Islamic State-linked suspects detained or charged in 6 countries since late September

Authorities in Georgia, North Macedonia, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Israel detained or indicted 51 Islamic State-linked suspects in eight separate cases between September 25 and October 8. The arrests underscore the jihadist group’s continued ability to attract supporters despite more than a decade of sustained counter-terrorism operations against it.

Georgia

On September 25, it was reported that the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) arrested and charged two Georgian citizens for “joining a foreign terrorist organization and aiding terrorist activities.” They were arrested in Gardabani municipality in the southern region of Kvemo Kartli and Kareli municipality in the central-eastern region of Shida Kartli.

The suspects, who allegedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State’s leader, face 10 to 17 years of imprisonment. Security officials reportedly found ammunition, a hand grenade, and a detonator during searches of the detainees and their residences.

North Macedonia

On September 28, North Macedonia’s Interior Ministry (MUP) and National Security Agency (ANB) arrested five suspects in an operation against an Islamic State-linked criminal group in Skopje, the country’s capital.

The operation took place at 12 separate locations in Skopje, with searches netting automatic rifles, a sniper rifle, handguns, ammunition, tactical vests, radio communication equipment, an Islamic State flag, numerous cell phones and electronic devices, and cash.

The MUP said the principal suspect, identified as “K.I.,” 34, allegedly began operating within an Islamic State-linked organization in 2023, indoctrinating young people, distributing propaganda, and procuring and handling firearms. On September 29, authorities filed criminal complaints against K.I. for terrorism and weapons offenses, as well as against two other suspects, ages 24 and 30, for weapons offenses.

The North Macedonian broadcaster Telma reported that one detainee had been under surveillance for approximately 15 years.

The MUP reportedly uncovered the group with international assistance and information gleaned from criminal court proceedings.

The ANB said the group is part of a network tied to transnational crime, including drug trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, and illegal weapons dealing. The security agency added that some of the detainees had “close ties with foreign terrorist fighters.”

Germany

On September 30, Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) arrested Nuri A., born in Kuwait, in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district of Hessen, Germany, on suspicion of membership in the Islamic State. Nuri allegedly joined the Islamic State in Iraq no later than January 2016 and served as a fighter in several of the group’s units until the spring of 2017.

Relatedly, on September 30, in Düsseldorf, a 30-year-old Iraqi national was reportedly charged with membership in a terrorist organization. He is alleged to have joined the Islamic State between April and September 2016 and reportedly saw combat in one of the jihadist group’s military units.

On October 1, the BKA arrested Gharib S., born in Kuwait, in Eisenach, Thuringia. Prosecutors allege that he joined the Islamic State in Iraq no later than August 2016 and served as an armed military policeman for the organization until early 2017.

Italy

On October 2, Italian authorities arrested a 21-year-old Italian university student near Salerno. They charged him with “possessing material containing instructions on the preparation or use of deadly material devices for terrorist purposes and possession of illegal weapons.”

Italy’s foreign intelligence agency, Agenzia Informazioni e Sicurezza Esterna (AISE), had flagged the university student for downloading training manuals and Islamic State material. Following a tip from AISE to the Salerno prosecutor’s office, he was arrested after a search revealed bomb-construction manuals on his electronic devices.

During the search, authorities seized two knives, a 50-centimeter-long machete, two modified blank-firing pistols, and 107 blank rounds. The suspect, who had converted to Islam and studied at the University of Salerno, had previous police records for fraud and illegally carrying weapons.

Turkey

On October 6, Turkish counterterrorism police launched operations targeting the Islamic State in eight provinces across Turkey, detaining 39 people and seizing weapons and digital material.

“As a result of these operations, 39 suspects were apprehended and taken into custody, while one suspect was determined to be abroad. During searches and seizures of the suspects’ homes and workplaces, the following items were confiscated: 34 mobile phones, 33 SIM cards, 8 laptops, 4 tablets, 1 notebook computer, 1 computer case, 3 hard drives, 5 memory cards, 2 USB drives, 13 notebooks, 84 books deemed to be prohibited publications, 5 handguns, 251 rounds of ammunition, 6 shotguns, 123 shotgun cartridges, 2 swords, and 2 knives,” the Kahramanmaras Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.

Israel

On October 8, the Israeli government filed an indictment against Mohammad Shalabi, 22, a pharmacy student from East Jerusalem, for allegedly planning to carry out a terrorist attack using poisons and explosives. He was charged with “preparing to commit a terrorist murder and undergoing training for terrorism.”

According to court documents, Shalabi, a third-year pharmacy student at Al Qods University, underwent radicalization following the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, reportedly consuming Hamas and Islamic State propaganda. He planned to use his access to chemicals to carry out the attacks.

In early 2025, Shalabi reportedly planned to conduct an attack against law enforcement officials near a neighborhood mosque because of the high number of parking tickets issued to nearby worshippers. However, this plan was abandoned because law enforcement officials stopped coming to the area.

Shalabi joined Telegram groups associated with terrorist groups, including the Islamic State, and downloaded instruction manuals on constructing bombs and employing poisons. He traveled to Ramallah multiple times to purchase chemicals and equipment needed for an attack.

Shalabi’s indictment follows four other Islamic State-related cases in Israel involving arrests or indictments since early August.

Will Selber is a retired US CENTCOM foreign area officer with over 4 years in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the owner of Grumpy Combat Veteran on Substack.