Despite Daesh defeat, Christmas terrorism continues in Europe

Rober Fares

As the Western world is getting close to celebrating Christmas, security gets boosted as remnants of Daesh still pose a threat despite its defeat in Iraq and Syria, especially that the ‘lone wolves’ policy is still in effect, as some of these operations were recently foiled in a number of countries.

Austria

Austrian authorities have foiled a plot to carry out a series of terror attacks, including bombing one of Vienna’s Christmas markets.

The plot involved three men, including a 24-year-old ringleader who had been influenced by the ideology of Daesh, according to the APA news agency.

The main suspect is thought to have hatched a plot to target the Christmas market in front of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna city center between Christmas and New Year.

Other possible targets are said to have included Salzburg and locations in Germany, France and Luxembourg.

An anonymous tip-off led to the ringleader, who was already in jail following two attempts to reach Syria and join Daesh.

Part of the plot was a plan to help the ringleader escape.

The two other suspects, aged 25 and 31, were taken into custody at the end of last week. All three men are ethnic Chechens.

While Austria has been spared the major terror attacks that have hit other European countries including France, Britain and Germany in recent years, a relatively high number of Austrians have gone abroad to participate in Islamic extremism.

Germany

Three alleged supporters of the terror group Daesh have been arrested in the western German state of Hesse for reportedly planning a deadly attack in the Rhine-Main region.

Searches and seizures of materials belonging to the suspects took place at three apartments in Offenbach, according to the public prosecutor’s office in Frankfurt am Main.

The men between the ages of 21 and 24 are alleged to have made preparations for an attack involving explosives or firearms.

According to the public prosecutor’s office, a 24-year-old German of North Macedonian (formerly Macedonia) origin is the main suspect.

He had procured “basic components for the production of explosives” and searched the Internet for firearms, the authority announced.

Two men of Turkish citizenship aged 21 and 22 are also accused. All three men were to be brought before a judge on Tuesday, who would decide on detention awaiting a trial.

According to the investigators, the men wanted to carry out an attack in the Rhine-Main area. It was alleged that they had already made themselves known to other people as Daesh-followers.

They are accused of preparing for a serious crime that would endanger the state.

The raid involved some 170 officials, including special forces. In addition to data media and written documents, “explosives-relevant substances and equipment” were confiscated from the main suspect, according to the public prosecutor’s office.

Canada

A Canadian man who was arrested in Turkey near its border with Syria, with propaganda videos from Daesh on his cell phone, was charged with terrorism offenses.

Ikar Mao, 22, of Guelph, Ontario, a city 100 km west of Toronto, is accused of participating in the activities of a terrorist group, and faces a separate charge of leaving Canada to do so. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The man was arrested on July 11 along with his wife and the pair were eventually repatriated. Both deny wanting to join the Daesh.

According to public broadcaster CBC, a Turkish court heard evidence about the Daesh materials allegedly uncovered in Mao’s phone, and that the couple left a letter for their families saying they planned to join Daesh.

The newlyweds returned to Canada on October 19 after three months in Turkish custody.

According to the latest government data, four other Canadians have been successfully prosecuted for leaving or attempting to leave the country to join terrorist groups, out of 60 returnees.

Remaining threats

Since 2016, Daesh threats to carry out terrorist attacks in Christmas has been disturbing security authorities every year, as Daesh accounts have been posting online threats of targeting Europeans during Christmas and New Year celebrations that continue throughout the month.

It is the same threat that the European media and security services deal with seriously, because the same season used witness terrorist operations targeting shoppers and celebrities that are still leaving horrific effects, most notably the run-up operation that targeted a market in the German capital Berlin.

Daesh  fanatics have also issued chilling threat to attack Christmas markets in the Britain, France and Germany in pictures circulated among supporters.

The jihadists have circulated images on messaging apps including one in which a black-clad hooded figure is seen standing over a kneeling Santa Claus with an image of Regent Street in the background.

A message in English, French, and German says ‘Soon on your holidays’ with the clear implication that London can expect a terrorist attack over the holiday season.

It was posted by a user known only as Dr. Almani, and could refer to a now-banned Twitter account that used the name.