france Archives - Terrorism Research Blog

Friday the thirteenth saw the largest act of terrorism to have been perpetuated in Western Europe in the last decade. 129 people were killed and 352 injured (with 99 in critical condition) in a series of shootings and suicide bombings conducted by Islamic terrorists (ISIS has taken credit for these terror attacks). This is the second major terrorist incident in Paris this year (first was the Charlie Hebdo killings). The attack is also eerily similar to the 2008 attacks carried out by the Pakistan based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba in Mumbai. In both cases we see a string of sustained terrorist attacks carried out by a group of trained terrorists in the manner similar to small special operations teams.

We have not seen a lot of good analysis in the media on the similarities between the attacks in Paris and those previously experienced in Mumbai. This attack may have been conducted by Islamic terrorists from ISIS/ISIL but if there is a parallel to Mumbai, it will be some time (if ever) before the organizational structure behind the well planned heinous attack comes to light.

Is there someone who played the role of David Headley in these Paris terror attacks?

Tragic terrorist attacks by Islamic terrorists in Paris kill over one hundred and injure hundreds more

Click here for ongoing live web coverage of the attacks and subsequent events by the BBC. The Mirror also has some good eyewitness accounts of the carnage.

Terrorists have killed over 40 people today in attacks conducted in France, Tunisia and Kuwait. It is still not clear whether all three attacks from today were related/co-ordinated and if they were all conducted by ISIS, their sympathizers or some other Islamic terrorist groups. But ISIS did play a role and the aftermath of these attacks is being felt around the world.

In France, two men drove a car into the premises of a factory near Lyon and triggered multiple explosions and injured two people. A decapitated head covered in Arabic writing was also pinned to the factory’s gate. One of the Muslim (Salafist) terrorists has reportedly been arrested as French authorities are on the hunt for accomplices.

The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the bombing of a Shia mosque in Kuwait City which has already claimed 13 victims with another 25 wounded. A suicide bomber (claimed by an ISIS related group to be Abu Suleiman al-Muwahhid) entered the Al-Imam al-Sadeq mosque and created the devastation during Friday prayers.

The third mass terrorist attack of the day came at a sea side tourist resort in Tunisia. Two Islamic terrorists attacked the mostly German and British tourists at two hotels in Sousse and killed 27 as panic struck the resort’s beach and hotels. One of the gunmen is reported to have been killed while the other was still being sought by Tunisian security services.

ISIS has publicly called for its followers to turn Ramadan and into a time of “calamity for the infidels” (Muslims around the world have just recently started celebrating their holy month of Ramadan). While world leaders will give lip service to the horrors from today, many of the countries, their rulers, religious leaders and power brokers that are deeply involved in sustaining this radical Salafist ideology will likely continue to have their complicity swept under the rug.

Deadly terrorist attacks in France, Kuwait and Tunisia

The attacks come just days after the Reuters news agency reported that Islamic State leaders had urged its followers to escalate attacks against Christians, Shi’ites and Sunni Muslims fighting for the U.S.-led coalition against them. (Irish Examiner)

It was almost a fait accompli that the early January terror attacks in Paris would draw a reaction from the government. The home of liberté, égalité, fraternité will be buying new weaponry and protective gear for its police, hiring more spooks and creating a database of citizens that need to be tracked. These sweeping new measures are meant to counter homegrown terrorism which reared its ugly head this month. Total anti-terrorism cost France is expected to 425 million euros over the next three years.

France is expected to beef up its counter terrorism laws and measures

France has repeatedly strengthened its counterterrorism laws over the years, including a measure passed in November that focused on preventing French extremists from joining fighters abroad. Another measure — expected to be activated in the coming weeks — would allow authorities to ask Internet service providers to block sites that glorify terrorism.

Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, head of France’s national data protection agency CNIL, told reporters Wednesday her agency would insist that any additional snooping privileges for France’s intelligence services should only be allowed if they are matched by greater protections for personal data. (CBC News)

The last three days have been chaotic, dramatic and deadly for France. It started on Wednesday morning when two masked gunmen forced their way into the offices of the weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo and massacred 12 people, including one policeman and injured numerous others. In a related incident another policewoman was killed on Thursday and then today, four innocent shoppers and three (of the four) perpetrators were also killed. All in all, a low point in recent French history as the “homegrown Islamic terrorist” struck at the heart of France. Cherif and Said Kouachi were the Charlie Hebdo murderers and were killed north-east of Paris. Amedy Coulibaly is suspected of killing the policewoman on Thursday and killed four shoppers at Hyper Cacher, a kosher (Jewish) grocery store in Porte de Vincennes, eastern Paris. Initial reports were that he had an accomplice, Hayat Boumeddiene but there is no information on whether she was killed or escaped or even part of the supermarket murders.

For now, this ended today. There will be a lot of analysis of this tragedy, some blow-back in France, a lot of condemnation from around the world – but the question of how to tackle Islamic terrorism within free, liberal democracies will continue to prevail. The radical Islamists tend to use liberal laws that will extend their agendas, while preaching preaching that their religion supersedes all other rules and laws of their countries. France has a lot of “baggage” when it comes to its former colonies, especially Algeria and with it Islam, that will make things harder in the wake of these deadly terrorist attacks.

The 72 hour terror siege of France

“By attacking the freedom of expression, the perpetrators of the Charlie Hebdo killings – and, separately, the murderers of a young policewoman – struck a raw nerve that brought the people, this time united, into the streets with the sympathies of the rest of the world firmly behind them in support.” (Euronews)

france

Horror and terror in Paris

Over 40 killed in Islamic terrorism trifecta

France to impose tough counterterrorism measures

72 hour terror siege ends in France