Syrian national arrested in Germany for alleged war crimes

German authorities have arrested a Syrian national, Ibrahim A., in Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, on suspicion of committing war crimes during the Syrian civil war. The arrest was executed by the State Criminal Police Office of Rhineland-Palatinate following an arrest warrant issued by the Federal Court of Justice.

The suspect is accused of war crimes involving killing. According to the Federal Prosecutor's Office, Ibrahim A. was originally part of the Syrian state forces but joined an opposition militia as a commander in the Homs region by November 2012 at the latest.

In late 2015, the suspect and three others allegedly detained individuals suspected of being regime members. The detainees were reportedly forced to confess to attacks against the militia and the suspect. Shortly thereafter, Ibrahim A. allegedly executed the prisoners by shooting them in the head at close range. The suspect is scheduled to appear before an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice to determine pretrial detention.