The article examines the extent to which Islamic State (IS) has affected jihadi terrorism in Euro... more The article examines the extent to which Islamic State (IS) has affected jihadi terrorism in Europe. We look at the scope of attack activity, perpetrators and their networks, modus operandi and funding. For all the talk of a new threat we argue that, apart from scope, less is new than most assume. IS wants largely the same as al-Qaida did by attacking Europe. Their tactics are similar and their networks overlap in time and space. The core dynamics of the threat endure. It is premature to talk of a new paradigm in recruitment, but more terrorists are instructed online than before. Patterns in funding remain relatively stable, but there is an increase in plots financed from abroad. Despite military setbacks, IS remains a formidable terrorist actor, with territorial control, economic muscle and thousands of Europeans in its ranks. These things, combined with the group's skillful social media usage, are exhausting European security services' capacities. So is the refugee situation, which is exploited by IS to transfer personnel. If IS's territorial control persists, we foresee attempts at large-scale operations, including attempts at using improvised chemical or radiological devices. If IS continues to lose ground, small-scale attacks by single actors will become even more frequent.
Fifteen years after the start of Operation Enduring Freedom , al-Qàida appears to be rebuilding i... more Fifteen years after the start of Operation Enduring Freedom , al-Qàida appears to be rebuilding its presence in Afghanistan. Al-Qàida's comeback in Afghanistan can be understood in light of three main factors : its enduring relationship with the Taliban , its drive to embed its struggle with local and regional insurgents and broaden its support , and its ability to adapt its strategies and methods to respond to current events. While al-Qà ida is focused on establishing a presence in the Middle East , al-Qà ida ' s Pakistani-led branch on the Indian Subconti-nent appears more of a regional than global threat. However , this could easily change , and therefore containing the al-Qà ida threat in Afghanistan is still a matter of urgent concern for the Western counterterrorism community .
Since 9/11, al-Qaida has become one of the most infamous and widely discussed terrorist organizat... more Since 9/11, al-Qaida has become one of the most infamous and widely discussed terrorist organizations in the world, with affiliates spread across the globe. However, little-known are the group's activities within Afghanistan itself, something which Anne Stenersen examines in this book. Using an array of unique primary sources, she presents an alternative narrative of al-Qaida's goals and strategies prior to 9/11. She argues that al-Qaida's actions were not just an ideological expression of religious fanaticism and violent anti-Americanism, but that they were actually far more practical and organised, with a more revolutionary and Middle Eastern-focused agenda than previously thought. Through Stenersen's analysis, we see how al-Qaida employed a dual strategy: with a small section focused on staging international terrorist attacks, but at the same time a larger part dedicated to building a resilient and cohesive organization that would ultimately serve as a vanguard for future Islamist revolutions.
Ever since the late 1990s, it has been claimed that the threat of chemical, biological, radiologi... more Ever since the late 1990s, it has been claimed that the threat of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism from al-Qaida is real and growing. Yet, few academic studies have analyzed al-Qaida's actual interest in developing a CBRN capability. This book investigates al-Qaida's interest in CBRN weapons, as reflected by statements and activities on various levels within the network between 1996-2007. The study considers a variety of primary sources, ranging from the writings of well-known strategists to chemical formulations posted on al-Qaida-affiliated web pages. The study concludes that al-Qaida's interest in using non-conventional weapons in achieving their strategic goals is lower than commonly assumed. The book then goes on to describe why there is an apparent lack of CBRN-related innovation within the network. This book is aimed at anyone with an interest in CBRN terrorism or militant islamism, and might be of particular interest to individuals within the counter-terrorism community.
The article examines the extent to which Islamic State (IS) has affected jihadi terrorism in Euro... more The article examines the extent to which Islamic State (IS) has affected jihadi terrorism in Europe. We look at the scope of attack activity, perpetrators and their networks, modus operandi and funding. For all the talk of a new threat we argue that, apart from scope, less is new than most assume. IS wants largely the same as al-Qaida did by attacking Europe. Their tactics are similar and their networks overlap in time and space. The core dynamics of the threat endure. It is premature to talk of a new paradigm in recruitment, but more terrorists are instructed online than before. Patterns in funding remain relatively stable, but there is an increase in plots financed from abroad. Despite military setbacks, IS remains a formidable terrorist actor, with territorial control, economic muscle and thousands of Europeans in its ranks. These things, combined with the group's skillful social media usage, are exhausting European security services' capacities. So is the refugee situation, which is exploited by IS to transfer personnel. If IS's territorial control persists, we foresee attempts at large-scale operations, including attempts at using improvised chemical or radiological devices. If IS continues to lose ground, small-scale attacks by single actors will become even more frequent.
Fifteen years after the start of Operation Enduring Freedom , al-Qàida appears to be rebuilding i... more Fifteen years after the start of Operation Enduring Freedom , al-Qàida appears to be rebuilding its presence in Afghanistan. Al-Qàida's comeback in Afghanistan can be understood in light of three main factors : its enduring relationship with the Taliban , its drive to embed its struggle with local and regional insurgents and broaden its support , and its ability to adapt its strategies and methods to respond to current events. While al-Qà ida is focused on establishing a presence in the Middle East , al-Qà ida ' s Pakistani-led branch on the Indian Subconti-nent appears more of a regional than global threat. However , this could easily change , and therefore containing the al-Qà ida threat in Afghanistan is still a matter of urgent concern for the Western counterterrorism community .
Since 9/11, al-Qaida has become one of the most infamous and widely discussed terrorist organizat... more Since 9/11, al-Qaida has become one of the most infamous and widely discussed terrorist organizations in the world, with affiliates spread across the globe. However, little-known are the group's activities within Afghanistan itself, something which Anne Stenersen examines in this book. Using an array of unique primary sources, she presents an alternative narrative of al-Qaida's goals and strategies prior to 9/11. She argues that al-Qaida's actions were not just an ideological expression of religious fanaticism and violent anti-Americanism, but that they were actually far more practical and organised, with a more revolutionary and Middle Eastern-focused agenda than previously thought. Through Stenersen's analysis, we see how al-Qaida employed a dual strategy: with a small section focused on staging international terrorist attacks, but at the same time a larger part dedicated to building a resilient and cohesive organization that would ultimately serve as a vanguard for future Islamist revolutions.
Ever since the late 1990s, it has been claimed that the threat of chemical, biological, radiologi... more Ever since the late 1990s, it has been claimed that the threat of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism from al-Qaida is real and growing. Yet, few academic studies have analyzed al-Qaida's actual interest in developing a CBRN capability. This book investigates al-Qaida's interest in CBRN weapons, as reflected by statements and activities on various levels within the network between 1996-2007. The study considers a variety of primary sources, ranging from the writings of well-known strategists to chemical formulations posted on al-Qaida-affiliated web pages. The study concludes that al-Qaida's interest in using non-conventional weapons in achieving their strategic goals is lower than commonly assumed. The book then goes on to describe why there is an apparent lack of CBRN-related innovation within the network. This book is aimed at anyone with an interest in CBRN terrorism or militant islamism, and might be of particular interest to individuals within the counter-terrorism community.
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