Chechen teenager arrested in Germany under terror act preparation case

Together with his acquaintance of Afghan origin, a 16-year-old native of Chechnya has been arrested in Germany on charges of preparing a terror act.

According to the initial police report, a 15-year-old boy from North Rhine-Westphalia and his 16-year-old acquaintance from Brandenburg had Islamist views and discussed a plan to attack "infidels". A synagogue and a Christmas market in Cologne were named as their possible targets, the "Deutsche Welle"* reports.

Rasul, 16, a native of Chechnya, came under law enforcers' attention because he was a member of a supporting group of the terrorist organization "Islamic State"** and was known for spreading terrorist propaganda. On the Telegram, he posted a video "calling for a holy war against the West," naming the expected date of the terror act as December 1, writes the "Bild".

A knife was found on the Chechen during his detention. His acquaintances described him as a person who was interested in terrorist organizations, had a passion for weapons and was prone to cruelty, the "Tagespiegel" has noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has also reported that in November, a court in France sentenced Abdul Khakim Anaev, a native of Chechnya, to 10 years in custody. He was found guilty of inciting Khamzat Azimov to commit a terror act; the latter attacked passers-by with a knife in Paris, killing one and injuring four others.

*On March 28, 2022, the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) included the "Deutsche Welle" outlet into the register of "foreign agents".

**On December 29, 2014, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation recognized the organization "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL or IS) as a terrorist international organization and banned its activities in Russia.