A group calling itself the Al-Qaeda of Jihad in Europe has claimed responsibility for the 7 July attacks on the London transport system that left at least 37 dead and hundreds wounded, according to a statement posted on the Internet. 7 July 2005 -- The group called its attacks on the London Underground and buses "a blessed raid," adding: "We … [Lire plus...]
Middle East: Jewish extremists threaten Muslim holy site
Israeli police say they've questioned several Jewish extremists who talked of firing a missile at a key Islamic holy site in Jerusalem. At the same time, hundreds of demonstrators have been arrested for blocking roads throughout Israel to protest the government's plan to pull out of Gaza. Jerusalem, 17 May 2005 - Israeli police say a handful of … [Lire plus...]
Russia: the losing battle against terrorism and insurgency
Terrorism in Russia took on horrifying proportions in August and early September when more than 400 people were killed in four separate incidents in a span of less than two weeks. The first in the series of terrorist attacks came on 24 August, when two airliners were downed simultaneously hundreds of kilometers apart after flying out of the … [Lire plus...]
Middle East: Islamic militants take jihad to the Internet
The Internet is becoming an increasingly vital medium for Islamic militants. Whether through websites featuring videos of Americans being executed or texts inspiring attacks, the Internet has become a key tool for propaganda and for the exchange of ideas among militants. Prague, 16 June 2004 (RFE/RL) -- In one of the latest videos posted on the … [Lire plus...]
Terrorism in South Asia: a report of the Congressional Research Service
This report reviews the terrorist environment in South Asia, concentrating on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, but also including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. With U.S.-led counterterrorism efforts focused especially on Southwest Asia, the existence of international terrorist groups and their supporters in South Asia is identified as a threat … [Lire plus...]
U.S.A.: blackout shows America’s infrastructure vulnerable to terrorists
The massive blackout that crippled the northeastern United States last week may have been caused by human or mechanical error, but security analysts say the next one could be an act of terror -- and that the U.S. government must act now to protect its electrical infrastructure. Washington, 18 August 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Everyone agrees that the … [Lire plus...]
United Nations: report warns of potent, new ‘generation’ of Al-Qaeda terrorists
A new report from a UN expert group says a "third generation" of Al-Qaeda members has emerged and that the network continues to operate around the world with a high degree of mobility and financial support. The report notes some success in capturing top Al-Qaeda officials and breaking up their cells, but it says the group must still be considered a … [Lire plus...]
USA: State Department names 36 groups as foreign terrorist organizations
Following is the list of 36 Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations, determined by the Secretary of State, plus a list of 38 Other Terrorist Organizations from the Patterns of Global Terrorism: 2002 report released April 30, 2003. U.S. Department of State Washington, D.C. April 30, 2003 Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations Abu … [Lire plus...]
Iraq: Abbas arrest raises legal, diplomatic questions
U.S. forces in Iraq have captured a leading terrorist. The man, Abu Abbas, already has been convicted in Italy of a notorious hijacking, but the United States may be interested in prosecuting him for the death of an American during that act of terror. The case, however, has many legal and diplomatic angles, and it may be a while before it is … [Lire plus...]
World: compared with U.S., Europe appears to be ahead in war on terrorism
The sentencing this week of four terrorists in Germany underscores the relative success that police and courts in Europe are having in prosecuting the war on terrorism. By comparison, the record in the U.S. is less impressive: one high-profile conviction -- shoe bomber Richard Reid -- and a scattering of arrests involving mostly lower-level … [Lire plus...]
United Kingdom and United States: a look at the alerts in London and Washington
London is in the midst of a high-security alert that has put an extra 1,700 police and hundreds of soldiers onto the streets of the city. British officials say the alert is in response to a terrorist threat against the country. At the same time, U.S. officials have strengthened security in Washington, including deploying antiaircraft missiles to … [Lire plus...]
