EU Believes Al Qaeda A Threat…Really?
BRUSSELS- Al Qaeda remains the major terrorist threat to the European Union and a fresh attack by Islamist militants is likely, the bloc’s new anti-terrorism chief said on Monday.
more stories like this”An attack perpetrated by local or international networks remains likely,” Gilles de Kerchove, appointed in September to coordinate member states’ counter-terrorism policies, told EU lawmakers.
“Al Qaeda … continues to be the most serious terrorism threat to Europe,” de Kerchove told the European Parliament’s justice, liberty and security committee.
He said the movement founded by Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, who inspired the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, inspired local radicals.
The Belgian official said many EU countries were particularly concerned by radical terrorism in North Africa.
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb grew out of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) in January, after winning approval from bin Laden to rename itself an al Qaeda affiliate.
Since then, the Islamists have launched a wave of attacks targeting Algerian security and Western interests.
“The fact that it has embraced Al Qaeda’s international terrorism, and the Maghreb’s geographical proximity to Europe brings terrorism closer to the borders of Europe,” de Kerchove said.
Conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan had “a considerable impact on radicalization of extremists in Europe,” he added.
Attack plots with suspected ties to Al Qaeda were foiled in Germany and Denmark in September.
An attack by British Islamist killed 52 people on July 7, 2005 on London’s transport network.
Prosecutors say the March 2004 attack on Madrid, which killed 191 people, was carried out by a group linked to Al Qaeda.
Reuters article by Ingrid Melander here.
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“….Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC)…”
Gimme a fuckin’ break.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:19 pmwhat can a Belgian do inside a protected administration ?
make generalities !
now, we know GSPC from the beginnings of this organisation : they were responsible for the terrorist attacs that occured in the nineties in Paris and Algeria, the most famous was the air-france piratage in ALger
After that their leader had been captured,
After an amnistie and a certain period of calm,
they reformed the gang, and, now,
they operate in Sahara, Niger, Mali…
under the name of AlQaeda
Normally Algeria’ government is after them, Mali and Niger ask for France’ help (money, arms and renseignments)
So, seems that the times make their revolution, and we are still like we were decades ago with theses persons
November 5th, 2007 at 3:52 pm