An Islamist from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was arrested eight weeks ago on terrorism charges, has been deported to his home country, according to German media reports.
As reported by the German newspaper Bild, the 27-year-old man was planning a devastating terrorist attack on German soil. In mid-July, members of Germany’s special police unit, the SEK, apprehended the 27-year-old Bosnian citizen on suspicion of terrorism and planning an assassination.
While German authorities have not released details about the arrested individual, as the investigation into his contacts is still ongoing, media outlets reported that he had been living in Germany for many years, having arrived as a child with his mother.
Apparently, he had never before been linked to crimes against state security, and according to security sources, he had only been radicalized in the last two years.
His arrest was the result of a long-term investigation into commercial fraud and terrorism financing. State security personnel had been monitoring the terrorism suspect for weeks. He was engaged in commercial fraud and was forwarding the money from these scams to fund terrorism.
A plot for an assassination was also reportedly under consideration, prompting German authorities to act urgently. It is still unclear where and how the attack was supposed to be carried out.
The terrorism suspect is a soldier trained in handling weapons, and there are other suspects who live in Essen and Dortmund. Searches were also conducted at the homes of other persons of interest, who were questioned as witnesses.
Herbert Reul, the Minister of Interior of North Rhine-Westphalia, told Bild: “Our police did not hesitate—they stopped potential terrorist activities before it was a second too late. This case shows us: there are people who disregard and want to destroy our values and our way of life. Our security services are doing everything they can to stop these people. Anyone who pursues terrorist plans here must expect Special Forces to show up at their door.”
Source: BILD and Provjereno
