Suspected members of Syrian militia in custody

Office of the Attorney General - Suspected members of Syrian militia in custody

After the arrest of four suspected members of a Syrian militia and a suspected employee of the Syrian secret service, the accused are in custody. According to the Federal Prosecutor's Office, the investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe has executed the arrest warrants against the five men. They were arrested on a Wednesday in Berlin, in Pfalzfranken in Rhineland-Palatinate, and at Boizenburg in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The arrested individuals are seriously suspected of killing and attempting to kill civilians, as the highest German prosecution authority had previously announced. They are charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes. Four of them are also accused of torture.

The four suspected militia members are alleged to have joined the "Free Palestine Movement" (FPM) in Syria as early as 2011, which controlled a neighborhood in the capital Damascus on behalf of the Syrian regime. All arrested individuals are alleged to have participated in the violent suppression of a peaceful demonstration against the Syrian government in 2012, shooting at demonstrators specifically. At least six people reportedly died as a result. At checkpoints, they allegedly physically abused civilians severely.

1. The suspects, all men hailing from Syria, were arrested in various locations within Germany, including Berlin, Pfalzfranken in Rhineland-Palatinate, and Boizenburg in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
2. The secret service of Syria is reportedly linked to one of the arrested individuals, adding an international dimension to the investigation.
3. The office of the Attorney General in Germany is closely monitoring the case, as the suspected crimes include extremism and actions against civilians.
4. If found guilty, the convicted men could face trial in the Federal Court of Justice, located in Frankenthal, a city in the state of Hesse, near Karlsruhe.
5. The militia members, alleged to be part of the "Free Palestine Movement" (FPM) in Syria, are accused of participating in the violent suppression of a peaceful demonstration against the Syrian government in 2012.
6. The arrested individuals are suspected of crimes such as killing, attempted murder, and torture, all gravely violating fundamental human rights.
7. The authorities in Rhineland-Palatinate and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have collaborated in the investigation, underscoring the coordinated effort to combat crime across different German regions.

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