BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The three detained in two mosques in the Belgian southern Wallonia region have been trying to recruit young people, allegedly into a terrorist organization operating in Syria, accordifn to the local news agency Belga. The investigation is currently underway.
Earlier in the day, Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said that Belgians continue to leave for the Islamic State (ISIL) terrorist group operating in Syria and Iraq, even though the number of jihadist recruits had decreased.
The minister said that up to a dozen of Belgian nationals join the ISIL ranks monthly.
This measure is considered by the government as a means of preventing potential fighters from leaving Belgium for Syria.
According to the VRT television channel, the Islamic State pays up to €9,000 ($9,915) for each fighter recruited in Belgium. Medical staff and IT specialists are said to be prioritized by ISIL recruiters.
Islamic State is a jihadist militant group, which has seized large territories in Iraq and Syria. It is known for recruiting young people from all over the world, mostly via social media. Some 20,000 to 30,000 foreign fighters are battling alongside extremists against government forces in Syria and Iraq, according to various estimates.
