Germany's intelligence agency warns of Jihadist threat from Afghanistan-based IS offshoot

Germany's intelligence agency, the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV), has issued a warning regarding the jihadist threat they are facing by followers of an Afghanistan-based Islamic State offshoot, known as ISPK (Islamic State – Khorasan Province). This alert comes amid a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment in Germany, which has been reflected in the recent surge of far-right parties during the European Union parliamentary elections.

According to a report presented by BfV, the global strength of jihadist organisations is estimated at 27,200 members. Director General Thomas Haldenwang emphasised the threat from ISPK, stating that the group "has managed to bring followers to Western Europe, possibly with the wave of refugees from Ukraine, who are now staying here in various Western European countries." This was part of an annual report on intelligence operations presented by Haldenwang and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

The report highlighted a significant operation in July 2023, which involved a series of arrests in Germany and the Netherlands. German authorities detained nine individuals from Central Asia, seven of whom resided in Germany. These individuals are accused of forming a "domestic terrorist group" and planning major attacks in Europe. The group was reportedly in contact with ISPK and entered the European Union from Ukraine "almost simultaneously," according to German security officials. The suspects were described as "black sheep" among Ukrainians at the time of their arrest.

The Afghanistan-based ISPK, also known as ISIS-K, has a large following and calls for "major attacks," the BfV chief noted. Furthermore, Russian authorities believe that Ukrainian intelligence services may have facilitated the Crocus City Hall attack near Moscow, which resulted in over 145 fatalities in March 2024. However, it is possible that ISPK simply lent its name to the plot, allowing the real masterminds to recruit terrorists for the attack.

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