Berlin police have confirmed the arrest of two Russian citizens on suspicion of belonging to a North Caucasus terrorist group, news reports said.
One unidentified suspect, aged 35, is accused of being a courier for Jamaat Shariat from September 2008 to last August, Interfax reported Friday, citing Rheinische Post.
He purportedly transported documents from Germany to the Czech Republic that contained information about the recruitment of new members and purchases of weapons for terrorist activities in Chechnya and Dagestan.
The man is known in terrorist circles under the nickname the "Iron Recruiter," Ukrainian news agency Globalist reported Friday, citing an Interpol source. Berlin police have also detained the man's suspected assistant, German news reports said.
German law enforcement agencies are considering an extradition request from the Czech Republic, Deutsche Welle said.
Czech police said May 3 that they had detained four Russians and two Bulgarians suspected of supporting Jamaat Shariat. Police said at the time that two additional suspects were being held in Germany.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
