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German Terror Suspects Fit Patterns
Though Wednesday's arrests of three radical Islamists preparing terror strikes in Germany was dramatic, many of the tactics and habits the suspects have demonstrated while under surveillance are not particularly new to terrorism investigators. Indeed, one of the main assets counter-terrorism officials file away from each attempted or executed strike are shared similarities that raise their chances of heading off future attacks before they happen.Highlights from the article below. More details at link. o Among the biggest trends in terror: there are more lone wolves. "Increasingly, you're not dealing with organizations, groups, or even cells any more, but rather one or several individuals who are out there taking action in an isolated fashion," o One increasingly common aspect in many plots, the NYPD report notes, is the frequent presence of converts.... "In politically incorrect language, they don't look like Muslims to most people o one of two German converts arrested, a 28-year-old being identified as Fritz Martin G., was the leader of the busted cell. He is believed to have converted and come under the influence of extremists in the southern city of Neu-Ulm, whose large militant community has concerned officials for years. Investigators say the operational cells were formed after the trio had undergone training in Pakistan by the radical Islamic Jihad Union, and received periodic logistical support as they advanced their plot from a score of people also being sought. o "the key": a particularly intense meeting, training session, or combat stint that pushes young extremists over the threshold of talk, and into a mind-set where action becomes a must... trips to Pakistan to meet with or receive instruction from extremists there can also serve the purpose. So, too, can intensive stints in radical religious and indoctrination centers in places like Syria Posted by: trailing wife 2007-09-07 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=198290 |