The Islamic Jihad Union (IJU), also known as Islamic Jihad Group (IJG), is a terrorist organization which splintered from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), and has conducted attacks in Uzbekistan and attempted attacks in Germany.[1]
On October 13, 2005, Hazel Anne Blears MP testified before the British House of Commons that the IJU should be identified as a banned organization because it posed a threat to British interests overseas.[2] Some Ministers dissented from this viewpoint, and former British Ambassador Craig Murray later claimed that the IJU attacks were highly-controlled and limited operations orchestrated by the Government of Uzbekistan.[3] On the contrary, MP Blears asserted in her testimony that these conclusions were independently corroborated by British intelligence and security services sources, and that many UN members expressed concern regarding the IJG.
In 2007 three terrorists were arrested in Germany after being suspected to attack the Frankfurt International airport and US-Military installations such as Ramstein Air Base. The 3 persons were directly affiliated with the Islamic Jihad Group.[4][5]
In 2008 two[1] suspected IJU members were arrested at Germany's Cologne Bonn Airport aboard a KLM flight bound for Amsterdam. The men, who had connecting flights to Uganda, were thought to have continuing itineraries on to Pakistan, where sources claimed they would participate in some sort of terrorist training or indoctrination. However, after being held for several days, evidence failed to materialize and the men (one Somali and one German citizen of Somali heritage) were released.
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