Better tools against terror

New threats call for new tools. Today, the European Commission is calling on all EU countries to strengthen their efforts against violent extremism and terrorism. Programmes helping people to leave extremist movements should be provided all over Europe. And the EU must cooperate better, by creating a European knowledge hub in this field.

Why is this such a pressing issue? To get an idea of what we are up against, take the ‘Inspire’ publication as an example. On the surface, it looks like any monthly magazine. It has glossy layout, long interviews, big photos and picture montages. But that is where the similarities end. The photos show determined, masked men with automatic weapons, the devastation of cities, and knives covered in blood. Among the articles are instructions for how to make a bomb in your own kitchen. Interested readers can also read about how to carry out attacks without access to firearms. No gun? Then run people over with your car instead. The latest issue features a full-page photo of Boston bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, smiling widely into the camera against an edited backdrop of fluffy clouds and doves of peace.

Inspire is an English language, al Qaeda-sponsored magazine published a few times a year. It is one of many new propaganda instruments wielded by violent groups to recruit new members. Although it is probably produced in Yemen, it is but a few clicks of a mouse away for those who wish to indulge in terrorist fantasies and read glowing reports about the purportedly honourable life of suicide bombers. ‘Inspire’ has already paid off for al-Qaeda in a tragic way; it is believed that the two perpetrators of the Boston attacks built their pressure-cooker bombs - which claimed the lives of three people and maimed 264 others - with the help of designs published in the first issue of Inspire.


Today, people at risk of being lured into embracing extremist views can be drawn into groups where these views are reinforced. At the same time, they may remain isolated, and commit violent attacks on their own. The problem of extremism is not limited to one ideology or religion. Anders Behring Breivik justified his horrific attacks with a fascist ideology which he embraced in the privacy of his own home. He is a prime example of a lone wolf who prepares deadly attacks secretly, without appearing on the radar of the authorities.

Today, we are presenting the results of this work. Several actions have emerged from the efforts of the network; actions that, if implemented, would contribute to significantly strengthen Europe’s defences against violent extremism. The European Commission is now presenting ten recommendations that EU Member States should carry out as soon as possible. These recommendations are about better cooperation between authorities and others, and doing more locally in order to reach people earlier on in the path to extremism, and to support those who want to leave violent groups. Some EU countries have done much more in this field than others.