Documents turned over to European news outlets reportedly list four Edmonton men among thousands of foreigners who have joined the extremist group, Islamic State.
The 22,000 Islamic State files were first revealed Monday by the Munich-based Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper and German broadcasters WDR and NDR. They detail IS fighters’ real names, where they were from, telephone numbers, and names of those who sponsored and recruited them.
READ MORE: Canadians reportedly listed in trove of Islamic State ID files
According to the CBC, which obtained copies of the files, among the names are four Edmonton men killed while fighting for IS: Omar Abdirahman Aden, brothers Hamza and Hersey Kariye, and their cousin Mahad Hersi.
Edmonton police have previously said Hersi and the Kariye brothers were on their radar as “high-risk travelers.” The men were reportedly killed in Syria in January 2015.
READ MORE: Three Canadians believed killed in Syria known to Edmonton police
Insp. Dan Jones with Edmonton Police Services’ Investigative Support Branch said Friday that the whole community must work to combat violent extremism and recruitment.
“It’s a process that can be interrupted.
“We’re working with the community to try to encourage community members to come forward when they see that behaviour change in youth – or anyone – to try to help us intercede and deal with the process.”
READ MORE: Female recruits to ISIS: The recruiter’s call
Jones said police offer a four-day Countering Violent Extremism course for their own members, teachers, healthcare providers and other branches of law enforcement.
“We take the behaviour change model and we take that out in to the community.”
READ MORE: Names of 22,000 ISIS members leaked to British media
Jones said the leaked list of IS members provides useful information to law enforcement, but it’s not the silver bullet.
“It can happen so many different ways. When you get right down to it, … it’s basic human needs that people are looking for. Whether it’s radicalized violence or violent extremism or street gangs, people need to belong to something. They need to believe that they’re part of something.
“Often times, they go down that path and end up in a place they never expected to be. It’s that thirst for power and belonging that they’ll do anything to get there.”
With files from Sarah Kraus, Global News and The Canadian Press
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