Suriname authorities investigating ‘ISIS terror threat’

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, May 25, CMC –  The security authorities have stepped up their presence across Suriname's capital, Paramaribo and at several schools following a threat made via Facebook on Thursday.

According to the police, although the threat could be a hoax an in-depth investigation has been launched and this has prompted them to increase patrols mainly at some educational institutions. 

However, despite reassurance by Vice President Ashwin Adhin early Friday during a press briefing, several schools remained closed. 

Posted on Facebook by ‘Mohammed Ahmed Al-Mehdi’  the threat said that fifty people would be killed if two brothers who had been detained for several months and charged with violation of the country’s anti-terrorism laws were not immediately released. 

The Facebook post mentioned a high school, the university and a local prison as potential targets.

The Facebook account has since been removed.

The two suspects referred to in the social media post, who are both from the Netherlands, were arrested last year and appeared in court on Monday.

During the court hearings, prosecutors argued that the suspects, who were allegedly managing a chatroom, were recruiting individuals to join ISIS in Syria.

One of the brothers had already made preparations to move to Syria with his family.

A request for the release of one of the suspects was rejected by the judge last Monday.

After the ‘threat’ went viral on Thursday afternoon, the management of a high school released a statement calling for students at the institution to stay home on Friday because of the threat.

During the press briefing, Adhin said a bomb squad was sent to the schools that were mentioned, but nothing suspicious was found. 

Meanwhile, the Director of the Bureau for National Security Daniella Veira said that the issue is currently being addressed as a purely Surinamese affair.

“Let us keep calm and ensure that Suriname is and remains safe,” she said.

In a statement, the government said that the situation is under control and that it has taken all necessary measures to that end. 

We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-449-0169, email us at editors@gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.