A German-Turkish citizen has been charged with planning an explosives attack on U.S. installations in Germany and attempting to recruit al-Qaida supporters through the Internet.

The 26-year-old man, who is identified only as Adnan V., was in a Frankfurt court Friday for the opening day of his trial.

Prosecutor Michael Bruns says the suspect plotted a “seriously threatening violent attack,” and was planning to kill innocent people whom he viewed as “infidels” .

The suspect is accused of collecting explosives in his parents' home in Offenbach, where he was arrested in October 2009. Police also found bomb-making instructions in the house, which authorities believe he downloaded from the Internet.

The defendant made no statement to the court. His trial is scheduled to continue August 19.