A Kenyan woman has been arrested in Italian city of Milan over plans to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) jihadist group.
The 19-year-old was arrested on Saturday, November 30, at the Orio al Serio Airport while attempting to board a flight to Turkey to join a militia group whose territories are based in Asia.
The arrest was carried out by Milan’s International Counter Terrorism Department (ITD) and the Central Directorate of Prevention Police (CDPP) after an extensive investigation that began in October this year.
Police officers began investigating her activities in August after propaganda videos and content shared about her on her social media, which included jihadist material and imagery of her wearing a niqab.
The suspect is said to have posted ISIS-related content including a black-flag emoji and messages about Jihad and earning a place in paradise through defeating enemies.
Reports further revealed that the woman claimed that the ‘holy war’ was only for men and even went ahead to refer to some of the ‘heroes’ who participated in the movement.
According to MilanoToday, preliminary investigations conducted on her activities revealed the woman had been engaging with individuals based in the Middle East who have been funding including facilitating her travels.
Police officers further revealed that the woman reportedly contacted the Turkish diplomatic offices in Italy to obtain a one-way ticket to Istanbul.
Her travel plans were exposed last month after acquiring an air ticket scheduled for November 30. According to a police report, she planned to travel to areas controlled by jihadists, including specific towns in Italy.
A search was conducted on her belongings and a police report further revealed evidence that indeed the woman had orchestrated a scheme to join the terror group.
The recruitment of Kenyan women and girls into terror groups has in recent years increased as the militia groups try to evolve their tactics. The recruitment of girls into terror groups is mostly evident in the Kenyan coast and the Northeastern counties.
Women have recently been identified as the ideal recruiters of people into terrorism, they are also preferred for such activities due to their ease in logistical planning and execution of terror activities.
