A former Islamic State commander has warned ISIS are using the internet to recruit potentially deadly ISIS sleeper cells in the UK.
ISIS leaders are sending propaganda over the internet to further radicalise potential recruits and ‘encourage jihad’, according to Emir Abu Abboud al-Raqqawi — who held several high-ranking positions within the Islamic religious police force.
In an interview, he has revealed the chilling details of how multi-lingual and sophisticate terrorist recruiters are helping to establish sleeper cells in western Europe.
‘Migrants inside the caliphate are in touch with their friends in the Western world. Their friends and family in Sweden, in Germany, in France, in the UK, in Turkey, in Azerbaijan or in other parts of the world,’ al-Raqqaqi toldexpressen.se.
Terrorists in training: ISIS began to establish itself in Yemen in 2014, using the chaos of a civil war to convince young men and women to join them
Lining up: Propaganda videos that are sent to prospective recruits are designed to radicalise them even further
‘When they’re ordered to attack, for example, an airport or a supermarket, then they just do it,’ said the former commander
‘From within the caliphate, they’re recruiting sleeper cells in the Western world.’
One ISIS fanatic, who heads up the organisations recruiter drive, is originally from France and speaks multiple languages.
The ex-commander also detailed how potential recruits are further radicalised over the internet.
He said prospective members are sent publications, videos and other documents that ‘encourage Jihad’ and show Muslims being killed in Syria and Iraq.
The former ISIS commander has revealed the chilling details of how multi-lingual and sophisticate terrorist recruiters are helping to establish sleeper cells in western Europe
Instead of being encouraged to cross the border into Syria, foreign jihadists are being told to remain in the home countries and carry out attacks
Due to pressure from the west, ISIS began stopping foreign jihadists from crossing into Syria.
They were instead encouraged to remain in their home countries and await orders to carry out terror attacks.
‘When they’re ordered to attack, for example, an airport or a supermarket, then they just do it. There will be more attacks. Even if they’re collapsing and are weaker now, sleeper cells are awaiting orders,’ added al-Raqqawi.
His revelations follow a series of terror attacks in UK, including the Manchester Arena bombing on May 22 that 23 people.