Cooperation between SRI and DIICOT (the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism) on a terrorism-related case

29 March 2018

The Romanian Intelligence Service and DIICOT carried out specific investigative actions with regard to a 30 year old Romanian citizen of Palestinian nationality, suspected of promoting by means of propaganda techniques certain radical messages typically delivered by terrorist organizations in the Middle East and of providing training in the use of explosive devices.

The Service, in its capacity as national authority in the field of preventing and countering terrorism and in compliance with its legal obligations, notified DIICOT of the illegal actions carried out by the above-mentioned citizen in connection with the preparation or perpetration of terrorism-related crimes.

These activities are threats to national security, according to art. 3 (i) and (l) of Law no. 51/1991, and are among the terrorism-related offences specified in Law no. 535/2004 on the prevention and countering of terrorism.

The individual in question came to the attention of the Service in 2015, following a call at the 0800.800.100 - Antitero phone (antiterrorist hotline).

The investigation carried out by the Service revealed a number of indicators usually found in individuals who are undergoing a (self)-radicalization process in line with the ideology of Middle East terrorist organizations.

The aforementioned individual systematically promoted online ideas, views and attitudes typically held by terrorist entities. More specifically, the person showed interest in the actions carried out by terrorist organizations in the Middle East, by constantly accessing jihadist content, including about the possibility to travel to Syria and perpetrate terrorist attacks.

Throughout the investigation, the Service was assisted by its partners from the National System for the Prevention and Countering of Terrorism, as well as by its foreign partners.