Canadian Arrested in Tunisia May Have Tried to Join Libyan Islamic State

Reports are circulating in Tunisia that a Canadian man was arrested last week in the southern desert city of Tataouine for trying to join Islamic State forces — but he was not trying to reach Syria and Iraq, where the ranks of Islamic State foreign fighters are concentrated. He was headed to Libya, possibly marking a new phase in the Islamic State recruitment strategy and an effort to send fighters to a location far from the so-called caliphate's core holdings.

It is still uncertain at this point, however, if he was trying to join the Islamic State affiliate in Libya or another group with Islamist affiliations, Fajr Libya.

The reports claim the Canadian was a recent convert to radical Islam and intended to use the Dehiba border crossing in southern Tunisia to enter Libya, before he was apprehended by local authorities.

"We reached out to the (Canadian) mission and are aware of the reports that a Canadian citizen has been detained in Tunisia," said Amy Mills, a spokesperson for the department of Global Affairs Canada. "Canadian officials in Tunis are gathering additional information, and stand ready to provide consular assistance."

The Tunisian government has not replied at the time of publication to a request for confirmation from VICE News...............

To read further go to this link:   vice.com