Federal Prosecutor's Office: Combat training planned for IS? 21-year-old in custody

Karlsruhe. A man is in custody in Germany after an alleged attempt to join the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia abroad. The investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe executed an arrest warrant against the German, as a spokeswoman for the Federal Prosecutor's Office confirmed to the German Press Agency. The 21-year-old was extradited to Germany on Friday.

The accused is said to have traveled from Berlin to Ethiopia in January 2025 with the aim of initially joining IS in Somalia and training as a fighter. But he never came to Somalia. According to federal prosecutors, he traveled to Pakistan to join IS instead. In February 2025 he was arrested in Pakistan.

Preparation for a violent act that is dangerous to the state?

The Federal Prosecutor's Office accuses the accused of attempted membership in a terrorist organization abroad and of preparing a serious act of violence that endangers the state. According to German criminal law, the latter already applies if someone leaves Germany to take part in a terrorist organization abroad or to be trained by it.

As the highest German law enforcement authority, the Federal Prosecutor's Office is primarily responsible for the areas of terrorism, espionage and international criminal law. Federal Prosecutor General Jens Rommel has been at the head of the Karlsruhe authority since March 2024.