News: Europe

(Brussels Times) A 25-year-old man from Menen (West Flanders) has been referred to the correctional court on charges of terrorism. The man, of Chechen origin, reportedly planned, together with his partner, an attack in Antwerp’s Jewish district. Three other suspects will have […]

Iran International TV host stabbed in London attack

(Iran International) Pouria Zeraati, the television host of the “Last Word” program on Iran International, was attacked by a group of unidentified individuals as he exited his residence in London on Friday. Zeraati, who was attacked in the early afternoon in south […]

Paris officials rally in support of school headmaster in hijab row

(AFP) French lawmakers and officials joined dozens of people who gathered in Paris on Friday in a show of support for a school principal who resigned after receiving death threats in a hijab row. This week the headmaster at the Maurice-Ravel senior […]

France rolls out ‘mobile security force’ for troubled schools

(Radio France) French Education Minister Nicole Belloubet on Friday announced the creation of a national “mobile force” to be deployed to schools facing security issues. The move comes amid a spate of death threats directed at teaching staff. “This school force will […]

Judge reduces Arnhem area ban for Pegida leader to April 10

(NL Times) The judge ruling on the preliminary injunction adjusted the area ban that Arnhem Mayor Ahmed Marcouch imposed on Pegida leader Edwin Wagensveld. The ban is now valid until April 10. The original area ban would have prevented Wagensveld from stepping […]

Netherlands issues travel warning for France amid highest terror threat level

March 28, 2024 Unlisted Author

(NL Times) The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a new warning for people traveling to France after the French government raised its domestic security threat level to its most heightened position. The assessment of “Emergency: Attack” was issued by Prime Minister […]

22 people detained in Ghent after further unrest between Turkish and Kurdish groups

March 28, 2024 Sally Tipper

(VRT) In Ghent, 22 people were detained on Wednesday night after a Kurdish business in the city was vandalised. Half of those held are minors and police found a number of weapons. The incident follows clashes in recent days between people from […]

Man denies charge he expressed support for Hamas at London protest (LINK ONLY) [Edited headline]

March 28, 2024 EoI News

Eye on Islamism is no longer printing excerpts from articles published by certain news sources. To read the original article, click here.

France to patrol every church for Easter security: minister

March 28, 2024 Unlisted Author

(AFP) French authorities are to deploy members of the security forces in front of all Catholic and Protestant churches for the upcoming Easter weekend, further bolstering security in the aftermath of the Moscow attack, according to a memo seen on Thursday. France […]

Belgium urges calm after clashes between Turks, Kurds

March 27, 2024 Unlisted Author

(AFP) Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called for calm on Wednesday after escalating tensions between Turkish and Kurdish groups in the country just days before local elections in Turkey. “We are asking everyone to calm down, stop the provocations and continue […]

France’s PM stands with teachers after school chief quits in hijab row

March 27, 2024 Sophie Laubie

(AFP) Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on Wednesday defended French secularism following the resignation of a Paris school principal who received death threats after asking a student to remove her Muslim veil on the premises. Attal, a former education minister, said the state […]

Quran-burning Iraqi man who faces an expulsion order from Sweden plans to seek asylum in Norway

March 27, 2024 Unlisted Author

(AP) An Iraqi man who carried out several Quran burnings in Sweden told a newspaper on Wednesday that he would seek asylum in neighboring Norway in the wake of a deportation order by authorities in Stockholm. Salwan Momika, 37, has staged several […]

Ezedi: Church limited Clapham attacker’s attendance after sex assault

March 26, 2024 Claire Ellison and Judith Burns

(BBC) A church which supported the asylum claim of the Clapham alkali attacker limited his rights to attend services after a sexual assault conviction, newly released documents reveal. Abdul Shokoor Ezedi’s body was found in the river Thames in February, ending a […]

Batley Grammar School protest report ‘deeply disturbing’ — MP

March 26, 2024 Unlisted Author

(BBC) A report criticising the handling of protests at a school “makes for deeply disturbing reading,” an MP has said. A religious studies teacher at Batley Grammar School was forced into hiding in 2021 after showing a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad […]

Belgium says 650 jihadists, other extremists on radar

March 26, 2024 Unlisted Author

(AFP) Belgium’s anti-terrorist agency on Tuesday said 650 people considered to have jihadist and other extremist ties are under surveillance in the country. The data was published as Belgian officials stress they are doing everything to prevent attacks after at least 139 […]

Spain police detain teen for promoting IS terror online

March 26, 2024 Unlisted Author

(AFP) Police said Tuesday they had arrested an 18-year-old Spaniard of Moroccan origin who had engaged in “intensive (online) efforts to encourage terrorism” and had ties with other radical jihadists abroad. The youth was arrested in Barcelona on March 16 on suspicion […]

Islamic State poses greatest security threat to Germany, interior minister says

March 26, 2024 Maria Martinez

(Reuters) The Islamic State branch known as ISIS-Khorasan, which U.S. intelligence says appears responsible for the mass shooting attack near Moscow, poses the greatest Islamist threat to security in Germany, its interior minister said on Tuesday. “The threat level is still high,” […]

Government adviser criticises Batley Grammar School over Prophet Mohammed cartoon protest

(ITV) A teacher who was forced into hiding after he showed a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed during a lesson was “let down” by his school, council and police, a government adviser has said. The religious studies teacher received death threats and […]

Kurdish protest ends in clash with Brussels police Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse crowd, according to media reports.

March 25, 2024 Claudia Chiappa

(Politico) Protesters clashed with Brussels police on Monday during a pro-Kurdish demonstration in front of the European Parliament. Over 200 people gathered in Place du Luxembourg at midday in response to riots that erupted Sunday in Heusden-Zolder and Houthalen-Helchteren in eastern Belgium. […]

How the heightened IS terror threat affects Switzerland

March 25, 2024 Matthew Allen

(Swiss Info) Several European countries, including France and Germany, are on high alert following a deadly terrorist attack on a Moscow concert hall. Switzerland is also a potential target from the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) terror group, which has claimed responsibility for […]

Martyn’s Law: Mum of arena bombing victim calls for action after Moscow attack

(ITV) The mother of a Manchester Arena bombing victim has told the prime minister that an attack on a Moscow concert venue shows why a new law enhancing security in public places in the UK must be introduced without delay. Figen Murray’s […]

Radical British preacher Anjem Choudary pleads not guilty to terrorism charges

(AP) Radical British preacher Anjem Choudary pleaded not guilty Monday in a London courtroom to two terrorism-related charges. Choudary, 57, pleaded not guilty to membership in a banned organization, the radical Muslim group al-Muhajiroun, and addressing meetings to encourage support for the […]

Shamima Begum loses initial bid to challenge citizenship removal at Supreme Court

March 25, 2024 Jacqueline Howard

(BBC) Shamima Begum has lost an initial bid to challenge the removal of her British citizenship at the Supreme Court. The 24-year-old had requested permission from the Court of Appeal to take her case to the UK’s highest court. The government stripped […]

Anti-Semitism: Zurich attacker radicalised in Tunisia and online

(Swiss Info) The 15-year-old who attacked an orthodox Jewish man in Zurich on March 2 became radicalised in Tunisia and on internet forums, Zurich’s security director said on Monday. Investigations are still progressing in earnest, Mario Fehr said at the presentation of […]

Six injured in Turkish-Kurdish riots in Limburg

(Belga) Six people were injured in clashes between people of Kurdish and Turkish origin in Limburg on Sunday. Police will increase surveillance at the site of the riots and at nearby schools and mosques in the coming weeks. Five people were lightly […]

Arnhem mayor wants ban on religious desecration to preserve democracy

(NL Times) Arnhem Mayor Ahmed Marcouch is calling on national lawmakers to ban the public desecration of religious and philosophical symbols and books, saying the restriction on free expression is necessary to preserve the democratic rule of law in the Netherlands. The […]

Moscow attack puts spotlight on IS threat to western Europe

March 25, 2024 Didier Lauras

(AFP) Friday’s attack on a Moscow concert hall is exacerbating worries that similar acts could hit targets in western Europe which is hosting exceptionally high-profile sports events this summer, analysts say. Germany is the site of the Euro 2024 football championship in […]

Moscow attack raise[s] fresh concerns for Paris Olympics

March 25, 2024 Francesco Fontemaggi and Adam Plowright

(AFP) The attack on a Moscow concert hall that killed more than 130 people has raised fresh security fears for the Paris Olympics, leading France’s interior minister to promise Monday that police and intelligence services would be “ready.” The government upgraded the […]

Interior min raises anti-terror surveillance after Moscow Monitoring also on the web

(ANSA) The National Committee for Public Order and Security on Monday decided to strengthen anti-terrorism monitoring in Italy in the wake of Friday’s terror attack claimed by Islamic State at a concert hall in Moscow in which 137 people were killed. During […]

Macron says Islamists who hit Russia had tried to attack France

March 25, 2024 Ingrid Melander

(Reuters) President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the gunmen who killed 137 people in a concert hall outside Moscow were part of an Islamic State branch that was behind foiled attempts to attack France over the past few months. This explains […]

France raises terror alert level after Moscow attack claimed by IS group

March 24, 2024 Unlisted Author

(France 24) France’s government increased its security alert warning to the highest level Sunday after the deadly attack at a Russian concert hall and the Islamic State (IS) group’s claim of responsibility. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said in a post on X […]

Main terror risk for Italy ‘from lone wolves not groups’ Cabinet Sec' Mantovano worried about risk of 'self-activation'

March 24, 2024 Unlisted Author

(ANSA) Cabinet Secretary Alfredo Mantovano said Sunday that the main terrorist threat Italy faces at the moment comes from lone wolves rather than organized groups like the one that staged Friday’s attack in Moscow. “The threat is not so much that of […]

Woman who announced to tear up Quran arrested in Arnhem

March 24, 2024 Unlisted Author

(NL Times) A 38-year-old woman was arrested in Arnhem on Saturday because she announced that she wanted to tear up a Quran. The woman from Vorden in Gelderland was released after a short time. However, she was banned from the building, as […]

Three arrested after man dies in ‘Islamic exorcism’ Ex-wife, brother, uncle suspected of causing victim's death

March 23, 2024 Unlisted Author

(ANSA) Carabinieri police on Saturday arrested three people over allegations a 43-year-old man was killed during [an] Islamic exorcism rite on February 10 in the town of Salassa, near Turin, sources said. It was initially thought that the man had died of […]

Moscow shooting: At least 90 killed in ‘bloody terrorist attack’ at concert hall The Islamic State claimed responsibility. Moscow says 11 people have been detained in the attack.

March 22, 2024 Eva Hartog and Denis Leven

(Politico) Gunmen stormed a rock concert near Moscow, killing at least 90 people and wounding more than 100 others, authorities said, in one of the deadliest terror attacks to hit Russia in years. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack […]

‘Painful memory’: Brussels marks eight years since deadly terror attacks

(Brussels Times) Today (22 March) marks eight years since the Brussels terror attacks which claimed the lives of 32 people and injured hundreds more. The famous Manneken-Pis statue has been dressed for the occasion in a nod to victims and their families. […]

Spain prosecutors want church attack suspect jailed for 50 years

(AFP) Prosecutors want the Moroccan man suspected of staging last year’s machete attack on two Spanish churches, killing a church official, to face 50 years behind bars, court documents showed Friday. The suspect, Yassine Kanjaa, 26, is charged with terrorist murder for […]

Over 400 UK imams reject new extremism definition targeting Muslim groups Religious scholars accuse government of 'divisive tactics' and attempting to crack down on groups opposed to Israeli actions against Palestinians

(Middle East Eye) Over 400 British imams and religious scholars have signed a letter rejecting a new UK government definition of extremism that targeted several British Muslim organisations. Last week, Communities Secretary Michael Gove announced a contentious new definition of extremism, though the […]

Appeals court rules police justified to forcibly remove hijabs from asylum seekers The two women — citing their religious beliefs — refused to remove their head coverings for police to take registration photos, which were required in order to process their asylum applications.