The difficulties of sharing intelligence on potential jihadist fighters who may come to Europe

[rooster59]

The difficulties of sharing intelligence on potential jihadist fighters who may come to Europe



How many fighters from the so-called Islamic State are trained and trained to come to Europe? With each new attack that question becomes ever more pertinent. According to experts and intelligence officials from Europe and Iraq there are at least 400.

Among them was Brahim El Bakraoui one of the suicide bombers at Brussels airport. Suspected to be a jihadist he was arrested in Turkey in June 2015 and deported to Europe.

“We reported the deportation to the Belgian authorities on July 14 with a deportation notice,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

A notice which, according to Dr. Serhat Güvenç International relations analyst from Kadir Has University has often been issued by Turkey.

“The numbers we have is that nearly 5,000 people were under suspicion and screened. Between 1800 and 2000 of them were deported to their relative countries. But that has not affected the result. It has shown us that despite the communication mechanisms which more or less work bombings and terrorist acts continue. It also shows us that the information has not been evaluated very well,” he told euronews.

The man was in fact deported to the Netherlands, not to Belgium. While the Netherlands acknowledged he was sent there it claims Turkey did not respect procedures and did not explain the reasons for his deportation.

So who is right and where are the gaps? The one certainty is that Europeans are there among the ranks of the jihadists. We know by their propaganda video and in particular we know their motivation.

Are their fault lines in trust or a difference of opinion which would explain why some can evade the net despite the exchange of information?

“There is a great gap between the Turkish definition of terrorism and the European definition. Because of that we should accept that when Turkey deports people to Europe saying they are potential terrorists, we should accept that the European countries may make a different decision about them.

‘We understand they don’t have the same language on the issue and neither do they share common ground. When Turkey screens and sifts people and labels them potential terrorists, Europe does not recognise Turkey’s criteria. They may even not consider them as being suspicious. That can be a reflection on the different security cultures. That is important,” explained Dr. Serhat Güvenç.

The recent discovery of thousands of documents that belonged to jihadists fighters with names and details may help to identify the members of the so-called Islamic State who return to Europe to organise terrorist cells.

Even so the events of recent months have highlighted the difficulties Europe faces dealing with this threat on its own soil.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-03-26

[Credo]

It would seem that the lapses in security in Europe are even greater than what it first seemed. Anybody being deported from Turkey as a suspected terrorist should at least be on a serious watch list. It doesn't matter what definition that is being used, these are people with questionable motives.

People talk about putting all Muslims under surveillance. I disagree, but those who have been deported from a country that is the jumping off ground to ISIS territory should certainly be watched and watched closely.

[benalibina]

On the news its been reported that a belgian civil servant working in Turkey made a mistake by leaving an important document for more than 1 month on his desk regarding the extradition of 1 bomber.

Belgium equals Thailand.......a mess....a total mess. Can blame it on the misunderstandings in the 2 languages....French and Dutch.

[klauskunkel]

The difficulties of sharing intelligence on potential jihadist fighters who may come to Europe

versus

The easiness of importing jihadist fighters to Europe unchecked

[Stargeezr]

After the fall of the tower of Babel, I guess all of these languages on earth are still so confusing, and with the various interests and maybe some underlying corruption. It is a big reason why these terrorists will be with us for many ,many years to come. What a shame. I wonder how much longer before countries get wise enough to get better and information sharing. Likely not in my life time

Geezer

Edited March 26, 2016 by Scott

[wabothai]

Like I said, the only way to weed out all of the scum is for the good muslims to call on (report) their bad boys.

[wabothai]

On the news its been reported that a belgian civil servant working in Turkey made a mistake by leaving an important document for more than 1 month on his desk regarding the extradition of 1 bomber.

Belgium equals Thailand.......a mess....a total mess. Can blame it on the misunderstandings in the 2 languages....French and Dutch.

Yep, the babylon speech confusement certainly plays quite an important roll.

All of us here in Thailand know.

[nemrut]

Seems like Netherlands trying to cover up their own incompetence. It takes a lot to get deported from Turkey which has far more lax border controls than anywhere in EU.

This should have been a red flag to border personnel in Netherlands from the start.

[Khon Kaen Dave]

"We are the good Muslims,we never did it"

No! of course not,but i bet you know who did.

[tomacht8]

Maybe 400 or more trained jihadists already in europe plus x. What is with the sympathizers and the supporting network? If they are already on record, why these are not immediately controlled and sent back to their countries of origin.

Why does the eu let these potential terrorists unaffected?

[than]

It's sure sharing of information about terrorist in Europa is difficult when you see a country like France blocking creation of an European intelligence agency, in the name of its sovereignty France does not like agencies it does not control

http://fr.express.live/2016/03/24/la-france-empeche-la-creation-dune-agence-europeenne-du-renseignement/

[SgtRock]

How many fighters from the so-called Islamic State are trained and trained to come to Europe? With each new attack that question becomes ever more pertinent. According to experts and intelligence officials from Europe and Iraq there are at least 400.

At least 400 ?

The head of Interpol was quoting up to 5000 in February.

Citing remarks last month from Rob Wainwright, the British head of Europol, that there could be up to 5,000 jihadists in Europe, the party added that open borders were “putting the lives of European citizens at risk.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/12201677/Brussels-attacks-Europe-is-acting-as-a-welcome-sign-to-terrorists-warns-former-Tory-leader.html

[HappyinNE]

What I don't understand is why the western countries let their citizens who go to Syria to fight are allowed to return. If it is against the law to keep them out pass one that takes their citizenship away if they serve in any foreign war not against a country that the mother country had declared war against.

Just send them back to Syria. Either Assad or the IS will take care of them.

[Jonmarleesco]

Well, a Guardian article reports a Norwegian being stopped in Turkey, having travelled out of Norway with a cache of weapons; a similar story relates to a German; a Syrian-Dane, turned back at the Turkish border on suspicion of travelling to Syria to join the terrorist cause, was promptly issued a new passport by Denmark and made his way to Syria; a muslim-named British citizen managed to travel to Turkey on a watchlisted passport. If these claims are true, the competence of the European authorities is called into question more than ever.

[boomerangutang]

Maybe 400 or more trained jihadists already in europe plus x. What is with the sympathizers and the supporting network? If they are already on record, why these are not immediately controlled and sent back to their countries of origin.

Why does the eu let these potential terrorists unaffected?

Europe has let in 5,000 Trojan horses. The Brussels terrorists were Belgian citizens with passports, for Krysaches. Germany, France and Sweden (among others) are also giving citizenship to tens of thousands of Muslims. Most will be good people, but a small % will be trouble-makers. European authorities can't be firm about weeding out the bad guys, or else the ever-larger Muslim communities will cry 'discrimination!' or 'ethnic profiling!' or whatever trigger word gets European cops to retreat.

Also, many Muslims in Europe who claim they're part of a 'peaceful religion' also know about potential terrorists in their neighborhoods. They should report suspicious activity/behavior, but instead they stay quiet and/or aid & comfort the future terrorists. It's like the mother of a convicted rapist saying, "oh, but if you knew him, you'd know he's such a nice boy."