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Counterterrorism and preventive activity

Feb 10, 2015

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Wave of arrests of jihadi operatives throughout Europe

Following the attacks in Paris, European security forces raised the state of alert and tightened security at sensitive targets, including Jewish institutions. Special police forces in France, Belgium, Germany and Britain carried out raids that led to the arrest of several dozen people suspected of planning attacks or in connection with jihadi terrorist cells throughout Europe.

The details are as follows:

Belgium: On January 15, 2015, a terrorist cell was exposed in Belgium. The cell consisted of jihadi operatives who planned to carry out an attack, apparently against police forces (police forces in the West, which are associated with the authorities, are a “preferred target” for many jihadists). The cell operatives were equipped with police uniforms, four Kalashnikov rifles and explosives. Two of the cell operatives were killed when they opened fire on security forces. They recently returned to Belgium after fighting in the ranks of ISIS in Syria. The exposure of the cell led to an additional wave of arrests, which lasted for a few days (Daily Mail, January 16, 2015).

Greece: four people were arrested on suspicion of involvement in a terrorist attack in Belgium, including a person suspected of being the leader of the terrorist cell in Belgium.
Germany: two people were arrested on suspicion of recruiting foreign fighters and raising money for terrorist organizations in the Middle East. It was also reported that German police arrested Nils D., a German citizen suspected of joining ISIS during a stay in Syria from October 2013 to November 2014 (Reuters, January 11, 2015).
France: additional suspects were arrested in Paris and its environs on suspicion of involvement in terrorism. Up to now, at least 12 suspects have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.
Ireland: an Algerian-born Frenchman using a fake passport was arrested at the Dublin airport.
The Netherlands and Spain – the state of alert has been raised and police forces have stepped up their surveillance of suspects, including those who recently returned from fighting in Iraq and Syria.

Written by: The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center