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[infowar.de] TELEPOLIS: Europol: Islamic Terrorism main threat a...
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Europol: Islamic Terrorism main threat against the European Union
Jelle van Buuren 12.02.2002
Europol publishes terrorism threat assessment for the first time
Islamic terrorism can be regarded as the main threat against the
European Union. However it would be dangerous to focus only on Islamic
terrorism, as other European terrorist groups still remain active,
according to Europol in the first public version of a document on the
situation and trends of terrorism in Europe in 2000-2001.
The open version of the threat analysis is the result of an initiative
of the Netherlands. Last year the Dutch pressed for an open version of
the reports on the terrorist threat in the European Union, which were
till now highly confidential. The Dutch government stated more openness
was needed on the nature of the terrorist threat in the European Union
and the achievements of the European Union in combating terrorism. The
open version of the document does not contain any confidential
information.
According to the document, drawn up by the European police
organisation Europol, the number of terrorist incidents was showing a
small decrease, whereas 'the importance of the attacks increased
dramatically'. According to Europol the decrease of the number of
terrorist incidents is due to successful police operations in Spain and
Ireland. Also the progress in the Northern Ireland peace process and
cease-fires in Corsica counted for a lower degree of terrorism.
Europol states that from a global point of view it is important that
the European Union is not only a target for terrorist attacks but also
an important area for preparatory and logistic purposes in the widest
sense. 'In the aftermath of 11th September attacks in the United States
of America, it became clear that a number of the suicide hijackers
allegedly prepared their activities in the European Union.' The report
gives an overview of arrests made in Europe both before and after the
attacks in the USA of Islamic terrorists and the international
cooperation in this field.
According to the report the Basque separatist terrorist organisation
ETA is the most active terrorist organisation in the European Union.
The report also states that the ETA discovered during a cease-fire
period that finished in December 1999 'how effective the staging of
violent public disorder was to terrorise the Basque population.' The
report states 'juvenile groups linked to the ETA are responsible for
the violent public disorder', and that the ETA selects future activist
from these youth. Europol warns ETA might start a European Union wide
campaign, as ETA has announced that the French authorities are included
in its target-list, due to their cooperation with the Spanish
authorities.
Europol further sees the 'first signs of the possible resurrection of
left wing terrorism viz. anarchist terrorism' in the southern part of
the European Union. Under an umbrella name 'International Solidarity'
attacks were carried in solidarity with imprisoned anarchists and
against prison regimes. 'As left wing web-sites in the Northern
European countries cover this situation in depth, the possibility of
resurrection of the left wing and anarchist terrorist groups is
existent, in which the southern terrorist activity might function as an
example,' Europol concludes.
According to Europol radical environmentalist and animal rights
movements have maintained a limited campaign during 2000-2001, but
caused extensive material damage.
Links
Artikel-URL: http://www.telepolis.de/english/inhalt/te/11833/1.html
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