Europe Should Confront Lone Wolf Terrorism

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By Arie Egozi

The recent terrorist attacks in Europe,  are characterized by what is known as “lone wolf terrorism”. Europe finds it difficult to handle the phenomenon. Israel also has difficulties, but responses here are more rapid, an advantage sometimes resulting in a decrease in the damage.

Less than a week after the Nice attack, a European country is hit once again by lone wolf terrorism. A 17 year old Afghan refugee, armed with an ax and a knife, attacked passengers in a train car in south Germany, shouting “Allahu Akbar”. He was shot to death after trying to escape. There were three people severely wounded, a fourth one slightly wounded, and 14 others were being treated for shock.

Bavaria’s Interior Minister said the attack was apparently “over an Islamist background”.

According to the BBC, the police launched a special helicopter-supported operation in Heidingsfeld, Wuerzburg, southern Germany. The suspect, apparently trying to escape, was shot to death.

Two months ago a man was murdered and three other people wounded as result of a stabbing attack at a train station in Munich’s region. A witness said “the assailant was shouting Allahu Akbar during the attack”. The mayor said then that the city’s residents were shocked at the terrible crime committed at the train station. “This is a shaking experience, beforehand people knew those things only from the TV”.

Last week, 84 people were murdered, including 10 children, as result of the Nice truck attack on the Bastille Day. More than 100 people were wounded, about half of which were children and youths. The terrorist Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a Tunisian-origin 31 year old resident of the city, drove fast into the celebrating crowds. He had been known by the French police due to past crimes, but was not recognized by the intelligence services and was not suspected at any terrorist attempt.

So, “lone wolf terrorism” has arrived in Europe, and on a large scale. The incitement in the mosques, that have popped up in Europe like mushrooms after the rain, has been reaching new heights.

The European states are helpless. Flooding the streets with troops armed with assault rifles will not prevent the next terrorist attack.

Results would only be achieved by excellent intelligence and a deep penetration into the Muslim communities in the European states.

Europe is overflowed with Muslim refugees. Most of them are people who were forced to escape from their countries. But among them there are also terrorists who had arrived in attempt to perform terrorist attacks.

The European intelligence relating to terrorism prevention is still at the inception stage. Unless full cooperation is achieved between the states, and the understanding prevails that sometimes it is imperative to deviate a bit from what is known as “individual rights”, Islamic terrorism would hit Europe again and again.