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New Europol Report on ISIS Warns of More Attacks in Europe

Europol's counter-terrorism unit ECTC has released a new report on the changing tactics of ISIS.

The report is called Changes in Modus Operandi of IS revisited and is available here. Among the key findings: [More...]

  • In addition to France and Belgium, all other EU Member States that are part of the US-led coalition against IS may be targeted by terrorists led or inspired by IS.
  • If IS is defeated or severely weakened in Syria/Iraq by the coalition forces, there may be an increased rate in the return of foreign fighters and their families from the region to the EU or to other conflict areas.
  • Counter-terrorism experts expect that IS will start planning and dispatching attacks from Libya.
  • Modi operandi employed in Syria and Iraq, such as the use of car bombs, extortion and kidnappings may be employed as methods of attack in the EU.

Some good news:

  • The apparent preference for soft targets means that attacking critical infrastructure such as power grids and nuclear facilities is currently not a priority for IS.

The report also highlights that ISIS is but one of several groups wanting to harm to the West:

  • What should not be overlooked is that IS is not the only terrorist organisation with the intent and capability to carry out attacks against the West, or to inspire individuals and groups residing in EU Member States to do so. Al Qaeda and / or Al-Nusra affiliated or inspired groups and individuals continue to pose a serious threat to Member States of the EU and to Western interests in general.

The report estimates the number of people ISIS may direct in Europe is believed to be "several dozen." This number includes those susceptible to its recruiting, so the number of returning ISIS fighters is probably much smaller. Hardly an army. I suspect there are at least several dozen domestic terrorists in the U.S. capable of launching an attack.

The last line of the report says:

But as long as IS remains a factor in Syria and Iraq, and even if they are defeated there, they will continue with their attempts to encourage and organise terrorist attacks in the EU.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Who Else Do They Want to Attack? (none / 0) (#1)
    by RickyJim on Fri Dec 02, 2016 at 04:55:09 PM EST
    In addition to France and Belgium, all other EU Member States that are part of the US-led coalition against IS may be targeted by terrorists led or inspired by IS.

    What about the states that are not part of the US-led coalition against IS? Has IS threatened them also?