German court jails terror suspect

German-Syrian dual national sentenced imprisonment by a German court for belonging to Al-Qaeda.

FRANKFURT/ PRAGUE: A 25-year-old German-Syrian dual national was sentenced to four years and nine months imprisonment by a German court Monday for belonging to an al Qaeda-linked terror cell active in Pakistan.

Rami Makenesi provided a full confession in exchange for a reduced prison sentence of no more than five years.

The Frankfurt-born Makenesi went to Pakistan in 2009 where he joined an Al-Qaeda group which gave him weapons' training. He was also involved in fighting Pakistani troops, the court heard.

In February 2010 he was sent to join a group fighting in Afghanistan, but was unable to keep pace with the rebels and had to turn back.

Instead he offered to help raise funds for the group in Germany, but was arrested by Pakistani authorities in June before he could make it home.

He was extradited to Germany in August where he has been held pending trial.

Information provided by him and by another German arrested in Afghanistan prompted a security clampdown in Germany in November, resulting notably in the closing of the federal parliament building in Berlin to most visitors.

Pakistani terrorism suspect detained in Prague: ministry

A Pakistani suspected of terrorism and other crimes was detained by Czech police under an international arrest warrant at the end of April, the Czech justice ministry told AFP Monday.
"Pakistani citizen Muhammad Zafar was detained by the police on April 27... and taken into custody," said Tereza Paleckova, spokeswoman for the ministry.
She added Pakistan had issued the arrest warrant for "sexual crimes, terrorism and theft, among others," and that the Czech side was now waiting for Pakistan to send a request for extradition.
Paleckova said the Czech Republic would release Zafar if it did not receive the request "within 40 days following the arrest."
"Besides, we cannot say if the Czech Republic would actually extradite Zafar to Pakistan... it would have to reckon with the fact that Pakistan has a death penalty," which could prevent the extradition under the Czech law, she added.
Interior Minister Jan Kubice told the public broadcaster Czech Television that Zafar, 42, was arrested after asking for asylum in the Czech Republic.
"They all do this to avoid extradition," he added.