Federal Prosecutors in Karlsruhe have detained a suspected former Syrian intelligence agent in Pirmasens, Rhineland-Palatinate, on Tuesday. The individual is strongly suspected of crimes against humanity, including murder, torture and kidnapping, according to the Karlsruhe authorities.
Fahad A. allegedly worked as a prison guard at the Abteilung 251 of the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate in Damascus between April 2011 and April 2012. He is accused of participating in over 100 interrogations, during which prisoners were severely mistreated. On the orders of his superiors, he is said to have subjected inmates to mistreatment at night, for example, by hanging them from the ceiling, dousing them with cold water, or forcing them to remain in uncomfortable positions. As a result of such mistreatment and inhumane detention conditions, at least 70 prisoners are believed to have lost their lives, according to investigators.