A 29-year-old Somali man has been arrested in Germany for allegedly torturing and killing migrants in Libya. Authorities say he ran a detention center where many migrants were abused while trying to reach Europe.
The suspect was wanted by Italian authorities and arrested last week in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, under a European arrest warrant. He is accused of being part of a network of human traffickers and of operating a detention facility in Bani Walid, Libya—about 150 km southeast of Tripoli.
According to Palermo police in Sicily, the man and several others held migrants who were planning to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Survivors claimed the suspect tortured them and demanded money from their families in exchange for their freedom. He is also accused of killing a teenage boy who refused a sexual assault. Investigators believe the man tried to film the attack to blackmail the victim’s family.
How was the suspect found in Germany?
Italian and German investigators worked together. They tracked him using IP addresses from his Facebook account. This allowed German police to arrest him and confirm his identity. The investigation began after a migrant, who had been detained in Libya, reported the abuse after arriving in Lampedusa, Italy.
The case was handled by Italy’s anti-mafia unit due to its links to international crime. Other witnesses from the same detention center later supported the survivor’s claims, helping to strengthen the case.
Police believe the suspect enforced control in the detention center and carried out orders from Libyan traffickers. He allegedly played a key role in the abuse and extortion of migrants from Somalia and other African countries who were hoping to reach Europe.
The Somali man is now being investigated for serious crimes, including murder, torture, kidnapping, and illegal entry into the EU. He may be extradited to Italy to face trial. Authorities say this case shows how traffickers often use violence and fear to control migrants.
This arrest also follows the recent discovery by the United Nations of a mass grave filled with migrant bodies near the Libya-Tunisia border. Human rights groups continue to call for stronger international efforts to stop migrant abuse and punish traffickers