A major swoop by police in six European countries has led to the arrest of at least 15 Islamist militants who were planning to launch attacks in Norway and the Middle East. The snaring of the militants underscores the urgency with which police in European countries is approaching the threat of terrorism that has acquired international dimensions. It also speaks volumes about the efficiency of the policing agencies in Europe, stretched as they have been by the unenvious task of keeping tab on terror plots that threaten not only the vast continent but other regions as well. The Italian security forces said it was an incredibly complicated operation that had been going on for five years. The duration of the operation points to the diligence with which it needed to be executed given that the raids were conducted across borders in Italy, Britain, Norway, Finland, Germany and Switzerland.
Europe has been in the cross hairs of international terror groups who seek to take advantage of the geographical spread of the continent, targeting liberal values, in keeping with their fundamentalist designs aimed at creating fear and hatred. Militants married to misleading and false ideologies have been summoning all their resources and strength to recruit people internationally that has led to the spread of militancy extensively across regions and continents. It is known that the Islamic State group has recruited members in countries as varied and disparate as Malaysia, Australia, India and the United States.
The European raids targeted the Rawti Shax group that was planning to attack Norwegian and British diplomats in the Middle East. Sitting on a powder keg for long, the Middle East has been embroiled in a number of insurgencies that have killed thousands and displaced millions. The refugee crisis being faced by Europe has been the result of insurgencies and civil wars pushing out people from their homelands in the Middle East.
Rawti Shax was trying to free Norway-based fundamentalist preacher Najmuddin Ahmad Faraj, who is also known as Mullah Krekar. The Kurdish Iraqi militant known to incite racial hatred is in a Norwegian jail. Police believe the militant group planned to resort to hostage taking in a bid to get Krekar released. It has come to light that the network is affiliated to the Islamic State group. Krekar cannot be deported to his native Iraq from Norway as he could face execution there. The network communicated with the help of the deep web — an illegal and highly secretive part of the Internet that cannot be penetrated by spying agencies.
The international operation by European security forces and intelligence agencies is commendable as it has preempted the egregious designs of militants bent on causing bloodshed and destruction. The busting of the network is a blow to militancy and a morale booster for security forces worldwide.
A major swoop by police in six European countries has led to the arrest of at least 15 Islamist militants who were planning to launch attacks in Norway and the Middle East. The snaring of the militants underscores the urgency with which police in European countries is approaching the threat of terrorism that has acquired international dimensions. It also speaks volumes about the efficiency of the policing agencies in Europe, stretched as they have been by the unenvious task of keeping tab on terror plots that threaten not only the vast continent but other regions as well. The Italian security forces said it was an incredibly complicated operation that had been going on for five years. The duration of the operation points to the diligence with which it needed to be executed given that the raids were conducted across borders in Italy, Britain, Norway, Finland, Germany and Switzerland.
Europe has been in the cross hairs of international terror groups who seek to take advantage of the geographical spread of the continent, targeting liberal values, in keeping with their fundamentalist designs aimed at creating fear and hatred. Militants married to misleading and false ideologies have been summoning all their resources and strength to recruit people internationally that has led to the spread of militancy extensively across regions and continents. It is known that the Islamic State group has recruited members in countries as varied and disparate as Malaysia, Australia, India and the United States.
The European raids targeted the Rawti Shax group that was planning to attack Norwegian and British diplomats in the Middle East. Sitting on a powder keg for long, the Middle East has been embroiled in a number of insurgencies that have killed thousands and displaced millions. The refugee crisis being faced by Europe has been the result of insurgencies and civil wars pushing out people from their homelands in the Middle East.
Rawti Shax was trying to free Norway-based fundamentalist preacher Najmuddin Ahmad Faraj, who is also known as Mullah Krekar. The Kurdish Iraqi militant known to incite racial hatred is in a Norwegian jail. Police believe the militant group planned to resort to hostage taking in a bid to get Krekar released. It has come to light that the network is affiliated to the Islamic State group. Krekar cannot be deported to his native Iraq from Norway as he could face execution there. The network communicated with the help of the deep web — an illegal and highly secretive part of the Internet that cannot be penetrated by spying agencies.
The international operation by European security forces and intelligence agencies is commendable as it has preempted the egregious designs of militants bent on causing bloodshed and destruction. The busting of the network is a blow to militancy and a morale booster for security forces worldwide.
