News: Europe – Page 20 – Eye on Islamism

School banned prayer against backdrop of ‘violence and intimidation,’ headteacher claims Michaela Community School in Brent, north London, is facing a legal challenge from a Muslim student who claims its approach to prayer is discriminatory and 'uniquely' affects her faith.

January 17, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Sky News) A school decided to introduce a “prayer ban” for pupils against a “backdrop of events including violence, intimidation and appalling racial harassment” of teachers, its founder has said. Michaela Community School in Brent, north London, which was previously dubbed Britain’s […]

Sunak criticises Starmer over legal advice he gave to extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir Labour leader's spokesperson says he gave advice in 2008 to the group, set to be banned in the UK, as 'lawyers give advice to people they don't necessarily agree with'

January 17, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) Rishi Sunak has attempted to use Keir Starmer’s past record as a barrister, when he offered advice to the Islamist extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir in a case in Germany, as means of discrediting the Labour leader’s position on UK security. […]

Birmingham man accused of Hamas support with headband remanded

January 17, 2024 Eleanor Lawson

(BBC) A man accused of wearing a headband said to arouse “reasonable suspicion” he supports Hamas has appeared in court. Khaled Hajsaad, 24, who lives in Birmingham, wore the clothing at a pro-Palestine rally in central London where he was arrested by […]

Migrant boat arrivals to Spain nearly quadruple in January

January 16, 2024 Catarina Demony

(Reuters) The number of migrants entering Spain irregularly by sea has jumped nearly 300% so far in January from the same period in 2023, with the vast majority arriving in the Canary Islands, official data showed on Tuesday. The seven islands lying […]

Irregular border crossings at an eight-year high in 2023, says Frontex

January 16, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Kathimerini) Irregular border crossings into the European Union reached an eight-year high in 2023, the EU’s border and coast guard agency has said. According to preliminary calculations by Frontex, approximately 380,000 people irregularly entered into the EU last year, the highest level […]

Benzema files defamation complaint against French minister

January 16, 2024 Unlisted Author

(AFP) Karim Benzema on Tuesday filed a complaint for defamation against French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who last year said the former Real Madrid star had “notorious” links with the Muslim Brotherhood. Darmanin, a tough-talking right-winger with designs on the French presidency, […]

Religion: Pupil takes school to court over alleged prayer ban

January 16, 2024 Liz Jackson

(BBC) A school led by former government social mobility tsar Katharine Birbalsingh is being challenged in the High Court over a policy allegedly amounting to a “prayer ban.” Michaela School in Brent, north London, introduced a policy in March 2023 “banning prayer […]

Schoolboy planned attack on music festival and said he would ‘slice’ throat of teacher, court hears A jury has heard that a teenage Muslim convert looked up the Isle of Wight Festival as a potential target for a terror attack after developing an 'Islamic extremist mindset.'

January 16, 2024 Duncan Gardham

(Sky News) A 15-year-old schoolboy, who converted to Islam, planned to attack the Isle of Wight music festival using a vehicle and knife, a court has heard. The youth, who cannot be named, was arrested on the day of his alleged planned […]

Police left children at mercy of grooming gangs in Rochdale, review finds

January 15, 2024 Lauren Hirst and Rumeana Jahangir

(BBC) Girls were “left at the mercy” of paedophile grooming gangs for years because of failings by senior police and council bosses, a report has said. The review covers 2004 to 2013 and sets out a series of failed investigations by Greater […]

Home Office to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir as terror group

January 15, 2024 Dominic Casciani

(BBC) One of the most controversial Islamist groups in the UK, Hizb ut-Tahrir, is to be banned as a terrorist organisation, accused of praising the Hamas attacks. Home Secretary James Cleverly said the group was “antisemitic” and “actively promotes and encourages terrorism.” […]

Four arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences at pro-Palestine protest in London All four people have been bailed to return to a police station in late March.

January 15, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Sky News) Four people have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences during a pro-Palestine march in London. Police officers detained a 34-year-old man from Kent, a 58-year-old man from west London and a 36-year-old woman from South Yorkshire all on suspicion […]

Reading terror attack: ‘Time has stood still since stabbing,’ family of man killed tell inquest Khairi Saadallah was sentenced to a whole life order after he stabbed three men to death at Forbury Gardens, Reading, in June 2020.

January 15, 2024 Duncan Gardham

(Sky News) The family of a man stabbed to death in a park in Reading during a terrorist attack have told the opening of an inquest that “time has stood still” since the attacks. Khairi Saadallah, a Libyan refugee, stabbed three men […]

FM: No indication Hamas planned attack in Finland Israel has accused Hamas of planning an attack on its embassy in Sweden.

January 14, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Yle) Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP) on Sunday said there was no indication that Palestinian extremist group Hamas had planned to carry out a terrorist attack in Finland. Valtonen’s comments to Finnish news agency STT followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu […]

Man suspected of planning terrorist attack against Jewish institutions arrested in Antwerp

January 14, 2024 Yossi Lempkowicz

(European Jewish Press) A 19-year-old Antwerp man suspected of planning an attack on a Jewish institution was arrested on Saturday, Antwerp public prosecutors said on Sunday evening. “He is suspected of illegal possession of weapons and preparation of a terrorist attack,” the […]

Pegida leader, three police officers hurt at Quran burning protest in Arnhem

January 14, 2024 Unlisted Author

(NL Times) Edwin Wagensveld, the head of the Dutch branch of anti-Islam organization Pegida, was injured during a demonstration in Arnhem where he wanted to burn a copy of the Quran. Despite the intervention of the riot police, counter-demonstrators managed to attack […]

Israel accuses Hamas of planning to attack its embassy in Sweden

January 13, 2024 Dan Williams and Marie Mannes

(Reuters) Israel accused Hamas on Saturday of planning to attack its embassy in Sweden as part of an expansion by the Palestinian Islamist militant group into Europe, where authorities announced the arrests of several suspects last month. In a statement following up […]

Israel says it uncovered Hamas terror network planning attacks in Europe Mossad and Shin Bet release details on group’s attempts to attack Jewish and Israeli targets, say slain Hamas leaders in Lebanon helmed the efforts

January 13, 2024 Lazar Berman

(Times of Israel) Hamas runs a network of operatives in Europe commanded by terror leaders in Lebanon, Israel said Saturday as its intelligence agencies released new details on the Gaza-based organization’s attempts to attack Israeli and Jewish targets abroad. Most of the […]

Germany seeks Cologne Cathedral attack suspect’s deportation Authorities are seeking to expel the 25-year-old arrested on suspicion of planning a New Year's Eve attack on the historic cathedral. The Tajik national was arrested along with three others, but they were later released.

January 13, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Deutsche Welle) German police said Saturday that they are pressing forward with deportation proceedings for a young man accused of planning a New Year’s Eve terror attack on Cologne Cathedral. The Dortmund District Court had granted a deportation warrant for the 25-year-old […]

Speaker cheered as he calls for ‘world to be de-Zionised’ at London pro-Palestine demo Mohammed el-Kurd, a Palestinian writer and poet, is an official speaker at latest PSC-organised protest in London and urges attendees to 'root Zionism out of the world'

January 13, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) An official speaker [at] the latest pro-Palestine demonstration in London has been cheered loudly as he called for the world to be “de-Zionised.” Mohammed el-Kurd, a Palestinian writer and poet who spoke from the stage at Saturday’s protest, added: “We […]

Flixbus suspects released with no terror threat confirmed

January 12, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Brussels Times) Three suspects apprehended on a Flixbus bound for Brussels were released after being questioned about an alleged bomb plot, according to the East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office. The bus, having departed from Lille, was en route to Brussels when a […]

New type of spying and jihadist terrorism on the rise, State Security warns

January 12, 2024 Lauren Walker

(Brussels Times) Espionage and counterintelligence are once again key priorities for Belgium’s State Security. However, the threat of jihadist-inspired terrorism, which was at the top of the agenda several years ago, is also resurging. At the start of every new year, Belgium’s State Security […]

Man charged over headband worn at rally

January 12, 2024 Unlisted Author

(BBC) A man has been charged over wearing a green headband with writing on it, said to give “reasonable suspicion” he supports Hamas. Khaled Hajsaad, 24, from Birmingham, was accused over the presence of the Islamic Shehada on the item of clothing […]

A Danish appeals court upholds prison sentences for Iranian separatists convicted of terror charges

January 12, 2024 Unlisted Author

(AP) A Danish appeals court Friday upheld the sentences of three members of an Iranian separatist group convicted of promoting terror in Iran and gathering information for an unnamed Saudi intelligence service. The three had been convicted and sentenced in a lower […]

A Denmark terror case has ‘links’ to Hamas, a prosecutor tells local media

January 12, 2024 Jan M. Olsen

(AP) A Danish prosecutor said Friday that an investigation that led to the arrests of three suspects in Denmark last month on suspicion of plotting to carry out “an act of terror” was linked to Hamas, according to a local media report. […]

Lib Dem councillor sparks fury after refusing to address antisemitism concerns Birmingham city councillor Ayoub Khan refuses to answer concerns put to him that he considers antisemitism awareness training 'is beneath you'

January 11, 2024 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) A Liberal Democrat councillor exposed by Jewish News for questioning evidence that Hamas carried out atrocities in Israel on October 7th has sparked renewed anger after refusing to confirm he has undertaken antisemitism awareness training for linking the Jewish state […]

Belgian cops arrest 3 people on bus after report of potential attack Warning is being taken ‘very seriously,’ police say.

January 11, 2024 Pierre Emmanuel Ngendakumana

(Politico) Belgian police on Thursday arrested three men on a bus from Lille to Brussels after a passenger said he heard other people on board talking about planning to commit an attack, Belgian news outlet VRT reported. The passenger who made the emergency […]

Danish anti-Islam, anti-immigration, anti-tax party dissolves Other right-wing parties applaud, spying greater share of votes.

January 10, 2024 Laura Hülsemann

(Politico) Denmark’s far-right, populist The New Right party is being dissolved. “If we are to rebuild center-right Denmark, we need to gather all the good forces — but in slightly fewer center-right parties,” party founder Pernille Vermund said Wednesday as she announced […]

Former Syrian general to face Swedish court for alleged war crimes

January 10, 2024 Unlisted Author

(AFP) A former Syrian army general will appear before a Stockholm court over his alleged role in war crimes committed in Syria in 2012, according to the indictment seen Wednesday by AFP. Mohammed Hamo, 65, who lives in Sweden, is accused of […]

MSS vigilant on radicalisation of youths despite low terror threat on Malta Malta registered a low threat of terror in 2022, but Malta Security Services says prevention of online radicalisation needs to be at the forefront of its terrorism preparedness

January 9, 2024 Matthew Vella

(Malta Today) Malta’s secret service, the MSS, said that while terrorism prevention is at the top of its agenda, its workload has been characterised by investigations against drug trafficking and illegal migration, as well as cyber-threats to critical infrastructure. Malta registered a […]

German MP: Taxpayers should fund German mosques to prevent radicalisation Critics agree that foreign funding should be banned, but say German Muslims should fund their own mosques.

January 9, 2024 Zoltán Kottász

(European Conservative) A top Christian Democrat politician wants to amend the constitution if necessary, so that German taxes can be used to pay for mosques. Jens Spahn — a former minister and deputy leader of the opposition center-right CDU/CSU’s parliamentary group — […]

‘Impossible’ to eradicate risk of Brussels terrorist attack completely, police chief says

January 9, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Brussels Times) The Federal Police of Belgium is taking measures to [strategize] its workings following last year’s terror attack in Brussels, but says that eradicating the risk entirely is “impossible.” Several people including senior police officers were heard before the House Committees […]

Danish appeals court upholds guilty verdicts for 3 Iranians convicted on terror charges

January 9, 2024 Unlisted Author

(AP) A Danish appeals court on Tuesday upheld guilty verdicts for three members of an Iranian separatist group convicted of promoting terror in Iran and gathering information for an unnamed Saudi intelligence service. The three were arrested in February 2020 in the […]

Is the Islamic State still a threat to Europe? Fears of potential terrorist attacks in Europe were rife during the holiday period. But are these worries well founded?

January 9, 2024 Giulia Carbonaro

(Euronews) After years spent in the shadows, the Islamic State (IS) terror group is back in the spotlight. European countries heightened security over the Christmas period, amid fears of terror attacks and violence linked to Israel’s war in Gaza. Last week, IS claimed responsibility […]

Germany says Tajik held on terrorism charge to be deported to Austria

January 8, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Radio Free Europe) Police in the German city of Cologne say a Tajik national detained in late December on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack on Cologne Cathedral is wanted in Austria and will be sent there to face charges. According to […]

German court upholds ban on PKK symbols, pictures of its ringleader Regional court rules banning public display of images of Abdullah Ocalan, head of PKK terrorist group, is in line with laws, regulations

January 8, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Anadolu) Banning images of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed head of the PKK terrorist group, is in line with laws and regulations, a German regional court ruled on Monday. The Higher Administrative Court in North Rhine-Westphalia turned down a complaint filed by a […]

Dutch anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders has withdrawn a 2018 proposal to ban mosques and the Quran

January 8, 2024 Mike Corder

(AP) Far-right Dutch election winner Geert Wilders made a key concession to potential coalition partners on Monday, announcing that he’s withdrawing legislation that he proposed in 2018 that calls for a ban on mosques and the Quran. The move came a day […]

Virginity testing: Police warning after GP asked to carry out procedure

January 8, 2024 Grace Parnell

(BBC) Police have warned of the dangers of virginity testing after a GP reported they were asked to “prove” a teenager was still a virgin. South Yorkshire Police said a GP in the region reported they had been visited by a teenage […]

Austria extends detention of couple over Vienna, Cologne attack plans

January 8, 2024 Unlisted Author

(AFP) Austria on Monday extended the detention of a couple suspected to be linked to an Islamist network allegedly plotting attacks in Vienna and Cologne, while a third suspect has been released. The three were arrested at a refugee centre before Christmas […]

Man held over Cologne Cathedral threat to remain in custody

January 7, 2024 Unlisted Author

(DPA) A 30-year-old Tajik man arrested on December 24 in connection with a terrorist threat to Cologne Cathedral remains in custody two weeks after his arrest, police in the western German city said on Sunday. The man was arrested in the town […]

Swedish security service says threat level still high

January 7, 2024 Anna Ringstrom

(Reuters) The terrorist threat level against Sweden remains high, security police said on Sunday. The Swedish Security Service said in a statement its assessment of the terrorist threat against the Nordic country remained at level 4 on a 5-degree scale, to which […]

Cologne Cathedral attack: Austria issues warrant for suspect Austrian authorities want to speak to a man being held in connection with a year-end terrorist plot targeting Cologne Cathedral.

January 7, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Deutsche Welle) Austrian authorities have issued a European arrest warrant for a suspect detained in Germany over an alleged plot to attack the historic cathedral in Cologne, German police said on Sunday. On Christmas Eve, a 30-year-old Tajik national was held in the city of Wesel, […]

Young Britons exposed to online radicalisation following Hamas attack

January 5, 2024 Marianna Spring

(BBC) There has been an unprecedented 12-fold increase in hateful social media content being referred to specialist police officers since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October, according to the UK’s Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit. Once focused on propaganda shared by the […]

A Moroccan expelled from Italy for planning a terrorist attack from his prison cell

January 4, 2024 Latifa Babas

(Yabiladi) A 40-year-old Moroccan who lived in Italy was expelled from the territory for planning a terrorist attack, Italian-language daily newspaper Il Giornale reported on Wednesday. The man in question has reportedly been radicalized while detained in prison. The Italian Interior Ministry […]

Edward Little: Sentence increased for Hyde Park gun attack plotter

January 4, 2024 Liz Jackson

(BBC) A man who planned a gun attack at central London’s Hyde Park has had his jail sentence increased. Edward Little, 22, had intended to kill Christian preacher Hatun Tash after travelling from Brighton to the capital on 23 September 2022. He […]

Spain sees highest jihadist-related terror arrests in 20 years A massive increase in the number of arrests came after the Hamas attack on Israel.

January 4, 2024 Robert Semonsen

(European Conservative) In 2023, Spanish authorities arrested 78 people for offenses related to jihadist terrorism, a 66% uptick compared to the previous year. The figures, compiled and released by the Ministry of Interior, are the highest recorded in nearly two decades. The […]

Irregular migrant arrivals almost doubled in Spain in 2023

January 3, 2024 Joan Faus

(Reuters) Around 57,000 migrants entered Spain irregularly last year, almost double the 2022 number as arrivals on the Canary Islands in fragile boats from west Africa surged to record levels, official data showed on Wednesday. The Spanish government last year intensified its […]

Berlin Jews facing ‘extremely tense’ situation, city’s top antisemitism official warns

January 3, 2024 Ben Cohen

(Algemeiner) Jews in Berlin are facing an “extremely tense” situation amid rising hostility emanating from the Oct. 7 Hamas pogrom in southern Israel, the German capital’s top official combating antisemitism warned on Wednesday. “Since the barbaric antisemitic terrorist attack by Hamas on […]

German Islam researcher sees worrying alliances in anti-Semitism

January 3, 2024 Unlisted Author

(DPA) Goethe University Islamic scholar Susanne Schröter fears that anti-Semitism will continue to grow in Germany. Three social groups are preparing the ground for this, said the director of the Frankfurt Research Centre for Global Islam in Frankfurt: Muslim, left-wing and right-wing […]

Algerian football international Atal convicted over Gaza post

January 3, 2024 Unlisted Author

(AFP) Algerian international footballer Youcef Atal was handed an eight-month suspended sentence by a French court Wednesday for inciting religious hatred in a social media post about the conflict in Gaza. The 27-year-old defender, who plays for Ligue 1 side Nice, must […]

Is migration the EU’s biggest challenge in 2024? Few topics were as influential in shaping social discourse last year as migration. It's likely to dominate the EU's agenda again in the new year.

January 2, 2024 Lucia Schulten

(Deutsche Welle) The number of asylum applications to the European Union has risen over the past two years. While there were just under 1 million in 2022, the European Union Agency for Asylum has predicted that this mark could now have hit […]