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The German military uncovered dozens of soldiers with ISIS terrorist mindset that joined the army to receive rigorous training in weapons systems and tactics in hopes of using it for future terror attacks, both at home and abroad, local media report.
Germany’s Military Counter-intelligence Service, MAD, has identified 20 active-duty soldiers as ISIS terrorists, and 60 others were put on a surveillance list for having terrorist views, Die Welt reported.
The agency said the infiltrators are particularly interested in high-tech advanced weapons and tactical training that could be useful when carrying out future attacks in Germany or abroad.
Recruitment offices across the country have reported “individual inquiries from applicants who are eager to join the Bundeswehr, the German military, for only a few months and are explicitly interested in intensive weapons and equipment training,” MAD noted.
During ‘Grundausbildung,’ Germany’s army boot camp training, recruits are taught shooting and marksmanship skills, map reading and topography, and the fundamentals of woodland and urban warfare, as well as how to give emergency aid.
While MAD did not elaborate on the situation, the figures highlight that this is now an issue, as ISIS terror groups are infiltrating one of Europe’s most capable militaries.
Plans to conduct comprehensive background checks on all applicants were announced in late August. Currently, only service members that have already enlisted, including soldiers, officers, and non-commissioned officers, are vetted.