Is The Great Wave of Islamic Terrorism Exaggerrated?
Last month, Europol, the criminal activity reporting arm of the European Parliament, issued its 5th annual study of terrorism activity in the EU--covering crimes during 2006 (TE-SAT 2007). Islamophobes craving evidence of increased Muslim menace are in for a great disappointment. Of the 498 terrorist attacks reported by the EU's 11 reporting member states, only 1--I repeat, 1--was classified as "Islamist" while 424 were classified as "Separatist." The remainder were divided as follows: 55 "Left-Wing," 1 "Right-Wing" and 17 "Other/Not Specified." In other words, Basque separatists were far more mischievious than al-Quaeda operatives. Hmmm. What does that say about government and media drumbeaters for a Great Islamic Wave of Terrorism? It says, Muslims are being demonized--rather successfully.
The report also gives arrest figures. Of the 706 people arrested in 15 reporting member states, 257 were classified as "Islamist" and 226 as "Separatist." Of the 303 terrorists tried, 257 were convicted and 46 (15%) acquitted. I cannot find a breakdown of the number who were convicted as Islamic terrorists and Separatist terrorists. But the number of arrests for "Islamist terrorism" doesn't jibe with the minuscule number of reported "Islamist" terrorism incidents.
Below is the report's Executive Summary. Is it any wonder you didn't read about this report in the NY Times or hear about it on Fox News, CNN and the like? They're all singing that new surf classic, "Bomb Bomb Bomb / Bomb Bomb Iran" introduced by John McCain. In the mean time, Arab League peace overtures also go ignored. So if you must continue to point fingers, stand in the mirror and point them at yourself for falling prey to mass hysteria.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A large number of various types of terrorist organisations have an active presence in the EU. Some of them aim at Member States or Third State targets situated in Member States, whereas some others who conduct their campaigns mainly outside the EU, use the EU as their logistical base or for fundraising.
Altogether 498 attacks were carried out in the EU in 2006.The vast majority of them resulted in limited material damage and were not intended to kill. However, the failed attack in Germany and the foiled London plot demonstrate that Islamist terrorists also aim at mass casualties. A total of 706 individuals suspected of terrorism offences were arrested in 15 Member States in 2006. Investigations into Islamist terrorism are clearly a priority for Member States’ law enforcement
as demonstrated by the number of arrested suspects reported by Member States.
The small number of suspects arrested for dissemination of propaganda may indicate the lack of legal basis and difficulty in investigating these types of crimes.
France, Spain and the UK are the countries most severely affected by terrorism as concluded from the number of terrorist attacks and arrested suspects as well as the average penalties handed out by the courts.
Islamist Terrorism
Along with the failed terrorist attack that took place in Germany, Denmark and the UK each reported one attempted terrorist attack in 2006. No further information on prevented or disrupted Islamist terrorist attacks was made available by the Member States’ law enforcement authorities.
The London airplane plot and the trolley bomb case of Germany targeted civilians and transportation infrastructure in Member States. The radicalisation process of the suspects in these cases is reported to have been rapid. The weapon of choice of Islamist terrorists are Improvised Explosive Devices made with homemade explosives. The cases reported by the UK and Denmark involved the use of Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), a highly volatile explosive the use of which requires a certain degree of expertise.
Half of all the terrorism arrests were related to Islamist terrorism. France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands had the highest number of arrests of Islamist terrorist suspects. The majority of the arrested suspects were born in Algeria,Morocco and Tunisia and had loose affiliations to North African terrorist groups, such as the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group and the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat.
However, the suspects involved in the foiled plots reported by the UK and Denmark were born or raised in a Member State. Converts, who had been radicalised in Europe,were involved in both cases.
The frequency of video statements by members of the original al-Qaeda leadership and other Islamist terrorists shows a marked increase. The propaganda is of greater sophistication, of high quality and more professional. English is used more often, either in direct speech or in subtitles, allowing potential access to a wider audience than previous publications in Arabic. These facts may point to a coordinated global media offensive from Islamist terrorists.
Ethno-Nationalist and Separatist Terrorism
In 2006, separatist terrorists carried out 424 attacks in the EU. The Member States most affected were France – with 60 percent of the attacks – and Spain. Attacks were, for the most part, limited to the Basque regions and Corsica. Five attacks took place in the UK and one in Ireland. No group claimed responsibility for these attacks.
After the unilateral cease fire declared in March 2006, Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) mainly used Taldes Y to carry out a high number of low intensity attacks to maintain pressure on the Spanish government and to demonstrate to its supporters its determination to fight for its goals. However, the attack at the Madrid airport on 30 December 2006 by ETA resulted in casualties and injuries. ETA has not only maintained but also rebuilt its capabilities to strike with well-prepared, organised
and coordinated attacks against high profile targets.
Separatist terrorists in Corsica carried out a very high number of low intensity attacks resulting mainly in limited material damage. Only six percent of the attacks were committed against governmental targets. Although Corsican separatists have not directly tried to kill people, the volume of attacks may increase the risk of casualties.
The rise of fundraising activities by the PKK in the EU is related to the escalation of the terrorist campaign of Kurdish terrorists in Turkey.
Left-Wing and Anarchist Terrorism
In 2006, left-wing and anarchist terrorists carried out 55 attacks in the EU. Their campaigns mainly targeted Greece, Italy, Spain and Germany. Left-wing and anarchist terrorists carried out a relatively high number of low-intensity attacks which resulted in limited material damage against business and governmental targets. A minority of the attacks, however, were intended to kill or injure.
A variety of left-wing and anarchist terrorist groups are active mostly in Germany,Greece, Italy and Spain. In Greece, the number of terrorist attacks rose rapidly towards the end of 2006. Left-wing and anarchist terrorist attacks are motivated by domestic politics but they are also perpetrated as a part of wider international campaigns; for instance, the G8 Summit 2007 that still has to be held has already been the target of left-wing and anarchist terrorists.
Right-Wing Terrorism
Right-wing violence is mainly investigated as right-wing extremism and not as right-wing terrorism.
Although violent acts perpetrated by right-wing extremists and terrorists may appear sporadic and situational, right-wing extremist activities are organised and transnational. For instance, details regarding possible targets are collected and disseminated on the Internet.
The report also gives arrest figures. Of the 706 people arrested in 15 reporting member states, 257 were classified as "Islamist" and 226 as "Separatist." Of the 303 terrorists tried, 257 were convicted and 46 (15%) acquitted. I cannot find a breakdown of the number who were convicted as Islamic terrorists and Separatist terrorists. But the number of arrests for "Islamist terrorism" doesn't jibe with the minuscule number of reported "Islamist" terrorism incidents.
Below is the report's Executive Summary. Is it any wonder you didn't read about this report in the NY Times or hear about it on Fox News, CNN and the like? They're all singing that new surf classic, "Bomb Bomb Bomb / Bomb Bomb Iran" introduced by John McCain. In the mean time, Arab League peace overtures also go ignored. So if you must continue to point fingers, stand in the mirror and point them at yourself for falling prey to mass hysteria.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A large number of various types of terrorist organisations have an active presence in the EU. Some of them aim at Member States or Third State targets situated in Member States, whereas some others who conduct their campaigns mainly outside the EU, use the EU as their logistical base or for fundraising.
Altogether 498 attacks were carried out in the EU in 2006.The vast majority of them resulted in limited material damage and were not intended to kill. However, the failed attack in Germany and the foiled London plot demonstrate that Islamist terrorists also aim at mass casualties. A total of 706 individuals suspected of terrorism offences were arrested in 15 Member States in 2006. Investigations into Islamist terrorism are clearly a priority for Member States’ law enforcement
as demonstrated by the number of arrested suspects reported by Member States.
The small number of suspects arrested for dissemination of propaganda may indicate the lack of legal basis and difficulty in investigating these types of crimes.
France, Spain and the UK are the countries most severely affected by terrorism as concluded from the number of terrorist attacks and arrested suspects as well as the average penalties handed out by the courts.
Islamist Terrorism
Along with the failed terrorist attack that took place in Germany, Denmark and the UK each reported one attempted terrorist attack in 2006. No further information on prevented or disrupted Islamist terrorist attacks was made available by the Member States’ law enforcement authorities.
The London airplane plot and the trolley bomb case of Germany targeted civilians and transportation infrastructure in Member States. The radicalisation process of the suspects in these cases is reported to have been rapid. The weapon of choice of Islamist terrorists are Improvised Explosive Devices made with homemade explosives. The cases reported by the UK and Denmark involved the use of Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), a highly volatile explosive the use of which requires a certain degree of expertise.
Half of all the terrorism arrests were related to Islamist terrorism. France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands had the highest number of arrests of Islamist terrorist suspects. The majority of the arrested suspects were born in Algeria,Morocco and Tunisia and had loose affiliations to North African terrorist groups, such as the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group and the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat.
However, the suspects involved in the foiled plots reported by the UK and Denmark were born or raised in a Member State. Converts, who had been radicalised in Europe,were involved in both cases.
The frequency of video statements by members of the original al-Qaeda leadership and other Islamist terrorists shows a marked increase. The propaganda is of greater sophistication, of high quality and more professional. English is used more often, either in direct speech or in subtitles, allowing potential access to a wider audience than previous publications in Arabic. These facts may point to a coordinated global media offensive from Islamist terrorists.
Ethno-Nationalist and Separatist Terrorism
In 2006, separatist terrorists carried out 424 attacks in the EU. The Member States most affected were France – with 60 percent of the attacks – and Spain. Attacks were, for the most part, limited to the Basque regions and Corsica. Five attacks took place in the UK and one in Ireland. No group claimed responsibility for these attacks.
After the unilateral cease fire declared in March 2006, Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) mainly used Taldes Y to carry out a high number of low intensity attacks to maintain pressure on the Spanish government and to demonstrate to its supporters its determination to fight for its goals. However, the attack at the Madrid airport on 30 December 2006 by ETA resulted in casualties and injuries. ETA has not only maintained but also rebuilt its capabilities to strike with well-prepared, organised
and coordinated attacks against high profile targets.
Separatist terrorists in Corsica carried out a very high number of low intensity attacks resulting mainly in limited material damage. Only six percent of the attacks were committed against governmental targets. Although Corsican separatists have not directly tried to kill people, the volume of attacks may increase the risk of casualties.
The rise of fundraising activities by the PKK in the EU is related to the escalation of the terrorist campaign of Kurdish terrorists in Turkey.
Left-Wing and Anarchist Terrorism
In 2006, left-wing and anarchist terrorists carried out 55 attacks in the EU. Their campaigns mainly targeted Greece, Italy, Spain and Germany. Left-wing and anarchist terrorists carried out a relatively high number of low-intensity attacks which resulted in limited material damage against business and governmental targets. A minority of the attacks, however, were intended to kill or injure.
A variety of left-wing and anarchist terrorist groups are active mostly in Germany,Greece, Italy and Spain. In Greece, the number of terrorist attacks rose rapidly towards the end of 2006. Left-wing and anarchist terrorist attacks are motivated by domestic politics but they are also perpetrated as a part of wider international campaigns; for instance, the G8 Summit 2007 that still has to be held has already been the target of left-wing and anarchist terrorists.
Right-Wing Terrorism
Right-wing violence is mainly investigated as right-wing extremism and not as right-wing terrorism.
Although violent acts perpetrated by right-wing extremists and terrorists may appear sporadic and situational, right-wing extremist activities are organised and transnational. For instance, details regarding possible targets are collected and disseminated on the Internet.
posted by David Federman @ 9:51 AM
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