German police detain Russian citizen suspected of having ties to the so-called Islamic State
In North Rhine-Westphalia, police have detained a Russian who was collecting money and military equipment for the so-called Islamic State, as reported on Friday, March 4th, by the Neue Westfälische newspaper, citing a source from the prosecutor's office of the city of Hamm.
According to the report, a 27-year-old Russian citizen was detained the day before in Kirchlengern near the district center of Herford. He supposedly raised funds for the so-called Islamic State and tried to get military equipment for them, including optical gun sights. Additionally, he may have recruited new members to the extremist group, said the prosecutor, adding that in this regard, the detainee is suspected of membership in the terrorist organization.
The Russian was detained under a European arrest warrant issued by the Polish authorities. The judge in Hamm ordered the Russian citizen to be detained to ascertain whether he really is the man wanted by the police. It has not yet been established whether the Russian lived in Kirchlengern permanently or just was in town for a visit.