German officials make Ansar al-Islam arrest, bring other

UNCLAS FRANKFURT 004401 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/AGS, EUR/PGI, S/CT, EB/ESC/TFS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC KISL IZ GM SUBJECT: German officials make Ansar al-Islam arrest, bring other Ansar al-Islam case to trial Sensitive but unclassified; not for internet distribution. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On June 12 German police arrested "Burhan B." at Frankfurt Airport and charged him with breaking German export laws and with membership and support for Ansar al-Islam. Separately, on June 20 authorities launched the trial of Ata Abdoulaziz Rashid and two accomplices. They stand accused of plotting to kill then-Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi during a visit to Germany in December 2004. END SUMMARY. Burhan B.: An Ansar al-Islam "Treasurer" -------------- ¶2. (U) In a case crossing German state boundaries, Baden-Wuerttemberg Office of Criminal Investigation (LKA) officials arrested a 36-year old Iraqi citizen identified only as "Burhan B." at Frankfurt Airport June 12 while in transit from Zurich to Amman. Federal Prosecutor Monika Harms charged Burhan with breaking German export laws, providing financial and logistical support for Ansar al-Islam, and membership in a terrorist organization. According to press reports, and confirmed by Frankfurt police, Burhan had been living in Switzerland for close to ten years and had just vacated his apartment before beginning his planned journey back to Iraq. Investigators accuse him of serving as a de facto treasurer for Ansar al-Islam in Germany. Quoting information from a Swiss interior ministry report, the press also noted Burhan is alleged to have contacts with other extremists throughout Europe; Swiss police also apparently found numerous extremist propaganda materials during a search of his apartment in 2005. German police accuse Burhan of collecting 22,000 Euros for the organization on behalf of Ata Abdoulaziz Rashid (see below). Ansar al-Islam Trial Begins -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Separately, the trial of Ata Abdoulaziz Rashid (allegedly the leader of Ansar al-Islam in Germany) and two accomplices, Rafik Mohamad Yousef and Mazen al-Hussein, began in Stuttgart on June 20. The three Iraqi men have been in German custody since December 3, 2004, following their arrest for suspected involvement in a plot to kill former Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi during his visit to Germany. The accused also face charges of conspiracy and membership in Ansar al-Islam. All three individuals are included in the UNSCR 1267 Committee Consolidated List of Individuals and Entities Associated with the Taliban, al-Qaida and Usama Bin Laden, subsequent to German proposals; therefore all are subject to arrest freeze and travel ban. ¶4. (U) Post will continue to follow and report on further developments. This message was coordinated with Embassy Berlin. PASI