Charged with terror-related counts, a Moroccan national appears in court in Portugal

A Moroccan national who was arrested in Germany and extradited to Portugal appeared in court, Monday, in the Iberian country, where he was accused of terror-related crimes, EFE reports.

The suspect is charged with eight counts, including joining an international terrorist organization, forgery for the purpose of terrorism and using fake documents to finance terrorism. During the hearing, the man identified as Abdessalam T. denied all accusations.

The same source indicates that the accused arrived in Portugal in 2013, using a fake passport and was granted asylum, after touring several European and Latin American countries.

The 64-year-old man is also accused of radicalizing young Moroccans in a refugee center. He was the subject of a European arrest warrant issued by the Portuguese authorities. He had been arrested in Germany and was handed over to Portugal last year.

This former Moroccan policeman had lived in the region of Aveiro (north). Moreover, investigators believe that he recruited a young compatriot, Hicham El-Hanafi, 27 years old. The latter had been arrested in Marseille, where he was about to carry a terrorist attack.