Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Germany Charges Syrian Accused of Commanding ISIS Unit

Germany files charges against a Syrian accused of commanding an ISIS unit in his home country. (Reuters)

German prosecutors have filed terror charges against a Syrian man accused of commanding a unit of ISIS group fighters in his home country.

Prosecutors in Frankfurt said Monday that the 33-year-old, whose name they didn't release, was charged with membership in a foreign terrorist group and violating weapons laws.

They said that the suspect entered Germany in June 2015 and was initially granted refugee status, which was revoked in June last year.

He was arrested in the central city of Kassel in November 2018 and has been in custody since then.

The man was a member of ISIS from 2013 to 2015 and allegedly commanded a unit of at least 20 men, prosecutors said in a statement, reported The Associated Press.

He also is alleged to have been the commander of one or two city districts in Raqqa for at least part of the time.

Prosecutors said the man is also accused of capturing two men, who were either Shiites or members of the Alawite minority, and holding them as hostages before handing them over to a high-ranking ISIS commander. It is not known what happened to the men.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.