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"
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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
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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