In the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks (Terrorist Incident), the world, in general, and the United States, in particular, focused on the perpetrators of those attacks, al-Qaeda (Group Profile) and its leader Osama Bin Laden. The Global War Against Terrorism was declared and a huge international effort was devoted to hunting down al-Qaeda operatives and closing its safe havens, most notably in Afghanistan. Whilst Bin Laden and several other senior leaders remain at large, this largely attritional campaign has been hugely successful with hundred of al-Qaeda commanders and operatives either arrested or killed. Those who remain at large are in hiding, on the run, or forced to operate with the constant fear of capture or worse, thereby severely degrading their operational effectiveness and utility. That said, and despite these obvious successes, the arrest of eight suspected Islamic terrorists in Spain should sound alarm bells everywhere.

These latest arrests are yet another example of an extremely worrying trend. In Islamic immigrant communities across Europe, and perhaps even in the United States, increasing numbers of Muslims are being inspired to form their own terrorist cells. At least for now, they are chosen targets are located within the countries in which they live, but they may soon expand their scope beyond those borders, to include the United States. At least two terrorist cells have been arrested this year in the UK, and a significant number of planned or actual operations have been detected and thwarted by the British government. Similarly, officials from Sweden to Portugal have privately reported that terrorist cells–at least extremist sympathizers–are likely at large in their countries as well.