week’s foiled terror bombings in Germany, adding that the US air base at Ramstein was a target as well as US and Uzbek consulates in Germany.

The Ministry, which is responsible for police and internal security, said in a statement that the IJU made the announcement on the Internet and that government computer experts viewed it as genuine. Three men were arrested on September 4 on suspicion of planning massive bombings against US and other facilities in Germany.

"In an Internet appearance, the Islamic Jihad Union has taken responsibility for the foiled attacks in Germany and addresses the arrests of 4 September 2007," the ministry statement said. "The attacks planned according to this for the end of 2007 were directed against the US air base at Ramstein as well as US and Uzbek consular facilities in Germany."

The attacks were aimed at pressing Germany to close its air base in Termez, Uzbekistan, the statement said.

The Islamic Jihad Union is described by police and prosecutors as an offshoot of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, a militant group which had origins in that Central Asian country. The IJU has been designated a terrorist organization by the US State Department; German prosecutors have said it is characterized by a "profound hatred of US citizens."

According to the US State Department, the group was responsible for coordinated bombings directed at the US and Israeli embassies in July 2004 in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent.