The AP article provides evidence of the growing threat of Islamist terrorism, particularly of ?homegrown? jihadists, to Europe. This phenomenon has been analyzed in these pages in recent months (See WAR Report and WAR Report). These TRC analyses have particularly noted the power of the al-Qaeda jihadist ideology to inspire and orient homegrown cells, coupled by the seething societal dynamics and sense of grievance and alienation among many of Europe?s Muslim immigrant communities that makes them susceptible to Islamist militancy.

The article provides fascinating detail of uncovered and disrupted cells operating in France and their particular leadership and operations. One cell focused on recruiting fighters for Iraq . Another cell was lead by a veteran of jihadist fighting against the US in Afghanistan . A third logistical cell, lead by a veteran of Algeria?s Islamic insurgency in the 1990s, focused on forging papers to assist in smuggling recruits to Iraq.