Cologne and Bonn: Headline or Description - Authorities apprehend alleged IS sympathizer at the airport.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office has captured a man believed to be a supporter of ISIS in North Rhine-Westphalia. The individual was apprehended at the Cologne/Bonn Airport on Friday, a spokesperson from the Karlsruhe office confirmed on Saturday, upon request. The authorities accuse the German-Moroccan-Polish citizen of transferring a total of roughly $1,700 to an Islamic State Province Khorasan (ISPK) account through a cryptocurrency exchange in September 2023.
The suspect is under investigation for suspicion of aiding a foreign terrorist organization and breaching the Foreign Trade Act. The monetary transactions are the focus of the arrest warrant, the spokesperson revealed. It remains undetermined whether the alleged terrorist sympathizer had intended to travel from the airport to another country. The accused was presented to the examining magistrate at the Federal Court of Justice and has been in pretrial detention since Friday night.
Previously, the "Bild" newspaper had shared details about this case, as well as a potential connection to the forthcoming European Championship in Germany. The Federal Prosecutor's Office spokesperson failed to comment on the report. Additional information about the case was not disclosed. They planned to release a statement at the beginning of the week.
Connection to the European Championship
As per dpa news, the man had attempted to secure employment as a steward and security team for so-called "Side Events" occurring outside the football stadiums, namely public viewings. While undergoing the application screening process, he failed, according to security circles. From June 14th to July 14th, a total of 51 European Championship games will transpire in ten cities.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser ( SPD) informed the "Rheinische Post" (Monday): "The detention of an Islamic State suspect at Cologne/Bonn Airport demonstrates the diligence and commitment of security authorities in safeguarding our nation from Islamic perils." This includes not only the terrorists themselves, but also those funding foreign terrorist groups like the ISPK". The federal government and the states are striving to achieve optimum security during the European Championship.
NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) noted: "Our security forces' attentiveness has increased. The security measures for the European Championship are being put in place." A police control center in Neuss, North Rhine-Westphalia, will manage the situation. Inside, more than 600 officers from within and external to Germany are to work. "However, it should be noted: 100% security does not exist," Reul stated.
According to "Bild", the accused had attempted registration for two other major German happenings unsuccessfully. Officers searched his residence. The authorities obtained mobile phones, data carriers, computers, and "suspicious documents" there, according to "Bild". The accused has remained mute about the accusations levied against him.
The ISPK - a division of the militant Islamist group Islamic State - has roots in Afghanistan. Khorasan refers to a historical region encompassing parts of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan, as well as Iran.
ISPK: The most significant Islamic threat in Germany
Reports suggest that the ISPK, a branch of the Islamic State, is currently the largest threat to Germany. Over the past few months, this terrorist group has been highlighted: Western security agencies and consultants believe that the ISPK is responsible for the attack in Moscow on March 22nd. On that day, four individuals stormed a conference hall on the city's outskirts, indiscriminately firing and setting the building alight. This incident marked the deadliest terror attack in Russia in years, resulting in over 140 casualties. Several suspected terrorists and allies are in custody.
In March, two ISPK terror suspects were detained in Gera, Thuringia. The two Afghan men allegedly intended to execute an attack on the Swedish parliament in retaliation for Koran burnings. The group is also associated with plans for Christmas 2023 attacks in Cologne, Vienna, and Madrid.
According to agency intelligence, militant Islamists are endeavoring to instigate unrest in Germany before the European Football Championship. Calls for terrorist violence unveiled by the ISPK are "part of the ongoing propaganda campaign intended to incite discord and spur lone actors," said security officials in May. The group had publicly shared an image on one of their channels, depicting a man with an automatic weapon in a stadium.
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- The alleged IS sympathizer was using a crypto exchange to transfer funds to an ISPK account, which is considered a violation of the Foreign Trade Act in Germany.
- The man was apprehended at Cologne/Bonn Airport, and his activities were being investigated for aiding a foreign terrorist organization and money laundering.
- The arrest warrant specifically focused on the monetary transactions, which amounted to roughly $1,700.
- The case had attracted attention from the "Bild" newspaper, which pointed out potential connections to upcoming events in Germany, such as the European Championship.
- The suspect had applied for employment as a steward and security team for "Side Events" outside football stadiums during the European Championship, but his application was denied.
- Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized the importance of security during the European Championship, stating that authorities were determined to prevent Islamic threats from disrupting the event.
- North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul affirmed that security measures were in place for the European Championship, with over 600 officers from within and external to Germany working in a police control center.
- The ISPK has roots in Afghanistan, with Khorasan referring to a historical region that encompasses parts of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.
- The ISPK is currently considered the most significant Islamic threat in Germany and has been linked to several terror attacks and planned attacks in Europe, including a new plot aimed at Cologne, Vienna, and Madrid during the Christmas season.
- Security agencies and consultants believe that the ISPK is responsible for the deadly attack in Moscow on March 22nd, which resulted in over 140 casualties.
- In response to the growing ISPK threat, German authorities have increased security measures, increasing the vigilance of their personnel and mobilizing additional resources to protect key events and locations across Germany during the European Championship.
