BERLIN — In a recent verdict, a German court sentenced two Afghan nationals to lengthy prison terms after convicting them of plotting an attack on the Swedish parliament. This plan reportedly included the intent to assassinate lawmakers as a retaliation for incidents involving the burning of the Quran. The news emerged through reports from the German news agency dpa.
The Jena Higher Regional Court ruled that the men were guilty of crimes, including membership or support of a terrorist organization abroad and conspiracy to commit murder. The older of the two, a 30-year-old, received a sentence of five years and six months, while the 24-year-old was sentenced to four years and two months. The identities of the men were not disclosed further, though it was mentioned that they have the right to appeal the decision.
Prior to their arrest, both individuals resided in Gera in Thuringia, a state in eastern Germany. They were confirmed as friends who had both fallen prey to radicalization through online material related to the Islamic State group. Their arrest occurred in March as they were returning from the Czech Republic, where they had attempted, without success, to procure firearms intended for their planned attack. Information presented during the trial revealed that they had been monitored by authorities for a significant period.
In preceding statements from German authorities, the men were identified as Ibrahim M.G. and Ramin N. Their attempt to carry out an attack on the Swedish legislative body underscores ongoing challenges related to domestic security and the impact of extremist propaganda.
