Arrest of Two Suspects in Recruitment for Syrian Militants in Uzbekistan

Uzbek security forces have arrested two individuals suspected of recruiting militants for operations in Syria. Uzbekistan's state television announced that on Thursday, the two suspects, who had been in contact with the group 'Tawhid and Jihad' in Syria via Facebook, were detained. The television report also added that the arrested suspects had received financial assistance from militants. Uzbek security officials did not disclose the names or identities of the two suspects. The report stated that both suspects are citizens of Uzbekistan and reside in the 'Olmazor' and 'Yunusabad' districts of Tashkent. Both suspects are accused of 'contacting extremist groups' and 'distributing materials that pose a threat to public security.' Uzbek media also reported that the police are interrogating and investigating 23 individuals believed to have been influenced by these two. No further details have been provided. Estimates suggest that about 1,500 Uzbek citizens have gone to Iraq and Syria to join Islamic State militants. Several Uzbek citizens have also been accused of involvement in various terrorist operations outside the borders of Uzbekistan in 2017. One of these suspects, 'Sayfullah Saipov,' 29, was involved in a truck attack in Manhattan, New York, where pedestrians and cyclists were run over. In April 2017, 'Rahmat Akilov,' another Uzbek citizen, drove a truck into a crowd in Stockholm, Sweden, killing four people. 'Abdulqadir Masharipov,' another Uzbek citizen, attacked a nightclub in Istanbul on January 1, 2017, killing 39 people. In this context, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the New York attack. The main suspect in the deadly Reina nightclub attack in Istanbul has been arrested. The situation for Uzbekistan has changed following these events, with jihadists from Uzbekistan among the ranks of ISIS in Kobani. The Islamic State flag was raised over a bridge in Tashkent.