South African twins planned attacks on US Embassy, Jewish buildings

Twin brothers have been charged with conspiring to blow up a USA mission and various Jewish institutions in South Africa.

“We’ve been monitoring the movements of these four and on Saturday we were executing search warrants and that’s when we managed to seize some of the stuff that pointed directly to them, hence the decision to arrest them”, he said.

The four were allegedly planning to fly to Syria, where they were due to undergo training by a terror organization, police spokesman Hangwane Mulaudzi said.

“The twins have been charged with conspiracy”, Mulaudzi added.

In 2015 several South African citizens returned to the country after fighting for Islamic State.

Four people suspected of being involved in terrorist related activities in Newclare and Azaadville in Johannesburg have been arrested, Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said on Sunday.

Places where Americans congregate “such as upscale shopping areas and malls in Johannesburg and Cape Town” were thought to be possible targets, the statement said.

The sister, 25, and brother, 33, are expected to make their first appearance in the Kagiso Magistrates’ Court today (July 11) on charges relating to the illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

The two men, who are accused of planning to join the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria, will remain in custody and return to court on July 19 to allow for further investigation.

Among other things, the brothers were also accused of urging other people to “aid and abet them” in the attacks they were preparing to carry out, the sheet also said.

South African Muslims, who account for roughly 3 percent of the country’s total population of over 50 million, are largely moderate Muslims who condemn extremism.

Eleven young South Africans were also deported from Turkey in 2015, after attempting to travel to Syria.