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Al-Qaeda activities in Europe

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A flag used by Al-Qaeda.

The international activities of Al-Qaeda includes involvements in Europe, where members of the group have been involved in militant and terrorist activities in several countries. Al-Qaeda has been responsible for or involved in attacks in Western Europe and Russia, including the 2004 Madrid train bombings,[1] 2010 Moscow Metro bombings,[2] 2011 Domodedovo International Airport bombing,[3] and the January 2015 Île-de-France attacks.[4]

Eastern Europe

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North Caucasus

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Main articles: Caucasus Emirate and Insurgency in the North Caucasus

Al-Qaeda linked militants organized around the Caucasus Emirate have been involved in the Second Chechen War and the Insurgency in the North Caucasus. In August 2009 it was reported that during a raid the Russian police had killed an Algerian-born militant in Dagestan who according to the Federal Security Service, was "the Al-Qaeda co-ordinator in Dagestan". The militant was an Algerian national known as "Doctor Mohammed" and was thought to be a member of the 'Jamaat Shariat of Dagestan'[5][6]

In 2010, Russian police shot and killed a militant in the Russian republic of Dagestan. The man was later determined to be one of the co-founders of the North Caucasus branch of al-Qaeda. The man's name was Mohamed Shaaban.[citation needed]

Northern Europe

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Sweden

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On 11 December 2010, a man linked to Al-Qaeda exploded a car bomb and a suicide bomb in Stockholm, killing only himself and injuring two others. Firefighters reported that the car had a gas cylinder, resulting in further explosions.[7] He was later revealed to be Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly, an Iraqi man,[8] who was born in Baghdad and was granted Swedish citizenship in 1992.[9]

United Kingdom

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In 2003 Tony Blair sent armoured vehicles and hundreds of troops to London Heathrow Airport because the UK security services claimed there was a planned Al-Qaeda attack.[10] MI5 said they received detailed intelligence in February 2003 about a plot to hijack planes flying from Eastern Europe and to fly them into Heathrow, to punish the United Kingdom for supporting the Iraq War.[10]

The men behind the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot reportedly had links to al-Qaeda.[11] MI5, Britain's secret service, accused the militant Islamic organisation of committing the attack. Osama bin Laden also made a video of the suicide bombing.[12] U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chertoff was clearly accusing al-Qaeda.[13] In September 2009, Tanvir Hussain, Assad Sarwar and Ahmed Abdullah Ali were convicted of conspiring to activate bombs disguised as drinks on aircraft leaving from London and going to North America.[14][15][16] British and US security officials said the plan – unlike many recent homegrown European terrorist plots – was directly linked to al-Qaeda and guided by senior Islamist militants in Pakistan.[17][18][19][20][21]

Southern Europe

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See also: Islamism and Islamic terrorism in the Balkans

Bosnian War

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Main articles: Al-Qaeda in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosnian mujahideen

During the Bosnian War in the early 1990s, al-Qaeda is considered to have been involved with organising volunteers for the Bosnian mujahideen.[22][23] Al-Qaeda leaders including Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri are thought to have visited camps in Bosnia during the war.[24] The volunteer mujahideen from all over the world flocked there, including France, Indonesia, Iraq, Malaysia, Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Yemen.[25]

Italy

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In May 2009 two French nationals were detained by Italian police due to suspected immigration offences however they are now suspected of being key Al-Qaeda figures. It is thought that they had planned to attack Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France. Italian police stated that they are "two leading men for the communication of al-Qaeda in Europe".[26]

In 2012, a pentito of the Camorra stated that, the criminal organisation was in contact with members of Al-Qaeda and aware of incoming terrorist attacks. The organisation was informed that "something involving airplanes would have happened" and that Al-Qaeda was planning a train bombing in Spain.[27]

In 2015, the Vatican was listed as a possible target for an attack by people associated with al-Qaeda.[28]

Kosovo War

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Islamist elements in the Kosovo Liberation Army during the Kosovo War from Western Europe of ethnic Albanian, Turkish, and North African origin, were organised by Islamic leaders in Western Europe allied to Bin Laden and Zawahiri.[29]

SHISH's head Fatos Klosi had said that Osama was running a terror network in Albania to take part in the war under the disguise of a humanitarian organisation reportedly started in 1994. Claude Kader who was a member testified its existence during his trial.[30] In 2001, the official Belgrade news agency, Tanjug, reported that the "terrorist and fanatical Islamist" Osama bin Laden, had come from Albania to use his armer forces of 500 Islamic militants in Kosovo around Korce and Pogradec to "commit terrorist acts."[31]

Spain

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Main articles: 2004 Madrid train bombings and Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group

The 11 March 2004 train bombings in Madrid killed 191 people and wounded more than 2,000. The terror cell had links to Al-Qaeda[32] and the affiliated Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM). It was the violent start of the new Al-Qaeda. The new Islamic terrorist organization was already made up of jihadist organisations dependent on Osama Bin Laden, who made their own decisions.[33] It was the worst Islamist attack in European history.[34][35][36] On 2 August 2012 three members of Al-Qaeda were arrested in Ciudad Real and Cadiz, suspected of planning attacks in Spain and other European countries. There was an intended attempt at a mall in Cadiz with teleridigidas aircraft loaded with explosives. At the time of the arrest of one of the jihadists who opposed a "huge resistance, using their military training" were eliminated by the police.[37]

Western Europe

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A Europe-wide terror plot against the 1998 FIFA World Cup had the backing of bin Laden and Al-Qaeda.[38][39][40] Preparations for an act of terrorism against the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France were completed by European law enforcement agencies between March and May 1998. The assassination was orchestrated by the Algerian Armed Islamic Group (GIA)[41] along with Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. More than 100 people had been arrested in seven countries as a result of the investigation.[42]

In December 2000, the "Frankfurt Group", an Al-Qaeda cell consisting of more than ten terrorists from Germany, France and the United Kingdom led by bin Laden deputy Mohammed Bensakhria was rounded up by law enforcement.[43] The group had planned to bomb the Strasbourg Cathedral on New Year's Eve.[44][45]

France

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In October 2009 a physicist of Algerian descent working for CERN was arrested due to his links with Al-Qaeda.[46] Officials said he had been in contact with people linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and planned attacks.[46] He later admitted to corresponding with Al-Qaeda members located in North Africa over the Internet.[47]

In January 2015, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was responsible for coordinated attacks in Paris, including the Charlie Hebdo shooting, killing several people.[4][48]

Germany

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In September 2009 security measures were heightened in response to a direct threat against Germany, through an Al-Qaeda video, the threat came about due to German participation in the Afghanistan war[49][50][51] Osama bin Laden stated:[52][53]

It is shameful to be part of an alliance whose leader does not care about spilling the blood of human beings by bombing villages intentionally. If you had seen [the mass killings] of your American allies and their helpers in northern Afghanistan ... then you would understand the bloody events in Madrid and London,[54]

See also

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Further reading

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  • Al Qaeda in Europe: The New Battleground of International Jihad, by Steven Emerson (Foreword), Lorenzo Vidino (Author). ISBN 978-1-59102-433-0.[55]
  • Al-Qaida's Jihad in Europe: The Afghan-Bosnian Network, by Evan F. Kohlmann. ISBN 978-1-85973-807-8.[56]

References

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  1. ^ "Full text: 'Al-Qaeda' Madrid claim". BBC News. 14 March 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Chechen rebel claims Metro blasts". BBC News. 31 March 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  3. ^ Steve Rosenberg (8 February 2011). "Chechen warlord Doku Umarov admits Moscow airport bomb". BBC News.
  4. ^ a b "Al Qaeda in Yemen Claims Charlie Hebdo Attack". Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Russia 'kills al-Qaeda operative'". BBC News. 31 August 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Al-Qaeda seeks foothold in North Caucasus". Janes.com. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  7. ^ Hanson, Matilda E. (11 December 2010). "Man sprängde sig själv i Stockholm". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  8. ^ Paige, Jonathan (12 December 2010). "Stockholm suicide bomber: Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly profile". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  9. ^ Burns, John F.; Somaiya, Ravi (13 December 2010). "Police Say Early Detonation of Bomb Averted Disaster in Sweden (Published 2010)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  10. ^ a b "The Times Al-Qaeda's Heathrow jet plot revealed". The Times. UK. Archived from the original on 10 May 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  11. ^ "Security chief: Airline terror plot 'close to execution'". CNN. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010.
  12. ^ Natta, Don Van Jr.; Sciolino, Elaine; Grey, Stephen (28 August 2006). "Details Emerge in British Terror Case (Published 2006)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  13. ^ "CNN.com - Agent infiltrated terror cell, U.S. says - Aug 11, 2006". CNN. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Three Britons found guilty of transatlantic jet bombing plot". The News International. Archived from the original on 24 September 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  15. ^ "UK | Three guilty of airline bomb plot". BBC News. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  16. ^ "Al Qaeda podría intentar otro atentado con aviones comerciales en Occidente". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 9 September 2009. Archived from the original on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  17. ^ "UK court convicts 3 of plot to blow up airliners International". The Jerusalem Post. Associated Press. 7 September 2009. Archived from the original on 12 May 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  18. ^ Sandford, Daniel (7 September 2009). "UK | Airline plot: Al-Qaeda connection". BBC News. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  19. ^ Do G1, com agências internacionais. "Três britânicos são condenados por ter planejado explodir aviões em 2006" (in Portuguese). G1.globo.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "Plano para atacar aviões teria elo com Al-Qaeda paquistanesa" (in Portuguese). Noticias.terra.com.br. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  21. ^ "Beramers vliegtuigaanslagen veroordeeld" (in Dutch). Knack.be. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  22. ^ Shrader, Charles R. (2003). The Muslim-Croat Civil War in Central Bosnia: A Military History, 1992-1994. Texas A&M University Press. p. 52. ISBN 9781585442614.
  23. ^ PBS Newshour with Jim Lehrer Archived 2 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, A New Constitution for Bosnia, 22 November 2005
  24. ^ Atwan, Abdel Bari (2012). The Secret History of al Qaeda. Saqi. p. 155. ISBN 9780863568435.
  25. ^ "It's no wonder today's jihadis have set out on the path to war in". The Independent. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  26. ^ "Italy arrests 'al-Qaeda plotters'". BBC News. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  27. ^ ""11 settembre, camorra informata in anticipo dell'attentato" Leggi il racconto choc del pentito". Il Mattino (in Italian). Naples, Italy: Caltagirone Editore. Archived from the original on 13 June 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  28. ^ Greg Botelho, Don Melvin and Hada Messia (24 April 2015). "Italy: Suspects discussed Vatican attack". CNN. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  29. ^ Yossef Bodansky (4 May 2011). Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America. Crown Publishing Group. pp. 398–403. ISBN 978-0-307-79772-8.
  30. ^ "Bin Laden, Albania Link Reported". AP NEWS.
  31. ^ "Behind the Headlines". antiwar.com. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  32. ^ "Madrid train bombings of 2004 | Description & Facts". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  33. ^ "The New Al-Qaeda: Madrid bombings". 21 July 2005. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  34. ^ Judgment of the attacks Archived 1 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine. El país, 2008.
  35. ^ Al Qaeda claimed the attacks in Madrid. 20 minutos, 2007.
  36. ^ "Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group". Stanford University. 6 August 2012.
  37. ^ [1]. BBC News, 2012.
  38. ^ Cull, Nicholas J. (2003). "Osama bin Laden". In Cull, Nicholas John; Culbert, David Holbrook; Welch, David (eds.). Propaganda and Mass Persuasion: A Historical Encyclopedia, 1500 to the Present. ABC-CLIO. p. 222. ISBN 9781576078204.
  39. ^ "European Police Raids Target World Cup Terrorist Threat". Los Angeles Times. 27 May 1998. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  40. ^ "1998 Global Terrorism: Europe Overview". fas.org. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  41. ^ "Spanish police arrest Bin Laden suspect". The Guardian. 23 June 2001. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  42. ^ FFI Rapport
  43. ^ Tremlett, Giles (23 June 2001). "Spanish police arrest Bin Laden suspect". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  44. ^ "Five Linked to Al Qaeda Face Trial in Germany". The Washington Post. 15 April 2002.
  45. ^ "Chronology: The Plots". PBS Frontline. 25 January 2005.
  46. ^ a b "Scientist on French terror charge". BBC News. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  47. ^ "JPost – French physicist admits to emailing al-Qaida". The Jerusalem Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 4 January 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  48. ^ "Charlie Hebdo shooting | Facts, Victims, & Response". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  49. ^ "Germany on edge after fourth consecutive al-Qaeda bomb attack warning". The Times. UK. Retrieved 4 January 2012.[dead link‍]
  50. ^ Gardner, Frank (22 September 2009). "Europe | Al-Qaeda video threat to Germany". BBC News. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  51. ^ Issn 1999-8414), Andreas Klamm, Journalist (3mnewswire org / Mjb Mission News (26 September 2009). "German Elections: Osama Bin Laden and the Al Qaeda Network Threatens Germany". John Baptist Mission international (Togo, Africa). Retrieved 3 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  52. ^ "Bin Laden demands Europe withdraw Afghanistan troops". Reuters. 25 September 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  53. ^ "Bin Laden demands Europe withdraw Afghanistan troops". Reuters. 25 September 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  54. ^ "South Asia | 'Bin Laden' urges Afghan pull-out". BBC News. 25 September 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  55. ^ Al Qaeda in Europe: The New Battleground of International Jihad. ASIN 1591024331.
  56. ^ Hafez, Mohammed (3 December 2004). Al-Qaida's Jihad in Europe: The Afghan-Bosnian Network. ISBN 1859738079.
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