A German-Syrian dual national who has admitted belonging to al Qaida has been convicted of membership in a terrorist group and given a prison sentence of four years and nine months. The Frankfurt state court also found Monday that Rami Makanesi trained at an al Qaida paramilitary camp in Pakistan's lawless border region.
Judge Thomas Sagebiel said the defendant co-operated fully with investigators opening the way for a plea deal under which prosecutors and the defence agreed to a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The 25-year-old was arrested in Pakistan in June 2010. He was extradited two months later. Prosecutors said Makanesi was planning to return to Germany to raise funds for al Qaida and also be in place for terrorist operations if needed.