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German on Trial for Admitted Terror Ties


Rami Makanesi, foreground left, awaits the beginning of his trial at a court in Frankfurt, Germany, May 5, 2011
Rami Makanesi, foreground left, awaits the beginning of his trial at a court in Frankfurt, Germany, May 5, 2011

A German man of Syrian origin has admitted to belonging to a terrorist cell, and training in an al-Qaida paramilitary camp in Pakistan.

In his trial Thursday, Rami Makanesi agreed to plead guilty to the charges in exchange for a prison sentence of no more than five years. Makanesi also has agreed to give details about his crimes in court.

The 25-year-old left Germany for Pakistan in 2009 to undergo training in a camp in the Waziristan border region, and planned to return to Germany to take part in terrorist operations.

But Pakistani security forces arrested Makanesi as he planned his return to Germany last year. German officials say Makanesi and another German who was arrested in Afghanistan provided information that led to increased security measures in Germany last November.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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