Highlights
– German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble states country faces greatest threat of Islamist terrorism
– Preventative measures successful in avoiding attack on homeland
– First German suicide bomber attacks NATO and Afghan force compound
– Germany remains key operations locale and potential target for terrorist attacks
On May 15, 2008, German Interior Minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, declared Islamist terrorism is the greatest threat facing he country. To date, Germany has been fortunate to avoid terrorist attacks occurring on its homeland while neighboring European nations to include Britain and Spain have seen large-scale attacks targeting major metropolitan areas and transportation systems as witnessed in the London transport attacks and Madrid train bombings .
Following recent DNA analysis, it was determined a German national perpetrated a March 2008 suicide attack waged against a joint North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-Afghan forces compound. Responding to the news, Joerge Zeirke, head of the Federal Crime Office declared so-called “homegrown” extremists are becoming an increasing concern in Germany.
As we have previously reported, Germany, among other neighboring European nations, has become a key target for Islamist extremist terror attacks (Previous Report). Germany’s ongoing support to US political and military efforts likely will contribute to its potential targeting among al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda-inspired terrorist groups, and will continue to be used as propaganda to entice terrorist operatives to take action.
Germany Tops al-Qaeda List
According to a recent report published by the German Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Islamist terrorists, and specifically al-Qaeda, are increasingly eyeing Germany as an “operational area.” The report comes amid German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble’s comments asserting Islamist terrorism is a growing concern for the country. To date, Germany has been fortunate to avoid terrorist attacks occurring on its homeland, a fact that is attributed to successful anti-terrorism protection measures.
However, the country’s status as a key al-Qaeda operations locale continues to rise as Islamists largely regard Germany as a crusader nation and ally of the United States (US) and Israel. To this end, Germany’s military presence in Afghanistan coupled with its involvement in Iraqi security force training has made the country and its citizens a target for Islamist terrorists, both at home and abroad.
According to German security officials, Germany has been referenced in 14 al-Qaeda statements since 2001. In May 2008, Joerge Zeircke, head of the Federal Crime Office stated, “We interpret this as a clear sign that al Qaeda wants to show itself confident and strong and that it thinks it’s able to prepare for attacks. This worries us, although there is no concrete evidence of attacks at the moment.”
Suicide Bomber Evidence “Homegrown” Terrorists Exist
On May 22, 2008 Zeircke publicly warned of an increasing risk of terrorism on the homeland carried out by “homegrown” Islamist extremists. Following a recent DNA analysis, German officials determined an individual who detonated himself in a terrorist attack against a joint NATO-Afghan force compound in March 2008 was a German national. The individual, a 28-year-old male, identified as Cuneyt Ciftci, was of Turkish descent and was raised in Germany’s Bavaria region. Referring to a suicide video posted on the Internet containing images of Ciftci, Zeircke stated the video was propaganda circulated within Germany to radicalize Muslims living within the country. Addressing Reuters news agency Zeircke stated, “We now have the first suicide attacker who grew up in Germany and committed such an act abroad. We must assume that something like that can also happen over here, although we have no concrete evidence.” Further, Zeircke stated, “We know that since 2001 between 25 and 30 (German nationals) were in the camps and about 15 of those are believed to be dangerous. Many oft them have come back to Germany and are being watched.”
Keeping an Eye on Germany
As we have previously reported, Germany, among other neighboring European nations, has become a key target for Islamist extremist terror attacks (Previous Report). Largely perceived as a US ideological supporter and due to its support of NATO operations in Afghanistan, Germany is high on the terror target list. Germany’s ongoing support to US political and military efforts likely will contribute to its potential targeting among al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda-inspired terrorist groups, and will continue to be used as propaganda to entice terrorist operatives to take action, both at home and abroad.
Additionally, German officials remain justified in their concerns the country is at risk of terrorist attacks due to the credible evidence indicating so-called “homegrown” Islamist extremists are resident in the country and travel abroad to receive terrorist training. To this end, we believe it is likely a “homegrown” extremist may seek to perpetrate an attack against the homeland in the mid-term.
