ECCIS Head: Qaeda still posing threats to Europe’s security (1-2)

Nahla Abdelmonem

European security faces multiple threats, especially with the return home of European nationals from Syria and Iraq where they had fought within the ranks of the Islamic State (IS) group.

This return coincides with debates in European countries on means of bringing the returnees to court or reintegrating them in society.

Britain’s exit from the European Union is also raising questions about the security situation in the region and the possible effects of this exit as Britain vacates its seat in EU counterterrorism platforms.

The Reference interviews here the Head of the European Center for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies (ECCIS) in Germany, Jassim Mohamed, in an attempt to have a clear view of what is happening in the continent.

Sir, why is IS launching renewed attacks in Europe, especially in Austria and France?

• The return of IS to these two countries hinges primarily on their internal and foreign policy. France, for example, has interests in the Middle East, Africa and other regions. These interests cause the nationals of countries in these regions to launch attacks inside France. However, these attacks are limited in scope. Austria did not witness terrorist attacks. What happened in the country at the end of 2020 was a security and intelligence failure.

Do you think 2021 will witness security problems in Europe like those that happened because of the Covid-19 pandemic?

• I do not think the pandemic will affect security conditions in the continent negatively. Security agencies have succeeded in making Europe a clean continent, despite the terrorist attacks that happened in some countries. I believe Europe will protect its security even more in 2021.

Are European states capable of reintegrating IS returnees in society? What are the challenges they will face in this regard?

• Europe has a political stance on the return of IS fighters. It continues to reject this return. I think the reintegration of these fighters in European societies will be difficult. Programs for changing the ideas of the returning fighters have not made enough success. European countries can impose strict supervision on IS returnees. This can sabotage any possible attacks. The main challenge facing Europe is to get achieve tangible results from investigations on the IS returnees. Europe does not have consular representation in Syria. This will undermine the continent’s fight against terrorism.

How do you view news about the death of the al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri? How do you view the future of this terrorist organization?

• I cannot rule out the possibility of al-Zawahiri’s death. Several factors out there point to this possibility, including his old age and his disappearance for a long time now. Nevertheless, extremist groups are used to losing their commanders. They can be temporarily affected by this loss. However, most of these groups succeeded in the past in overcoming the effects of this loss.

Do you think the killing of Abi Mohamed al-Masri will divulge relations between Iran and al-Qaeda?

• Iran has been a backer of al-Qaeda and recently of IS. Bin Laden’s papers throw light on this. They showed the presence of pragmatic relations between Iran and al-Qaeda. The presence of senior al-Qaeda leaders in Iran shows this clearly.