Germany Charges 2 Afghans Accused of Planning Attack Near Swedish Parliament

Police vehicles leave the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, Germany (AP)
Police vehicles leave the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, Germany (AP)
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Germany Charges 2 Afghans Accused of Planning Attack Near Swedish Parliament

Police vehicles leave the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, Germany (AP)
Police vehicles leave the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, Germany (AP)

The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office in Karlsruhe, southwest Germany, has charged two Afghans with conspiring to carry out a shooting near the Swedish Parliament.

One of the accused is said to be a member of ISIS, while the other is described as a supporter of the group.

Last March, Germany detained the two Afghan citizens accused of planning an attack on the Swedish parliament in response to the burning of copies of the Quran in Stockholm last summer.

At the time, the federal prosecutor’s office said two Afghan nationals identified as Ibrahim MG and Ramin N. were detained in the eastern German city of Gera on suspicion of plotting the attack.

The suspects have been in pre-trial detention since their arrest.

According to German authorities, ISIS-Khorasan instructed the suspects in the summer of 2023 to attack Europe “in response to the burning of the Quran in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries.”

The two men planned to use firearms to kill police and other individuals around the Swedish Parliament.

German officials revealed that the suspects, arrested last March in Gera, Thuringia, had taken “specific steps” in close coordination with ISIS-Khorasan, a branch primarily based in Afghanistan and Pakistan, to carry out their plot.

They also conducted online research on the crime scene and attempted unsuccessfully to obtain weapons.

Prosecutors accuse both men of belonging to or supporting a terrorist organization, as well as of arranging to commit a crime and violating the Foreign Trade and Payments Act.

Federal prosecutors said they filed the indictment on Aug. 12 to the state court in Jena, which will decide whether and when the case goes to trial.



French-Moroccan Karim Bouamrane Eyed for Prime Minister Role

Karim Bouamrane delivering a speech at the opening of “Socrates Street” in the Olympic Village, March 2024 (Getty)
Karim Bouamrane delivering a speech at the opening of “Socrates Street” in the Olympic Village, March 2024 (Getty)
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French-Moroccan Karim Bouamrane Eyed for Prime Minister Role

Karim Bouamrane delivering a speech at the opening of “Socrates Street” in the Olympic Village, March 2024 (Getty)
Karim Bouamrane delivering a speech at the opening of “Socrates Street” in the Olympic Village, March 2024 (Getty)

If French President Emmanuel Macron chooses Karim Bouamrane, born to Moroccan parents, to form the new government, he will follow a precedent of foreign-born politicians reaching high positions in France.
Former President Nicolas Sarkozy had Hungarian heritage, and former Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who served under President François Hollande, was of Spanish origin from Catalonia.
Outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s grandfather was born in Tunisia. Among Moroccans, Rachida Dati and Najat Vallaud-Belkacem have also held significant positions, such as Minister of Culture and Minister of Education, respectively.
The potential appointment of a Maghreb-born politician reflects a significant change in French politics, especially given the recent strong showing of the far-right in elections. Macron is expected to announce the new Prime Minister after consulting with parliamentary leaders on Friday and Monday.
The Élysée Palace has not set a deadline for this decision, emphasizing that Macron wants a thorough and respectful consultation to ensure the new Prime Minister can build a stable majority. Macron aims to honor the Constitution and voters’ choices in this selection.
Macron has not yet confirmed whether Karim Bouamrane will be appointed as the new Prime Minister.
Bouamrane is a serious candidate, but others are also being considered. Macron might also choose an unexpected candidate.
Bouamrane’s profile has risen recently due to the parliamentary election results announced on July 7, which failed to produce a clear majority. This has delayed the appointment of a new Prime Minister.
It is noteworthy that Attal resigned on August 16, but his government is still in place.
Bouamrane, once relatively unknown, has gained significant media attention both in France and internationally. Major outlets like Der Spiegel, The New York Times, and El País have covered him.
The French media is keen to see how Macron addresses the delay in forming a new government, especially as the focus shifts from the successful Olympics to urgent political, economic, and social issues.