site.btaFive German Citizens Detained for Sympathizing with Terrorist Organization

Five German Citizens Detained for Sympathizing with Terrorist Organization

Sofia, April 20 (BTA) - State Agency for National Security (SANS) officers have detained, in cooperation with the Interior Ministry, five German citizens at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint on the border with Turkey on April 12, SANS said.

The five, one of whom is a minor, were travelling on train from Bucharest to Istanbul. The authorities have sufficient reasons to believe that the suspects are sympathizing with a terrorist organization. Their behaviour showed signs of radicalization, typical for the so-called foreign terrorist fighters. According to the evidence gathered, four of the detained persons have been involved in aiding a terrorist organization, active on the territory of Syria and Iraq. The minor was trying to reach Syria and join a terrorist group. The German authorities have banned them from leaving the country in order to prevent them from joining the terrorist group in Syria and Iraq. One of the detained individuals was using a passport belonging to another German citizen.

The five Germans are considered a national security threat, given the collected evidence, their intentions and purpose of their trip. The four adults have been taken into custody for 24 hours, while the minor was placed in the care of social services until he is handed over to his family in Germany. The head of SANS has ordered four of them expulsed and banned from entering Bulgaria. The orders have been carried out by the competent authoritis.