The Hague
A suspected Dutch jihadist is believed to have been involved in the kidnapping and murder of a British couple in South Africa and of contacting a top Islamic State group official, Dutch media reported on Monday.
The 29-year-old man, only identified as ‘Mohammed G’, briefly appeared in the Rotterdam District Court where he was accused of ‘belonging to a terrorist organisation’.
ALSO READ: National Hawks swoop in on Zululand homestead
Earlier this year the bodies of renowned British botanists Rachel Saunders, 63, and her husband Rodney Saunders, 74, were discovered after they went missing during a trip to look for rare seeds in South Africa’s northeast KwaZulu-Natal province.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Terrorist-linked pair hid near Mtunzini
The two are believed to have been kidnapped by suspected jihadists, who raised an ISIS flag in a reserve in the region where the Saunders couple disappeared.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Hush-hush Hawks probe terror links
Mohammed G, from Limburg province in the south of the Netherlands, is ‘suspected of involvement in the fatal kidnapping in South Africa’, Dutch national news agency ANP said.
Tried to buy bitcoins
Dutch prosecutors alleged Mohammed G ‘tried to buy bitcoins’ using Rachel Saunders’ credit card details.
ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Missing couple showed common sense
‘He also had contact with the highest ranking IS spokesman in Africa,’ the Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported, naming the official as Abu Fida, also known as Mohammed Abdi Ali.
ALSO READ: WATCH: ISIS-linked couple’s homestead near Ngoye
Abu Fida was arrested in Kenya in 2016 and according to information from the FBI, received direct instructions from the ISIS leadership in Syria, the NOS said.
ALSO READ: Hawks hunt for ‘Bazooka’ terror suspect
Prosecutors said Mohammed G knew two of the Saunders’ kidnappers in South Africa and also worked with a Somali-based suspect.
ALSO READ: BREAKING: Isis-linked suspect leads police to where missing couple’s bodies were dumped
‘The four wanted to raise funds to set up a training camp in Somalia and buy weapons,’ the NOS said.
ALSO READ: Chances of finding couple’s bodies are slim
‘They also controlled social media accounts’ and advised prospective jihadists wanting to travel to Libya.
ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Body could be that of missing botanist
Rodney Saunders’ body was found by fishermen on 17 February in the Tugela River in the province and was positively identified several weeks later.
ALSO READ: Legal representation issue delays ISIS court case
Police gave no details of where Rachel Saunders’ body was found, but positively identified her in June.
ALSO READ: Body identified as missing botanist in ISIS-linked case
South African police arrested four suspects alleged to be part of the group behind the Saunders’ kidnapping after an intensive manhunt in KwaZulu-Natal in February.
A multi-country investigation was still ongoing and Mohammed G was remanded in custody ANP said.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
