Germany cracking more fiercely on ISIS cells

Doaa Emam

Germany still suffers from the presence of ISIS sleeper cells in it.

The Federal Prosecution revealed that a terrorist group affiliated to ISIS had recently inquired about sailplane flights at air aviation schools in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The members of the cell had also shown interest in the making of bombs and drones, the prosecution said.

The trial of one of the members of the cell started on September 22. The man, 22, hails from the western German city of Wuppertal.

The members of the cell, who include five Tajik nationals, face charges of planning attacks and financing terrorist operations.

An Iraqi national driving over a number of people on a highway recently left six people injured.

The members of the cell joined in ISIS early last year. They were in contact with leaders from the terrorist organization who offered them tips on planning attacks on American military bases in Germany.

The arrest of the members of the cell coincides with the trial of well-known terrorist Abu Wala, an ISIS leader in Germany. Germany is also trying several nationals on charges of belonging to ISIS.

Intelligence and research groups warned against the effect of the suspension of counterterrorism operations because of the coronavirus. The suspension of the operations has given ISIS the chance to expand their operations.

The international coalition against ISIS also suspended its operations against the organization in mid-March.

Australia, Spain, France, the UK, New Zealand, Portugal and the Netherlands also pulled out their counterterrorism trainers from areas where ISIS has presence.

All these developments raise fears about the possibility that the terrorist organization can come back to life.