Swiss prosecutors charge Iraqi as Islamic State recruiter

Swiss federal prosecutors have filed charges against an Iraqi man accused of operating as a recruiter and trafficker for Islamic State, who has been held pending trial since May 2017, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) said on Tuesday.

"The suspect held a position of authority in relation to other IS members, some also high-ranking, and functioned as a recruiter, trafficker, cash-provider and as the recipient of instructions from leading IS members," an OAG statement said. Its investigation uncovered an extensive network involving the suspect and more than 20 other alleged IS members in Switzerland, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, Finland, and another location as yet unidentified, it said.

The man, who was not identified, is alleged to have agreed to prepare attacks in Switzerland, the OAG said, adding it had no indication an actual attack had been imminent. Switzerland has not experienced deadly militant attacks that have hit neighboring countries such as Germany and France but have identified hundreds of residents deemed a threat and cases of jihadi travelers who have left the country for war zones.