Mohammed G., suspected of involvement in a kidnapping in South Africa that ended fatally, has been in close contact with the highest-ranking spokesman for Islamic State (IS) in Africa.
That is according to information from the U.S. investigative agency FBI, the prosecutor said Monday during a non-substantive hearing before the court in Rotterdam.
Terrorist organization
The 29-year-old suspect is now also accused by the Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) of participating in a terrorist organization. For this reason, the Limburger, who has been in pretrial detention for six months, remains in custody for the time being, the court decided.
Also read: ''Fatal kidnapping links Mohammed G. to terrorism'
Contacts had
The jihadist previously served three years in prison for attempting to participate in the armed struggle in Syria. After he was released, he again had contacts with international jihadists until early this year, according to the prosecution. Among them are the two suspects in the kidnapping of a British couple in South Africa and another intermediary from Somalia. The IS chief, known as Abu Fida, was arrested in Kenya back in 2016.
Terrorist plans
G. appears to have been working with them on terrorist plans as far back as 2015, according to the prosecution. These included arranging trips to Syria and Libya, setting up a training camp in Somalia and buying weapons. They also wanted to lure women to Libya to sell them on the slave market.
Buying Bitcoins
British couple Rodney and Rachel Saunders lived in South Africa and were kidnapped in February and their remains were recovered two weeks later. The suspects were allegedly after their money, with which they wanted to pay for terrorist activities. G. allegedly tried to buy bitcoins with $127 from the deceased woman.
The investigation is ongoing and is taking place in South Africa, among other countries.
