Deventer men suspected of financing terrorism

Two men from Deventer has been in custody since March 26th on suspicion of financing terrorism in Syria, the Public Prosecutor announced on Tuesday.

The suspects, aged 28 and 36 years, surfaced during an international investigation into terrorism financing. Between 2015 and their arrest, they paid money to jihadists fighting in Syria through exchange offices in Turkey, according to the prosecutor. They did so on behalf of the Dutch jihadists' friends and family. The Prosecutor did not say how much money was involved.

The Tax Authority's investigation department FIOD is also investigating several other investigations into the financing of foreign rebel fighters in the Syrian civil war, the Prosecutor said. Approximately 30 people surfaced as suspects in these investigation. They are all suspected of transferring money to jihadist family or friends. "By transferring money to foreign rebel fighters in Syria, you help to co-finance the violent jihad and that is punishable", the Prosecutor said. These people are also suspected of financing terrorism.

The court in Rotterdam will decide whether to extend the two Deventer men's pre-trail custody on Tuesday.