German police arrested two Russians accused of being Islamic State (IS) sympathizers and allegedly involved in a financing network for that terrorist organization, the Federal Public Ministry announced today.
The arrest warrants were issued by the investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice against the two Russian citizens, identified as Abdulraschit D. and Surjo Z., and the arrests took place in the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, in northern Germany, he explained. the Public Ministry, in a statement.
At the same time, seven properties in Berlin, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Saxony (east) were searched.
The suspects are accused of supporting a terrorist organization and violating the law on foreign trade and payments, as well as belonging to a criminal organization.
The Federal Public Ministry further explained that, in early summer 2022, the suspects joined a criminal organization previously founded by other people that aimed to raise funds in Germany and other European countries for the ‘jihadist’ group.
Donations were collected, in particular, through social networks and from an IS member who lived abroad, to be sent later to the terrorist organization.
The use of funds was previously coordinated in a chat group of the criminal organization.
According to the indictment, the funds were used for the benefit of imprisoned women and, in particular, IS fighters.
Within the network, Abdulraschit D. would be responsible for organizing fundraising and managing the box with donations. He was also a member of the conversation group that decided the use of donations.
In April 2023, Surjo Z. assumed responsibility for around 12,000 euros to be sent to the ‘jihadist’ group, according to German authorities, who added that the suspect was also in charge of receiving cash donations in Germany, which would later be transferred to the terrorist organization.
He was allegedly involved in several transactions in favor of IS, totaling more than 25,000 euros.
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