EUROPOL AND FBI CONDUCT OPERATION AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE ASSOCIATES

AMSTERDAM, JUNE 18 /SRNA/ - In cooperation with security services from eight European countries and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation /FBI/, Europol carried out a seven-day operation across Europe against networks linked to an Islamic State branch in the Middle East.

Europol stated that the operation was carried out from June 1 to 5 under the coordination of the European Counter Terrorism Centre.

The targets were individuals of Chechen and Central Asian origin suspected of links to the Islamic State, the statement added.

During the operation, intelligence was shared, which enabled the identification of suspects and the mapping of their movements across Europe, South America, and the United States, resulting in multiple arrests.

Security services shared more than 100 gigabytes of operational information, and the cooperation led to progress in several terrorism-related investigations.

Europol deployed experts in data analysis, cybercrime, and financial investigations for the operation.

Security services from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, Italy, Ireland, Spain, and the United States took part in the operation.