Interpol arrests 37 suspected terrorists across East Africa

Thirty-seven suspected terrorists, including alleged Islamic State operatives, were apprehended across East Africa over a two-month period, Interpol announced on Monday.

The global police agency, based in France, revealed that these arrests were part of coordinated operations conducted in November and December alongside Afripol, the pan-African police body.

Rising concerns over a potential ISIS resurgence, particularly after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, have heightened global vigilance. These fears were underscored by the New Year’s Day tragedy in New Orleans, where a U.S. Army veteran flying an ISIS flag killed 15 people after driving into crowds.

In East Africa, Kenyan authorities detained 17 individuals, including two suspected ISIS members, while a suspected ISIS Mozambique member was arrested in Tanzania. Additional arrests took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.

“East Africa’s political instability, porous borders, and economic challenges create a fertile ground for terrorist activity,” stated Cyril Gout of Interpol. “These successful operations underscore the importance of international cooperation in counterterrorism efforts,” he added.

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