South Africa: two twins sentenced for trying to join ISIS and attack plans

One of the twins had planned to attack the American Embassy in Pretoria.

Here, vehicles near the embassy, ​​June 3, 2020. AFP - PHILL MAGAKOE

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1 min

Two twin brothers were sentenced on February 7 to 8 and 11 years in prison for trying to join the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria.

The arrest in 2016 of these two brothers who had converted to Islam - had aroused the concern of the South African authorities, in particular because one would have planned attacks against the United States embassy in Pretoria, but also because they feared the presence of sleeper cells in the country.

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With our correspondent in Johannesburg,

Tony Lee Thulsie and Brandon Lee Thulsie were just 22 when they were arrested in July 2016 at their home in suburban Johannesburg.

At the time, the two brothers had twice tried to leave the country to join the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria.

According to the indictment, they also planned to “ 

 .”

They were arrested after one of the brothers gave their project to an American police officer working undercover.

Compromising material had been found at their home.

Materials downloaded from the Internet, including a manual entitled " 

 ".

At the time, the case had worried the South African authorities: the Islamic State organization was experiencing a meteoric rise and attracting young people from different countries.

Their arrests

for alleged links to IS.

The country estimated at the time that a hundred of its nationals had already left – mainly with their families – to join the ranks of the terrorist organization.

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• South Africa

• Justice

• Terrorism