Kosovar accused of trying to join terror groups in Syria

PRISTINA, Kosovo – Kosovo prosecutors have charged an ethnic Albanian with joining extremist terror groups in Syria.

A statement Wednesday said that the man, a Kosovo citizen identified only as R.D., had gone to Turkey last month and tried to cross into Syria to join military organizations there.

At Kosovo's request, Turkish authorities arrested him and extradited him back to Kosovo earlier this month.

The defendant is accused of joining or taking part in extremist military groups and in military conflicts outside the country, charges that may bring him up to 15 years' imprisonment.

Kosovo authorities say that in the past couple of years they have prevented people from joining terror groups but still about 160 of the country's citizens are active in extremist groups in Syria and Iraq.