The Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Germany has charged seven alleged Islamists with planning “publicity-effective attacks in the spirit of ISIS.” The men, who are believed to be followers of the Afghan branch of the Islamic State, are accused of forming a domestic terrorist organization and were arrested nearly nine and a half months after their apprehension in North Rhine-Westphalia. According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, these individuals from Central Asia had been planning “publicity-effective attacks in the spirit of ISIS” in Germany and other Western European countries. Despite having identified potential targets and seeking weapons and funding, there was no specific attack plan in place at the time of their apprehension.
The accused include five Tajik citizens, as well as one Turkmen and one Kyrgyz. They arrived in Germany “almost simultaneously” in the spring of 2022 after Russia’s attack on Ukraine and formed an extremist group upon their arrival. The alleged cell also included an additional suspect being pursued in the Netherlands. The men regularly met in varying compositions and surveyed potential targets, while also being in contact with the Afghan branch of ISIS, known as the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISPK). German security authorities consider ISPK to pose the greatest current terrorist threat in the realm of Islamism. Several suspects who were arrested for plotting potential attacks on Cologne Cathedral and St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna over the New Year also reportedly had connections to ISPK.
Two-thirds of the accused are facing charges related to forming and belonging to a domestic terrorist group, as well as supporting a foreign terrorist organization. Additionally, five of the men are charged with violating foreign trade laws for collecting money for ISIS and transferring thousands of euros to the jihadist group abroad. At the time of their arrest, the suspects ranged in age from 20 to 46 and are currently in custody awaiting trial. It is unclear when the Higher Regional Court in Düsseldorf will decide on the charges and when a trial might commence.
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office emphasizes the seriousness of the allegations against the suspects, pointing to their intentions to carry out attacks in the name of ISIS. The planned attacks were meant to have a significant impact and align with the goals of the terrorist organization. The accused individuals’ close ties, shared radical Islamic beliefs, and coordinated efforts to plan attacks highlight the importance of disrupting their activities before they could execute their plans. The authorities’ vigilance and intervention prevented any imminent threat, but the ongoing presence of such extremist groups underscores the ongoing challenges of counterterrorism efforts in Europe.
The emergence of terrorist cells like the one uncovered in North Rhine-Westphalia underscores the persistent threat of Islamist extremism and the need for continued vigilance and cooperation among European security agencies. The proactive measures taken by law enforcement in this case demonstrate the importance of monitoring and disrupting radicalized individuals before they can carry out violent attacks. The legal proceedings against the accused will shed further light on the extent of their planning and connections to terrorist networks, aiding in the prevention of future acts of terror. The charges brought against the suspects reflect the seriousness with which authorities are addressing the threat posed by extremist groups and their supporters in Europe.
