1,700 Russians fighting for Takfiri groups in Iraq: Moscow
Moscow says around 1,700 Russian citizens are fighting alongside Takfiri terrorist groups in Iraq.
Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov said on Friday that the number of Russian nationals who have joined the terrorist groups in Iraq has doubled over the past year.
The Russian chief voiced concern over the rising number of militant recruits in the European country, saying the terrorists’ possible return to their homeland poses a great danger to Russia’s security and stability.
Bortnikov made the remarks during an official visit to the United States.
The Russian National Antiterrorism Committee had earlier warned that there are “at least 10,000 resources” on the Internet that propagate terrorist ideology.
“Half a thousand of them are in the Russian language, having youth as their targeted audience,” said the committee spokesman, Andrey Przhezdomsky, adding, “Eighty percent of users are below the age of 30 years, but there are children as well.”
Back in January, the French prime minister said that around 1,400 people from France had either joined Takfiri terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria or were planning to do so.
"There are 1,400 individuals who are involved in the departures … for terrorism in Syria and in Iraq," Manuel Valls said, adding, "There are close to 70 French citizens or residents in France who have died in Syria and Iraq in the ranks of the terrorists.”
The Takfiri terrorist groups, with members from several Western countries, control swathes of land in Syria and Iraq, and have been carrying out horrific acts of violence such as public decapitations and crucifixions against all communities such as Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians.
FNR/NN/HMV
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