APPREHENDED
- Full name: Mihad Dibrani
- Pseudonym: N/a
- Alternatives: N/a
- Location: Belgium
- Affiliation: Dibrani, Imishti and Matoshi Network [DIMN]
Mahid Dibrani (°1989) is Roma jihadi from Kosovo and long-time resident of the Flemish city of Sint-Niklaas where he was active in a local Islamist fundamentalist organization until other members expelled him over his extremist views.1
In early 2016, Dibrani and his Moroccan girlfriend tried to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiya fi-Iraq wal ash-Sham] but were stopped at the Turkish border.2 He was released shortly afterwards and returned to Belgium.3 Although Dibrani was kept under surveillance by the Belgian authorities, he linked up with other Islamist Roma and set up the informal Dibrani, Imishti and Matoshi Network [DIMN]. It raised funds for DaIISh operatives in Syria and provided logistical support to jihadis traveling to the country.4 Dibrani also publicly threatened to blow up a shopping center in Sint-Niklaas.5
On Dec. 06, 2016, Dibrani and seven of his associates were arrested by police during coordinated raids against premises linked to the DIMN across Belgium.6 In February 2018, a court sentenced him to four years imprisonment for his role in the network.7
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