Terrorism

Government & Politics

Coronavirus: Experts warn of bioterrorism after pandemic The Council of Europe has warned of a potential increase in the use of biological weapons, like viruses or bacterias, in a post-coronavirus world. Terrorists would not forget 'lessons learned' during the pandemic.

May 25, 2020   

(Deutsche Welle) Security experts from the Council of Europe have warned that the global coronavirus outbreak may increase the use of biological weapons by terrorists in the future. “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how vulnerable modern society is to viral infections and […]

Law Enforcement

Spanish police: Moroccan ISIS sympathizer radicalized multiple youths Moroccan police arrested the radicalized suspects, who were planning terror attacks in Morocco and UAE, in different operations.

May 24, 2020   

(Morocco World News) After the arrest of a Moroccan ISIS sympathizer on May 20, Spanish police have said the suspect managed to convince several youths to join the terrorist group. Spanish media reported last week that police arrested the suspect in Bolanos […]

Government & Politics

Over 100 ‘Islamic State’ fighters return to Germany Authorities say a third of Islamic State fighters who left Germany for Syria have since returned. Germany is taking a 'holistic approach' in dealing with ex-jihadi fighters, including deradicalization and reintegration.

May 24, 2020   

(Deutsche Welle) Germany’s Interior Ministry said Sunday that over 100 members of the so-called “Islamic State” (IS) terrorist group have returned to the country following the jihadi [network’s] failed incursions in Iraq and Syria. “Security authorities obtained knowledge that they actively engaged […]

Legal

EU agency wants ‘IS’ returnees charged with war crimes A new report from an EU-backed genocide investigation body says adding war crimes and genocide to terrorism charges for 'IS' fighters returning to the EU will lead to tougher sentences and 'more justice' for victims.

May 23, 2020   

(Deutsche Welle) Former “Islamic State” (IS) fighters who returned to Europe from conflicts in Iraq and Syria should be charged with war crimes along with terrorism, said a report released Saturday by the EU-backed “Genocide Network.” According to the network, many so-called […]

Deradicalization

Suspected Al Qaeda-linked extremist played chess on counter-terror programme Suspect ‘banned from Britain’ but arrived back after deportation from Turkey

May 19, 2020   

(National-UAE) The problems faced by governments in the West dealing with returning foreign fighters have been revealed in the case of an alleged British extremist who snubbed de-radicalisation efforts to play chess with a government-assigned mentor. The married father-of-three, identified as QX, […]

Legal

Prosecuting IS returnees in Germany requires the law’s longest arm An increasing number of 'Islamic State' returnees are standing trial in Germany, including female supporters of the terror group. To make their case, federal prosecutors are relying on international criminal law.

May 17, 2020   

(Deutsche Welle) Taha A.-J.*, an Iraqi man believed to have belonged to the “Islamic State” (IS), has been standing trial in Frankfurt since late April on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. At the center of his trial is […]

Government & Politics

France gives final green light to law cracking down on hate speech online The vote moved ahead amid controversy surrounding the bill’s rapporteur, accused by former assistants of hate speech and harassment.

May 13, 2020   

(Politico) France adopted a law against online hate speech Wednesday that will target Silicon Valley giants amid controversy surrounding the lawmaker in charge of the bill. After months of debate, the lower house of Parliament adopted the controversial legislation, which will require […]

Law Enforcement

Germany: Alleged attacker of Turkish shops was IS supporter A man suspected of carrying out attacks on Turkish shops in Bavaria was a follower of the Islamic State (IS) armed group, local authorities have said. He had several pipe bombs in his bag when police arrested him.

May 10, 2020   

(Deutsche Welle) A man suspected of carrying out attacks against Turkish-owned businesses in the Bavarian town of Waldkraiburg is a sympathizer of the Islamic State, police authorities said Sunday in an online press conference. The 25-year-old justified his hatred towards Turks and […]

Deradicalization

European prisons releasing 1,000 returned ISIS fighters in 2020 poses new security challenge UN co-ordinator tells 'The National' that counter-terrorism effort is crucial after military defeat

May 6, 2020 and   

(National-UAE) The threat from ISIS will be greater after the release of 1,000 of its returned fighters from European prisons over the course of 2020, chief analyst at the UN told the National. Efforts to reform Europeans from the ISIS battlefields through […]

Government & Politics

Mossad gave Berlin intel on Hezbollah ops on German soil ahead of ban — report Unnamed Israeli official tells TV Germans were provided info on warehouses where terror group stashed materials for explosives, as well as money laundering networks

May 2, 2020   

(Times of Israel) Israel’s Mossad spy agency gave information to Germany on Hezbollah’s activities on its soil ahead of the country banning the Lebanese terror group this week, Channel 12 news reported Saturday. Germany branded the entirety of the Iranian-backed group — […]

Government & Politics

German government bans Hezbollah — Interior Ministry Authorities have designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization and banned its activity on German soil. Police conducted raids on four associations linked to the Islamist group.

April 30, 2020   

(Deutsche Welle) German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer on Thursday banned all Hezbollah activities in the country, his ministry spokesman said on Twitter. He also confirmed that “police measures are underway in several federal states concurrently,” and added that even in times of […]