Swedish law enforcement has charged 32-year-old Osama Krayem, currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for related terrorist activities, with war crimes stemming from the brutal killing of Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh in 2015. Krayem was allegedly part of a group that captured the pilot after his plane crashed near Raqqa during a January 2015 mission against ISIS. Reports indicate that Krayem was armed and masked when, alongside others, he forced Lt. Kasasbeh into a cage, which was later set ablaze, resulting in the pilot's horrific death.
This shocking event gained widespread attention after ISIS released a chilling video showing the pilot being burned alive, prompting outrage and a heavy response from the Jordanian government, which had been working to negotiate his release.
Krayem, originally hailing from Malmö, Sweden, reportedly travelled to Syria in 2014 to join ISIS. He was previously convicted in France for his involvement in the November 2015 Paris attacks, which claimed the lives of 130 individuals, as well as the Brussels bombings that killed 32 more. After serving time in French custody, he has been temporarily moved back to Sweden in preparation for his upcoming trial, set to begin on June 4.
Swedish prosecutors emphasize that the crimes associated with Krayem's latest charges occurred between December 2014 and February 2015. His legal representatives have not yet publicly commented on the new allegations, but it has been reported that Krayem has previously denied any involvement in the pilot's execution.
