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South Africa: Twin Brothers Sentenced For Terrorism

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Tony-Lee Thulsie and Brandon-Lee Thulsie.
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A South African court on Monday convicted and jailed twin brothers on terrorism charges over plans to attack the US Embassy in Pretoria and joining the Islamic State group, local media reported.

Tony-Lee Thulsie and Brandon-Lee Thulsie, both 28, were arrested in South Africa in July 2016 and have been in custody ever since. The South African brothers pleaded guilty earlier Monday in a plea bargain with the prosecution, according to local media.

Hours later, the Johannesburg High Court sentenced Tony-Lee to 11 years in prison, while his brother Brandon-Lee was sentenced to eight years. Both pleaded guilty to planning to travel to Syria to join IS, according to media reports. Tony-Lee also admitted to planning a terrorist attack in South Africa, they added.

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Prosecutors said attacks were also planned against American, British, Russian or French diplomats in Pretoria, as well as against Jewish institutions. The United States added the couple to its terrorism blacklist in 2017.

The brothers’ arrests in 2016 were the first in South Africa linked to suspected IS membership. South Africa has so far been spared jihadist attacks that have hit several other countries on the continent, including its eastern neighbour Mozambique.