The German Federal Prosecutor's Office said on April 24 it had charged seven men from Central Asia -- five from Tajikistan, including Muhammadshujo A., Nouriddin K., Shamshod N., Said S., and Raboni Z, one from Turkmenistan (Ata A.), and one from Kyrgyzstan (Abrorjon K.) -- with the creation of a domestic terrorist group and taking part in its activities.
With the exception of Muhammadshujo A., the other men are also suspected of financially supporting the "foreign terrorist organization Islamic State."
According to a statement, the suspects have known each for a long period of time and arrived from Ukraine shortly after Russia launched its so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine in February 2022.
The suspects have reportedly been under arrest since early July 2023.
Recall, nine Central Asians, including six nationals of Tajikistan, were arrested in Germany and the Netherlands in early July last year for allegedly collecting money for the IS terrorist group and planning attacks.
Seven men, including five citizens of Tajikistan, arrested in Germany, were accused of founding a “domestic terrorist group” and of supporting IS. All had reportedly known each other for a long time, had radical Islamic views and came to Germany more or less simultaneously from Ukraine shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion last year. According to German prosecutors, the group was in contact with members of the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-K), an affiliate of the IS terrorist group.
Its members had reportedly checked out possible targets in Germany and attempted to procure weapons.
In the Netherlands, the public prosecution service said a 29-year-old Tajik man and his 31-year-old Kyrgyz wife, who had lived in the country since 2022, were arrested on suspicion of “committing preparatory acts for terrorism offences.” The man is also suspected of membership in the IS terrorist group.