For a cross section of radical activities in Europe, cyber-terrorism, the present threat, and anti-terrorism responses from across Europe, please continue reading. To read the original articles in full, please click on the underlined text. To read it online, please click here.

ANALYSIS

Lately, there has been significant terrorist activity across Europe. Serious attempts have been made in Britain, France and Belgium, where fourteen suspects, including a woman, were arrested prior to the EU Summit. In the UK, counter-terrorism authorities foiled a terrorist plan aimed at carrying out a Mumbai-style attack in London. Shortly after, the French police deactivated explosives at a popular department store complex in Paris. Violence in Europe has mounted also against Jewish targets, with incidents being reported across Northern Europe, following an appeal by al-Qaeda’s second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahri to strike Israeli, Jewish and Western targets around the world in response to the conflict in Gaza. Equally troubling is the terrorists’ use of modern technology including Facebook and YouTube to recruit terrorists and disseminate terrorist propaganda. Under these conditions, national governments are taking proactive and reactive actions to tackle the terrorism threat. Britain has laid out a plan to give access to classified information to town halls, to allow them to fight radicalisation locally. Italy is considering the option of halting the building of new mosques in an attempt to prevent future attacks as mosques are often used to recruit terrorists and raise funds for terrorism. Yet, a combination of traditional and new strategies need to be implemented swiftly to counter the new and growing phenomenon of women becoming actively involved in the Jihadist network and the use of technology for terrorist purposes. In addition, new ways should be found to engage and empower reformer Muslims denounce and fight fundamentalism.

Moderate Islam ineffective in the fight against radicalisation – 8 December 2008

According to the UK-based Islamic Foundation, moderate Muslims are not sufficiently committed to counter the rise of extremism and radicalisation, especially amongst the youth. More precisely, Muslim communities are blamed for having failed to "create adequate religious institutions or leadership that could connect with young people and educate them in an idiom they would understand." Such critical remarks have been expounded in a special report titled “Faith in the Nation”, which encompasses essays by leading figures from the five largest religious communities in Britain, with a foreword by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

France concerned about growing number of women embracing radical Islam – 11 December 2008

The engagement of Muslim women in anti-Western propagandist activities increasingly worries French authorities. An alarming example is that of Auxerre, a small city in Bourgogne, where a group of integrally veiled women, belonging to the fundamentalist movement of the Tabligh, is daily involved in proselytizing activities, spreading anti-Western sentiments and Jihadist ideologies. Worryingly, radical groups such as the Tabligh appear to be most successful amongst young Muslim women. According to sociologists, young Muslim women who embrace extremist ideologies do so as a form of rebellion against both French society and the traditional vision of Islam advocated by their parents.

Violence against Jews in Europe mounts following the conflict in Gaza – 6 January 2009

Attacks against Jewish targets, including synagogues have been reported in France, Britain, Belgium, Sweden and Denmark after the start of the conflict in Gaza. Indeed, al-Qaeda’s second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahri called Muslims to strike Israeli and Western targets around the world over Israel's raids in Gaza. European authorities have condemned the assaults, yet the violence continues to spread.

INTERNET & TERRORISM

YouTube becomes part of al-Qaeda’s propagandistic arsenal – 4 December 2008

Al-Qaeda has upgraded its media strategy and started using video-sharing website YouTube as tool of terrorist propaganda. Recently, some of the most active jihadist websites have been permanently closed down by counter-terrorism authorities. As a consequence, the terrorist network has been forced to look for alternative recruitment instruments through the internet. Since 2007, around 2,000 al-Qaeda videos have been uploaded to YouTube. These videos include messages from al-Qaeda leaders, including Osama Bin Laden, and images of terrorist attacks carried out in Iraq against Coalition soldiers.

Jihadists to invade the virtual realm of Facebook – 11 December 2008

According to the SITE Intelligence Group, a US-based monitoring service, the founders of an Islamic jihadist forum have called on the virtual community of Jihad supporters to counter the offensive launched on Jihadist media, forums and websites through the use of Facebook. The popular social network was described by the group of extremists as "a podium to reach millions of people." They encouraged their supporters to join the website and post on their personal profiles Islamist and jihadist publications, articles and pictures. Although Facebook's terms of service explicitly prohibit "organisations or groups that promote or glorify hatred, violence, intolerance, racism or discrimination," careful and constant monitoring will be required in order to tackle this new virtual threat.

TERRORIST PLANS AND RADICAL ACTIVITY

UK authorities order top terrorist suspect back to jail – 2 December 2008

Abu Qatada, a radical Islamic preacher often described as “Bin Laden’s right-hand in Europe,” was ordered back to jail by a Special Immigration Appeals Commission, which oversees cases involving suspects awaiting deportation. The Jordanian cleric had already been arrested twice by the British authorities, but was then released from jail on extremely strict bail conditions. Appeal Court judges ruled he would have not faced a fair trial in his homeland, if extradited.

Two terrorism suspects arrested in Italy – 3 December 2008

Italian counter-terrorism authorities arrested two Moroccan immigrants suspected of involvement in a plot to bomb several police stations, a military base and other civilian targets in an industrial area north of Milan. The counter-terrorism division of the police launched the raid after surveillance revealed the suspects were researching explosives techniques and discussing bomb attacks. Interior Minister Roberto Maroni described the situation as “new and worrying.” This was the first time that a terrorist cell inspired by Al Qaeda's ideology planned to strike in Italy.

Terrorist linked to the 2004 Madrid bombings convicted in Morocco – 5 December 2008

A Moroccan court has convicted one of the men involved in the plotting of the Madrid bombings and sentenced him to ten years in prison. The man, a Moroccan citizen, was member of a local terrorist group and his fingerprints were found on cars used by the terrorists who conducted simultaneous bombings on four Spanish commuter trains on 11 March 2004.

Mumbai-style attack foiled by British intelligence – 6 December 2008

British counter-terrorism authorities believe an Islamic terrorist was planning to arm a gang of associates in order to carry out a Mumbai-style attack in London. The arrest was timely: it occurred as the plotter was trying to buy various weapons and ammunitions. Investigators said he was linked to the same terrorist group accused of the Indian massacre where almost 200 innocent people were killed.

Terrorist sentenced to life in prison by German court – 9 December 2008

One of the two Lebanese terrorists, who plotted an unsuccessful terrorist attack on commuter trains in Cologne in 2006, has received a life sentence from a German court. The man was convicted on multiple counts of attempted murder for leaving two suitcase bombs on the trains, which failed to explode only because of a construction error in building the detonation devices. According to an investigator in the case, the two men were partly motivated by anger over the publication of the controversial cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad in Denmark.

Al-Qaeda suspects charged in Belgium – 12 December 2008

A few hours before the Summit of European Union government leaders was scheduled to open in Brussels, six people were charged with belonging to a terrorist organization. According to the then Belgian PM Yves Leterme security authorities even considered calling off the summit. Overnight, Belgian police conducted dozen of searches throughout the country, targeting members of jihadist cells allegedly linked to al-Qaeda. One of the six persons arrested was said to be on the verge of carrying out a suicide attack. Amongst the suspects, there was also a woman, Malika El Aroud, widow of the suicide bomber that killed the anti-Taliban leader Ahmed Shah Massoud in 2001. The target selected by the group of terrorists remains uncertain. Federal Prosecutor Johan Delmulle said the suspects could have been targeting Pakistan or Afghanistan, but it couldn't “be ruled out that Belgium or Europe could have been the target."

Man linked to Afghan jihadist cell arrested in France – 15 December 2008

French authorities arrested a 29-year-old suspect terrorist accused of participating in a recruitment ring for fighters to be sent to Afghanistan. French counter-terrorism authorities issued preliminary charges against the alleged terrorist for "criminal association with a terrorist enterprise" and ordered cautionary detention. The man was arrested in the south-eastern city of Grenoble on suspicion of links to a Belgian internet site aimed at recruiting jihadists. Interestingly, the suspect and his criminal activities appear to be connected to the same Afghan terrorist cell dismantled by Belgian police the previous day.

Explosives found at Paris department store – 16 December 2008

French police found a package of explosives at the popular ‘Printemps’ department store complex in central Paris. Acting on a tip received from a French news agency, they discovered five sticks of dynamite bound together with a cord in one of the restrooms. A group which dubbed itself the “Afghan Revolutionary Front” had sent a warning mail to Agence France Presse demanding the withdrawal of French troops from Afghanistan. The terrorists threatened to strike again if President Nicolas Sarkozy did not meet their request by the end of February 2009. For his part, the French Head of State urged caution in reacting to the incident and highlighted the fact that there was no detonator linked to the explosives. “Vigilance against terrorism is the only possible option,” concluded President Sarkozy.

French Police arrest seven Islamic extremists – 16 December 2008

French intelligence officers and counter-terrorism police arrested seven people in the Paris area, including a young Frenchman converted to Islam, on terrorism charges. According to preliminary reports, these arrests do not appear to be connected with the incident relating to explosives found in a department store in Paris.

Terrorism suspect receives life sentence in Britain – 19 December 2008

Rangzieb Ahmed, detained in Pakistan in August 2006, was found guilty of directing terrorism, hence becoming the first person to be convicted of such offence in the UK. He was also convicted of membership of the terrorist group al-Qaeda.

TERRORISM FINANCING

Migrant transfers and terrorist finance, a growing concern – 16 December 2008

According to the World Bank the amount of money sent back home by migrants working abroad has doubled over the past five years, thus reaching a volume of around $350bn. The phenomenon has increasingly worried security agencies because of the suspected links with money laundering and terrorism financing. In fact, almost half of all money transfers from migrants living abroad are done informally, which has made it much easier to hide illicit transfers. The OECD's Financial Action Task Force pointed out that these "alternative remittance systems" are widely used by terrorist financiers. Although terrorist networks need other longer term funding to support their operations, the direct operational costs of major terrorist actions like the London and Madrid bombings were no more than $10,000 to $12,000, a sum that can easily be transferred through the informal remittance systems.

PRESENT THREAT

Terrorism threat defined as ‘substantial’ in the Netherlands – 5 December 2008

In an interview with Dutch daily paper Volkskrant, the National Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism Tjibbe Joustra warned that the threat level in the Netherlands is ‘substantial’ and probably higher than ever before. One of the main reasons for the intensification of terrorist activities is the growing influence of foreign-based terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, which are more professional than their domestic counterparts and better trained to elude the intelligence and security services. Moreover, the Netherlands has recently been cast in a negative light in the Islamic world due to the tone of the public debate on Islam, especially since the release of a controversial film on the Koran by the Freedom Party leader Geert Wilder. In “Fitna”, the Dutch politician polemically argues that Islam would encourage acts of terrorism, anti-Semitism and violence against women.

Terrorism has gone ‘high-tech’ – 7 December 2008

The use of GPS devices and untraceable cell phones during the Mumbai attacks proved terrorism is becoming all the more sophisticated. In a recent interview, US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff warned of these new challenges and urged all countries to learn a lesson from the Indian tragedy. Pointing at the Mumbai massacre, Chertoff criticised those arguing that there had been ‘excesses’ in the fight against terrorism. He stressed that “technology is an enabler for terrorism” making the fight against terrorism extremely challenging for intelligence services.

UK concerns over the ‘chain of terrorism’ originating in Pakistan – 15 December 2008

British PM Gordon Brown claimed that more than 20 serious terrorist plots currently being monitored by the intelligence services and involving attacks on civilian targets in Britain have Pakistani links. British authorities are increasingly concerned by “the chain of terrorism that links the mountains of Afghanistan to the streets of Britain.” During his recent visit to Islamabad, PM Brown called on President Zardari to increase government efforts to prevent terrorism. PM Brown also announced that the UK will raise its financial support for Pakistani counter-terrorism activities. The British government will also allocate substantial funding to help Pakistan prevent the radicalisation of young Muslims.

EUROPE’S RESPONSE

Italian minister proposes controversial Mosque Moratorium Plan – 5 December 2008

Interior Minister Roberto Maroni was at the centre of controversy after calling for a moratorium on the building of mosques as a preventative measure against future terrorist attacks. Despite numerous criticisms, Maroni’s party, the Northern League, has tabled a motion in the Lower House of Parliament banning the construction of places of worship for Muslims and cultural centres in Italy. According to Minister Maroni, “it is not easy to distinguish between places of worship and those that recruit terrorists and finance the planning of attacks.” The contentious proposal comes as a reaction to the recent arrest of two Moroccan suspected for planning attacks in Milan. According to the Interior Minister, these “arrests clearly show to what degree Islamist terrorism is entrenched in Italy."

Extension of BKA’s anti-terrorism powers renegotiated by Merkel’s government coalition – 3 December 2008

The controversial new anti-terrorism legislation, which was supposed to put unprecedented power in the hands of the Federal Criminal Police (BKA), was blocked by the German Upper Chamber. The rejection of the bill called for its renegotiation by the government coalition headed by Chancellor Angela Merkel. A compromise between the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats has been reached, but its content has not been released yet.

EU and Jordan, partners in a common project on the fight against terrorism – 4 December 2008

The Government of Jordan and the European Commission officially launched an eighteen-month twinning project on the fight against terrorism and organised crime. The EU-funded programme is the first one envisaging cooperation with Jordan in the field of security and counter-terrorism. The pilot initiative is focused on delivering training courses to the country’s Preventive Security Department and Forensic Laboratories Department.

On 28 November, the Council of the European Union amended the Framework Decision of 13 June 2002 on combating terrorism, the key-legal framework upon which EU’s counter-terrorist policy is predicated. The new Framework Decision approved by the Council aims to bring national legislations closer and further harmonise the definition of terrorist offences. It envisages the criminalisation of various offences linked to terrorist activities, thus contributing to the more general policy objective of terrorism prevention. According to the definition agreed upon by the Council, terrorist offences will include public provocation to commit a terrorist offence, recruitment for terrorism and training for terrorism. The Council decision will have to be implemented at national level by 9 December 2010.

Britain committed to tackle extremism at the local level – 10 December 2008

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced that British town halls will be granted access to classified police terrorism intelligence to help them tackle community extremism. In a nationwide effort to prevent terrorism and radicalisation, £45million will be allocated over three years to fight extremism locally. The so-called “Counter Terrorism Local Profiles” will detect radical preachers and hate groups, while also identifying mosques, bookshops and other sites being used for radicalisation.

France launches a major counter-terrorism exercise – 22 December 2008

France staged a major counter-terrorism exercise to test its ability to respond to possible coordinated attacks across the country, following the recent Mumbai bombings. The exercise was designed to test police, intelligence officials and the inter-ministerial crisis management in the event of major simultaneous attacks. According to French officials, France does not face any bigger terrorist threat than the other European countries. Yet, it needs to maintain efficient counter-terrorism systems.