NCJ Number
144762
Journal
CJ Europe Volume: 3 Issue: 5 Dated: (September-October 1993) Pages: 1,4-6
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Europe has not been able to prevent groups from committing terrorist acts, despite a long history of dealing with Islamic extremists and the considerable experience of security and intelligence forces, and the United States must be prepared for a possible escalation of terrorism.
Abstract
Europe is a natural location for Islamic groups because it is close to the Middle East and has a large population of Muslim emigres. Business ventures connecting the two regions are extensive, and travel and communication between European and Middle Eastern countries are common. In the 1970's, Europe was plagued by Palestinian acts of terrorism. The 1980's saw numerous hijackings, bombings, and assassinations by Islamic groups, while the 1990's have been marked by fluctuations in Middle East terrorism. The recent World Trade Center bombing in New York is linked to Islamic fundamentalists and may signal an increase in Middle East terrorist attacks on U.S. targets. The author contends that Europe may be only a financial, propaganda, and transit base for terrorists and that the United States may be the real target. The role of Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman and his network of accomplices in the World Trade Center bombing is discussed.