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Switzerland to consider travel ban on suspected jihadists

Xinhua, November 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Swiss Federal Council indicated on Monday that it will consider enhancing preventive measures vested in police forces to prevent individuals suspected of wanting to join jihadist factions from leaving the confederation.

"For this purpose, it has appointed the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to carry out an evaluation. Moreover, the council reiterates the importance of civil society structures in countering radicalisation, and advocates building on these existing structures rather than creating new ones," the Federal Council explained.

The Federal Council welcomed the progress made since the drafting of this year's first report on Switzerland's fight against jihadist-motivated terrorism, though "there are still issues to be addressed."

"Greater efforts have been made to raise awareness among, and provide better training to the cantonal police, Border Guard Corps and consular services. To facilitate coordination at national level and be able to respond to the threat more effectively, the cantonal police rely on the existing structures of the Conference of Swiss Cantonal Police Commanders. These structures have been strengthened by establishing a Police Management Support Staff to become active in the event of a terrorist attack or other major incident," the Federal Council said in a statement.

According to the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS), the terrorist threat in Switzerland has risen slightly, as it has in the rest of Europe, since the heightened level recorded in January this year.

While underlining cases of jihadist-motivated travel to Syria by men as well as women and children in the EU, the Federal Council indicated that such developments are also evident on Swiss soil.

According to the Federal Council, some 70 cases involving jihadist-motivated terrorism are currently being dealt with by the Swiss Federal Office of Police (fedpol) and the FIS.

The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has opened criminal proceedings in over 20 of these cases, with the first indictments to be submitted to the Federal Criminal Court this autumn. Endit