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Terrorism expert Neumann: “The attacks are becoming more frequent”

Photo: Ina Fassbender / picture alliance / dpa

Islamist terror is apparently back: an offshoot of the “Islamic State” claims responsibility for the attack on the Crocus City Hall concert hall near Moscow that left at least 137 dead. The attack raises fears that serious acts of violence by Islamists could occur again in Western Europe.

Terrorism researcher Peter Neumann from King's College London also sees this danger. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, when asked how he assessed the threat of terrorism in Germany, Neumann said: "I think it is quite high."

The increased activities of the "Islamic State - Khorasan", or IS-K for short, an offshoot of the so-called "Islamic State" that is particularly active in Afghanistan, is only one side of the threat. The other results from the renewed flare-up of the Middle East conflict. "Since October 7th, since the Hamas terrorist offensive and the resulting conflict, we have had a huge mobilization of Islamists and jihadists all over Western Europe," said Neumann.

Faeser assesses the Islamist terrorist threat as “acute”

"The biggest current terrorist threat in Germany, in Europe, is now again from the Islamist, jihadist side," said the researcher. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) also assessed the threat of terrorism in Germany as high. "The danger from Islamist terrorism remains acute," said Faeser.

Neumann also referred to the increased number of allegedly foiled attacks in Western Europe in recent weeks and months. According to Europol, there were six attempted jihadist attacks across Europe in 2022. Since October 7, 2023, there have already been eight, although the period is much shorter. “The impacts are becoming more frequent,” says Neumann.

Last week, two suspected Islamists with connections to IS-K were arrested in Gera. According to the federal prosecutor's office, the two suspects are said to have planned, among other things, to carry out an attack with firearms on police officers and other people at the Swedish parliament in Stockholm. This was intended to be a response to Koran burnings in Sweden.

At Christmas and New Year's Eve, security forces in Cologne also took increased protective measures due to the threat from IS-K.

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