Germany arrests seven accused ISIS financiers
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Seven people were arrested in Germany on Wednesday, May 31, over their role in raising funds for the Islamic State (ISIS), including for ISIS families being held in northeast Syria’s camps.
Four Germans, a German-Moroccan, a Kosovar, and a Turkish citizen were arrested, according to the German prosecution. They were part of “an international network that supported the terrorist activities of the Islamic State in Syria through financial donations,” they allege.
The group collected funds through the encrypted messaging platform Telegram starting in 2020. They are thought to have raised 65,000 euro ($69,367).
These funds were sent to ISIS members in camps in northern Syria, including financing their escape, German prosecutors say.
Escape attempts takes place as nations still refuse to repatriate their ISIS-linked nationals from the camps and prisons run by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
Hawl camp, the largest detention camp, houses 55.829 individuals, including 28,725 Iraqis, 18,850 Syrians and 8,254 of foreign nationalities, according to the latest statistics obtained by North Press. ISIS women within it receive tens of thousands of dollars from foreign beneficiaries each month.
The arrests were part of a nationwide swoop against ISIS financiers, including 1,000 police officers searching 90 locations across Germany.