Quoted By:
Denis Cuspert became involved with the Egyptian Austrian-born al-Qaeda affiliate Muhammad Mahmoud (also known as Abu Usama Al-Gharib), who had founded the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF) as well as the militant Salafist group Millatu Ibrahim, later banned by the German authorities.[9] German broadcaster ZDF also received footage, apparently made by Cuspert, in which he threatened to wage Jihad in Germany and warned of attacks. According to German security authorities, Cuspert managed to leave to Egypt, despite heavy observation, to join the remnants of Millatu Ibrahim to try to establish a German Salafist colony that sought to impose Sharia law in Germany.[11] According to the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, while in Egypt Cuspert underwent firearms training in a militant camp, before travelling to Libya for additional training.[3]
In August 2013 he appeared in a video fighting alongside the militant group Junud al-Sham against forces loyal to President Bashar Assad in the Syrian Civil War.[3][12] He began using the nom de guerre of Abu Talha Al-Almani (Abu Talha the German).[5] In September 2013 Cuspert was reportedly injured in an air strike in Syria.[13][14] Abu Talha continued to post video footage and messages online in German about his activities, including his advocacy for active participation in jihad and for enactment of sharia law.
In November 2013 German authorities issued a warning, emanating from its Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt) and made public through the Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), about a possible attack by Cuspert against German institutions working in Turkey. The warning published by German national daily Die Welt stated that "Cuspert could use an explosive-laden vehicle".[15][16] In a video posted online, Denis Cuspert denied the allegations, adding that Germany was not his "objective in terms of attacks".[16]
