Kyrgyzstan Detains Al-Qaeda Member Accused of Recruiting 10 Men

Kyrgyz intelligence agencies detained on Monday a member of an international terrorist organization accused of recruiting 10 men for military activities in Syria and Afghanistan, a spokesman for the Kyrgyzstan National Security Committee said.

BISHKEK (Sputnik) —According to the National Security Committee, the detainee represented the al-Qaeda terrorist group and kept contact with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan militant group.

"Officers of the State National Security Committee for the Osh region have detained a 47-year-old member of an international terrorist organization in the Kara-Suu town, who sent about 10 people to Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan to participate in military activities in the past two years," the spokesman told RIA Novosti.

Over 420 Kyrgyz citizens have joined the ranks of the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria and Iraq, according to the Kyrgyz law enforcement.