Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1407425
Islamic terrorist cell was present in Poland, formed by the Chechnya citizens residing in the country. The main goals of their activities were: obtaining financing (8,950 euro in total), delivering military equipment transferred via Turkey, and recruiting volunteers who would be willing to fight in terrorist organizations in Syria and Iraq. The group also managed to organize a trip to Poland of an Islamic combatant shot in Syria - who was treated at a hospital in Białystok. Three suspects were found guilty by the Court of First Instance. Nonetheless, the Supreme Court set the judgment aside, as originally the accusations pertained to ISIS, meanwhile, the Court suggested that the suspects were supporting another organization, the so-called Caucasus Emirate. Other cases in which money was transferred via the hawala system were also recorded. On December 14th, 2020, the Wrocław Fabryczna Regional Court received an accusation act against two Iraqi citizens residing in Poland. The investigation conducted between 2017 and 2020 found out that the Iraqi citizens were transferring assets that were to support the ISIS combat activities in the Middle East, primarily in Iraq. The transfers were made possible thanks to the hawala system. It has a long-standing tradition, and it is based on trust between the intermediary parties. It is relatively quick and leaves no trace in bank accounts. It functions thanks to the community and business networking organized within diaspora or ethnic minorities. In this case, the funds provided by the families of the European ISIS combatants (Germany, Belgium), were sent to Poland via the Western Union network. Then, the suspects were transferring these funds to the ISIS combatants in Iraq. The court proceedings began in March 2021. The suspects did not plead guilty. They face 2 to 12 years in prison, being charged with supporting terrorist activities. An attempt at an attack that had a completely different motive was also recorded. In November 2019 two persons were arrested, suspected of preparing an attack against the Mosque in Warsaw with the use of explosive materials. The suspects remained in possession of substances that could be used to manufacture explosives, firearms, and numerous handbooks and manuals. We also know that they were inspired by a terrorist attack that took place in New Zealand. The last, and the only case in which an attack took place, is the case that happened in Wrocław. On May 19th, 2016 an IED was spotted on bus no. 145 in Wrocław, based around a pressure cooker filled with nuts and bolts. The suspicious package was carried out of the bus. The explosion has injured just one person. Paweł R. turned out to be the perpetrator. Beforehand www.fragoutmag.com