German Jihadists in Syria – The Numbers

German Jihadists in Syria – The Numbers

German Jihadists in Syria

Syria has become the number one hotspot for radical Islamists from all around the world to train and fight. Approximately 3.000 European and North American Islamists have joined various Jihadists groups in Syria and Iraq over the past two years. Among them several hundred extremists from Germany.

The German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz – BfV), the German domestic intelligence agency, has analysed the age statistics, biographies, social and religious background of 378 Islamists which have traveled to Syria. The result is the first overall look on German Jihadists taking part in the Syrian civil war. 

Of the 378 Islamists investigated by the BfV…

Youngest: 15 yrs old
Oldest: 64 yrs old

30 % are from the age group of 21 – 25 yrs
5 % are underage (< 18 yrs)
11 % are women

60 % were born in Germany
8 % were born in Syria
6 % were born in Turkey
3 % were born in Lebanon
3 % were born in Russia

62 % are German citizens, 24 % have a second citizenship
14 % are Turkish citizens
5 % are Syrian citizens
63 % were born into Muslim families
14 % are converts to Islam

25 % have completed school
6 % have completed an apprenticeship
2 % have completed University

37 % did travel with friends
18 % did travel with family members
14 % did travel on their own

20 % are unemployed
12 % are employed
65 % have a criminal record

40 have been killed in Syria
5 confirmed suicide bombers

around 120 have returned to Germany
around 20 have not been allowed to return to Germany

Note: The number of Islamists that have traveled to Syria from Germany meanwhile has increased to around 450, including a 13 year-old teenage boy.

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