Two Afghan Men Charged in Germany for Planned Attack in Sweden
- German prosecutors charge two men for planning an attack in Sweden linked to IS.
- The attack was allegedly in response to Quran burnings.
- The men have been charged in Germany.
BERLIN — German prosecutors announced on Wednesday that two Afghan men, identified as Ibrahim M.G. and Ramin N., have been charged in connection with a planned attack in Sweden, allegedly motivated by the burning of Quran copies. The men were arrested on March 19 near Gera, and face charges including conspiracy to commit a crime and violations of export laws. Ibrahim M.G. is specifically charged with membership in a terrorist organization, while Ramin N. is charged with supporting one. The indictment, filed on August 12 with the state court in Jena, outlines that Ibrahim M.G. joined an affiliate of the Islamic State, known as ISIS-K, which has been involved in various attacks in Afghanistan and beyond. Prosecutors revealed that the suspects had raised approximately 2,000 euros (around $2,220) in donations for the group while in Germany. Ibrahim M.G. was reportedly assigned by the IS affiliate in the summer of 2022 to execute an attack in Europe as retaliation for Quran burnings in Sweden. The duo's plan involved targeting police officers and civilians near the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm, utilizing firearms. Prosecutors noted that they made "concrete preparations" in collaboration with IS members and conducted extensive online research to facilitate their attack. Despite their efforts, the suspects were unsuccessful in procuring weapons, according to the prosecutors' statement. The case now awaits a decision from the Jena court regarding the trial's timeline.