Brno/Prague, Nov 21 (CTK) – The Czech Foreigner Police detained two Syrians in a coach on the D1 motorway this spring, who were heading from Austria to Germany and had suspicious notes and radical religious literature on them, Czech server Lidovky.cz has written, adding that the two were handed over to Austria.
After uncovering the Syrians, the Czech police called the Austrian police anti-terrorist unit and handed the two men and their suspicious documents to it, Lidovky.cz writes.
“One of them had an exercise book with possibly suspicious information. We immediately informed the police units in charge of solving similar cases within the Czech police. We also cooperated with our Austrian colleagues from Austria´s anti-terrorist squad,” South Moravian police spokeswoman Petra Ledabylova is quoted as saying.
According to Lidovky.cz´s information, the foreigners had detailed pictures showing the connection of electric devices with a cell phone, and religious literature inciting to jihad and the extermination of unbelievers.
“The Austrian police took over the materials for further analysis,” Ledabylova said.
The Austrians took over the two suspects as well.
“Their handing over took place in the presence of specialists in this issue, not in a standard way of foreigners being handed and taken over by common police patrols,” Ledabylova said.
On Thursday, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) admitted that the Czech Republic has been used by terrorists as a transit country. They choose the Czech Republic to divert the attention of their western country of destination and to be inconspicuous, because the Czech Republic is considered a safe country, Sobotka said based on information from the intelligence services.
Czech Interior Minister Milan Chovanec (CSSD) rejected the possibility of terrorists or their aides crossing the Czech Republic “unnoticed.”
Such foreigners were monitored by the Czech intelligence bodies who passed the information to their counterparts abroad, Chovanec said.
rtj/dr
