A German man arrested on suspicion of recruiting for a terror group mounting attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan was extradited from Austria Monday, federal prosecutors said. The German federal prosecutor's office said in a statement that the suspect identified only as Yusuf O. was arrested in Austria on May 31 on a German warrant.
Prosecutors say the 26-year-old travelled to the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan from Germany in May 2009 and joined the "foreign terrorist organisation" German Taliban Mujahideen (DTM) in September of that year. He allegedly trained in using explosives and firearms "and took part in jihad for the DTM," which plots attacks against government troops in the region as well as the Nato-led force in Afghanistan, the statement said.
"In addition he is accused of appearing in propaganda videos for the terrorist organisation," it said. From early 2011, Yusuf O. is believed to have begun seeking new recruits for the DTM in Europe. Austrian police arrested four terror suspects last week including a 25-year-old Austrian convert to Islam suspected of recruiting for terror training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan and financing the DTM. He is believed to have been in contact with Yusuf O., according to Austria authorities.