Islamic State has approximately 11,100 blank Syrian passports: report
Fake, altered passports mostly used for illegal entry without further motives like carrying out terrorist attack
PHOTO: TRIBUNE
German authorities reported that the Islamic State (IS) group holds approximately 11, 100 blank Syrian passports that can be completed with any individual’s details.
Weekly newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported, on Sunday, that the investigators have assembled a list of serial numbers of the blank passports and the authorities that issued them, the newspaper reported, citing confidential documents from federal police and the interior ministry.
First passport issued with gender-neutral 'X' option
It was noted that the stolen passports are genuine identity papers that have not yet been filled out with details, making them a valuable tool for forgers.
German security services are aware of around 18,002 blank Syrian passports stolen from Syrian government sites, including thousands held by groups other than IS, reports Hindustan Times.
"Developments in connection with the refugee situation have shown that terrorist organisations are using the opportunity to infiltrate potential attackers or supporters into Europe and Germany undetected," a spokeswoman for the BKA federal criminal police told Bild am Sonntag.
Members of the group behind a series of coordinated bomb and gun attacks in Paris that claimed 130 lives in November 2015 were found to have used fake Syrian passports.
Fake or altered passports are mostly used for illegal entry without further motives like carrying out a terrorist attack, the spokeswoman shared.
Pakistani passport still second worst for international travel
Some 8,625 passports checked by German migration authorities in 2016 turned out to be fakes according to the documents seen by Bild am Sonntag.
However, the files provided no information on how many of the passports were among those that had passed through IS’ hands.
This story originally appeared on the Hindustan Times.
Weekly newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported, on Sunday, that the investigators have assembled a list of serial numbers of the blank passports and the authorities that issued them, the newspaper reported, citing confidential documents from federal police and the interior ministry.
First passport issued with gender-neutral 'X' option
It was noted that the stolen passports are genuine identity papers that have not yet been filled out with details, making them a valuable tool for forgers.
German security services are aware of around 18,002 blank Syrian passports stolen from Syrian government sites, including thousands held by groups other than IS, reports Hindustan Times.
"Developments in connection with the refugee situation have shown that terrorist organisations are using the opportunity to infiltrate potential attackers or supporters into Europe and Germany undetected," a spokeswoman for the BKA federal criminal police told Bild am Sonntag.
Members of the group behind a series of coordinated bomb and gun attacks in Paris that claimed 130 lives in November 2015 were found to have used fake Syrian passports.
Fake or altered passports are mostly used for illegal entry without further motives like carrying out a terrorist attack, the spokeswoman shared.
Pakistani passport still second worst for international travel
Some 8,625 passports checked by German migration authorities in 2016 turned out to be fakes according to the documents seen by Bild am Sonntag.
However, the files provided no information on how many of the passports were among those that had passed through IS’ hands.
This story originally appeared on the Hindustan Times.