37 East African terror suspects are detained by Interpol

The international police organization Interpol stated on Monday, January 27, that 37 suspected terrorists, including suspected members of Islamic State, have been taken into custody in East Africa in the past two months, according to Reuters.

The arrests were made in November and December during operations carried out in collaboration with the pan-African police organization Afripol, according to Interpol, which has its headquarters in France.

The arrests coincide with growing fears of a potential return of the ISIS extremist organization following Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow in Syria.

A U.S. Army veteran who was flying an ISIS flag from his truck raced over temporary barriers and crashed into crowds in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, killing fifteen people.

17 persons, including two suspected ISIS members, were arrested in Kenya as a result of the operations in Africa, according to Interpol, while a suspected ISIS Mozambican member was arrested in Tanzania.

In Somalia and the DR Congo, other people were taken into custody.

“East Africa’s complex landscape, marked by political instability, porous borders, and socioeconomic challenges, continues to provide an environment conducive to terrorist activity,” Interpol’s Cyril Gout said.

“These positive results demonstrate the power of international collaboration in the fight against terrorism,” he stated.