Federal police apprehended Libyan national Khaled al-Hishri, also known as al Buti, at Berlin Brandenburg Airport on Wednesday morning. The arrest, reported by “Der Spiegel” on Thursday, occurred as al-Hishri was attempting to depart Germany for Tunis.
The 46-year-old is believed to be a leading member of the Rada militia, which controls Mitiga Airport and the surrounding area in Tripoli, Libya. According to reports from the United Nations, facilities within the airport compound have been implicated in the alleged mistreatment, torture and prolonged detention of prisoners, often without access to the outside world.
Confirming the arrest, the Brandenburg Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that Khaled al-Hishri was detained at the request of the International Criminal Court (ICC). He faces allegations of “crimes against detainees”. The prosecution authority confirmed that an extradition request to the ICC is currently being prepared.
