German media says terror is over, but Europol begs to differ

Germany’s biggest newspaper Bild naively announced the demise of the jihadist on it’s website with the headline, “Es ist Vorbei!”, “It’s over!”. But Europol has raised the prospect of an increased and prolonged assault on Europe, suggesting that “it”, meaning another terror attack, was far from over.

“Estimates from some intelligence services indicate several dozen people directed by ISIS may be currently present in Europe with a capability to commit terrorist attacks, and that there are indications that ISIS has been preparing terrorist attacks in Europe since 2013.”

The report continued: “Those who manage to enter the EU will pose a potential security risk for the Union. Given the high numbers involved, this represents a significant and long-term security challenge.”

The high numbers of migrants posing a deadly problem, are a direct result of Angela Merkel’s ill-conceived open border policy.

Intelligence shows that ISIS has already assembled teams in Syria which are sent to the EU tasked with carrying out attacks, the Europol study said.

In the ISIS publication Dabiq, a “final, apocalyptic showdown” was announced in the coming months, calling for lone-wolf attacks throughout Europe, urging radicalised Islamists to become “serial killers” on the streets of Europe.

The group uses a network of recruiters as well as a sophisticated propaganda machine producing videos, magazines, terror manuals and websites to incite attacks against Europeans.

An Italian agent was injured during the shootout to capture the Berlin terror escapee. The Italian interior minister, thanked agent Christian Movio personally.

“I expressed my personal gratitude, the gratitude of the home office to the officer,” Minniti said and wished him a speedy recovery. He said in the next few days “he was personally going to go and hug him” suggesting optimistically that the end of terrorism had arrived too and that everyone could now enjoy a terror-free Christmas.

But a British general, Major-General Rupert Jones, deputy commander of US-led operations against the terrorist group, said in November that information retrieved in the former ISIS stronghold of Manbij indicates that there remain explicit threats to Europe.

“Manbij was hugely important for external operations,” Jones told the British daily the Times. “A huge amount of intelligence gathered in Manbij related to threats in Europe and elsewhere.”

In November the US State Department issued a travel warning to its citizens visiting Europe.

“Credible information indicates the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or Daesh), Al-Qaeda, and their affiliates continue to plan terrorist attacks in Europe, with a focus on the upcoming holiday season and associated events,” it said.

Gilles de Kerchove, the EU’s counter-terror coordinator, told The Indepedent the danger will last for years as battles against Isis continue in the Middle East and North Africa.

“These people are trained to use explosives and firearms and they have been indoctrinated by the jihadist ideology,” he added.

“An effective response requires a comprehensive approach and long term commitment.”

Intelligence services estimate that several dozen jihadis under ISIS’ direction are already present in Europe with the capability to commit terrorist attacks.

Europol’s report, by the European Counter Terrorism Centre, said the vast majority of attackers in Europe have been young men with a criminal past, and may have mental health issues because they suffer from culture shock.

Unconfirmed information suggests German authorities were aware of around 300 recorded attempts made by jihadists to recruit refugees who were trying to enter Europe by April 2016, the British daily Express reported.

Counter-terrorism experts are concerned that Libya could develop into a “second springboard” for ISIS, after Syria, for attacks in the EU and the North African region.

The Europol paper warned that the scale and impact of “lone actor” attacks were increasing and warned that potential targets are difficult to predict as all countries EU countries are targeted in propaganda videos, with a growing preference for “soft targets” that have little security and provoke “maximum fear”.

Rob Wainwright, the director of Europol, said police and security services were intensifying cooperation to combat the threat.