Al-Qaeda involvement in Europe

Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for bombings in London^[1][2] and Madrid.^[3] In the early 1990s, some members of al-Qaeda had participated with the Bosnian mujahideen, including 9/11 hijackers Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi.^[4] And in August 2009 militants linked with Al-Qaeda claimed that they were planning a "spectacular attack" in Britain.^[5]

United Kingdom

In 2003 Tony Blair sent armoured vehicles and hundreds of troops to London Heathrow Airport because the UK security services claimed there was a planned Al-Qaeda attack.^[6] MI5 said they received detailed intelligence in February 2003 about a plot to hijack planes flying from Eastern Europe and to fly them into Heathrow, to punish the United Kingdom for supporting the Iraq War.^[6]

On 7 July 2005, four members of Al-Qaeda, three of British Pakistani descent and one of British Jamaican descent attacked London's public transport. Three bombs were detonated on the London Underground and one on a double decker bus. The attacks took place between 8:50 am and 9:47 am. 56 people died during the attacks (including 4 terrorists) and around 700 were injured. The attack occurred the day after the city was selected to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.

In September 2009 Tanvir Hussain, Assad Sarwar and Ahmed Abdullah Ali were convicted of conspiring to activate bombs disguised as drinks on 7 aircraft leaving from London and going to North America.^[7][8][9] British and US security officials said the plan – unlike many recent homegrown European terrorist plots – was directly linked to al-Qaeda and guided by senior Islamist militants in Pakistan.^{[10][11][12][13][14]}

Sweden

On the 11th of December 2010, a man linked to Al-Qaeda exploded a car bomb and a suicide bomb in Stockholm, killing only himself and injuring two others. He was later revealed to be Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly, an Iraqi man. Before the attacks, he sent an email threat to TT referring to Sweden's involvement in the War in Afghanistan and Swedish artist Lars Vilks' drawings of Muhammad as a roundabout dog.

North Caucasus

In August 2009 it was reported that during a raid the Russian police had killed an Algerian-born militant in Dagestan who according to the Federal Security Service, was "the Al-Qaeda co-ordinator in Dagestan". The militant was an Algerian national known as "Doctor Mohammed" and was thought to be a member of the 'Jamaat Shariat of Dagestan'^[15][16]

Italy

In May 2009 two French nationals were detained by Italian police due to suspected immigration offences however they are now suspected of being key Al-Qaeda figures. It is thought that they had planned to attack Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France. Italian police stated that they are "two leading men for the communication of al-Qaeda in Europe".^[17]

In 2012, a pentito of camorra stated that, the criminal organisation was in contact with members of Al-Qaeda and aware of incoming terroristic attacks. The organisation was informed that "something involving airplanes would have happened" and that Al-Qaeda was planning a train bombing in Spain.^[18]

Spain

The 11 March 2004 Islamist terrorist attack in Madrid (Spain), killed 191 people and wounded more than 2,000. The terror cell had links to Al Qaeda. It was the worst Islamist attack in European history.^[19][20]

On 2 August 2012 were arrested three members of al Qaeda in Ciudad Real and Cadiz, suspected of wanting attacks in Spain or other European countries. Intended attempt at a mall in Cadiz with teleridigidas aircraft loaded with explosives. At the time of the arrest of one of the jihadists opposed a "huge resistance, using their military training" and had to be reduced by the police.^[21]

Also there have been arrests since 2004 - 2013.

Balkans

Bosnian War

Kosovo War

Islamist volunteers in the Kosovo Liberation Army from Western Europe of ethnic Albanian, Turkish, and North African origin, were organized by Islamist leaders in Western Europe allied to Bin Laden and Zawahiri.^[23]

Germany

In September 2009 security measures were heightened in response to a direct threat against Germany, through an Al-Qaeda video, the threat came about due to German participation in the Afghanistan war^[24][25] Osama Bin Laden stated:

"It is shameful to be part of an alliance whose leader does not care about spilling the blood of human beings by bombing villages intentionally."

"If you had seen [the mass killings] of your American allies and their helpers in northern Afghanistan ... then you would understand the bloody events in Madrid and London ,"^[26]

France

In October 2009 a physicist of Algerian descent working for CERN was arrested due to his links with Al-Qaeda.^[27] Officials said he had been in contact with people linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and planned attacks.^[27] He later admitted to corresponding with Al-Qaeda members located in North Africa over the Internet.^[28] In January 2015, Al Qaeda in Yemen attacked Charlie Hebdo^[29] as well as a hostage taking.

See also

• Al-Qaeda involvement in Africa
• Al-Qaeda involvement in the Middle East

External links

• Foiled Plot Offers Clues to Recent Absence of Major Terror Attacks on West, Wednesday, 9 Sept. 2009
• Al-Qaida's jihad in Europe: the Afghan-Bosnian network By Evan Kohlmann

Further reading

• Al Qaeda in Europe: The New Battleground of International Jihad, by Steven Emerson (Foreword), Lorenzo Vidino (Author). ISBN 978-1-59102-433-0.^[30]
• Al-Qaida's Jihad in Europe: The Afghan-Bosnian Network, by Evan F. Kohlmann. ISBN 978-1-85973-807-8.^[31]

References