Terrorist Chemical Attacks in Europe – a Possibility?

Terrorist Chemical Attacks in Europe – a Possibility?

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The European Union’s counter-terrorism co-ordinator fears that foreign fighters could launch attacks in Europe with chemical weapons, using techniques learned in Syria and Iraq.

Gilles de Kerchove said that “I hope that no one will come back from Syria with the knowledge of how to weaponize chemical stuff and… car bombs. They have learned how to do it in Syria and Iraq.”

De Kerchove told The Associated Press at a Club de Madrid extremism conference in Brussels that as the Islamic State group’s hoped-for homeland collapses, hundreds of fighters are likely to return to Europe.

He said: “Some will go home, in their hundreds. Some will want to join another hotspot, mostly Libya, but there are other places where they can hide.”

After last summer’s wave of Islamic State terrorist attacks in Europe, especially in France and Germany, Gilles de Kerchove warned members of the EU Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee that because of “multiplicity of the possible origins” of attacks, terrorism threat across the EU remains “very high.” According to RT.com, De Kerchove elaborated on several reasons for keeping the alert level at its highest level in the last 20 years. These included the large number of well-trained suicide bombers and lone wolf actors “that are directed or inspired” by IS and are present in Europe. The number of potential perpetrators is expanded further by “persons with mental health problems or who try to emulate” the perpetrators of the terrorist organization, the counter-terrorism chief warned.

At the time he also stressed the “link between terrorism and crime,” noting that many EU attackers had a “criminal past.” Kererchove also confirmed that IS is “using the flow of migrants to infiltrate fighters, by using forged documents.”

“We will have to handle a high number and a diversity of profiles: the frontliners, people who have worked on the frontlines as fighters; people who have worked in the back office of the fight, but also wives of fighters and children,” he said.

Another reason why terrorist threat grows in Europe is ISIS’ mastery of online and social media propaganda channels which expands their recruitment drive. In his address to EU lawmakers, Kerchove said that the latest trend shows that fewer Europeans are going to Syria, but more Europeans get “inspired” to join the jihad on home soil.

Kerchove highlighted that jihadists are also adopting their attack tactics, seeking targets outside their typical scope of famous landmarks or state institutions. The terrorists are also adapting their strike capabilities using ready-made and easily available devices.

The Counter Terrorism Coordinator position was declared by the European Council following the terrorist attacks in Madrid on 11 March 2004. According to the EU website, the coordinator is in charge of coordinating the work of the Council in combating terrorism, presenting policy recommendations and proposing priority areas for action, improving communication between the EU and third countries in this area, and more.