Takfir wal Hijra may target Europe: Journal
Agence France-Presse
London, February 1|17:11 IST
Militants of the banned Islamist radical movement Takfir wal Hijra may be preparing to carry out strikes in Europe, the leading defence journal Jane's Intelligence Review has said.
"Al Takfir wal Hijra now presents perhaps the most pressing security concern," warned the magazine. It added that the group was "sometimes mistakenly associated as an affiliate of the Al-Qaeda network".
"There is a growing fear that the Takfiri are mobilising to carry out further operations in Europe," Jane's warned in Monday's edition.
According to the magazine, the group helped carry out the Madrid train bombings in March 2004, which left 191 people dead in the country's worst terrorist attack.
The suspected murderer of the Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh, who was shot and stabbed to death on the streets of Amsterdam last November, is also thought to belong to the movement, according to Dutch authorities.
"The relationship between crime and terrorism has provided Takfiri militants in Europe with the resources required to fulfill their goals of propaganda and recruitment," Jane's said.
"There is growing evidence to suggest that the European based cells are becoming operational," it added.
Jane's said the group had operatives in Britain, France, Italy and Germany and that "the UK is believed to be a major transit point for Takfiri recruits".
Agence France-Presse
London, February 1|17:11 IST
Militants of the banned Islamist radical movement Takfir wal Hijra may be preparing to carry out strikes in Europe, the leading defence journal Jane's Intelligence Review has said.
"Al Takfir wal Hijra now presents perhaps the most pressing security concern," warned the magazine. It added that the group was "sometimes mistakenly associated as an affiliate of the Al-Qaeda network".
"There is a growing fear that the Takfiri are mobilising to carry out further operations in Europe," Jane's warned in Monday's edition.
According to the magazine, the group helped carry out the Madrid train bombings in March 2004, which left 191 people dead in the country's worst terrorist attack.
The suspected murderer of the Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh, who was shot and stabbed to death on the streets of Amsterdam last November, is also thought to belong to the movement, according to Dutch authorities.
"The relationship between crime and terrorism has provided Takfiri militants in Europe with the resources required to fulfill their goals of propaganda and recruitment," Jane's said.
"There is growing evidence to suggest that the European based cells are becoming operational," it added.
Jane's said the group had operatives in Britain, France, Italy and Germany and that "the UK is believed to be a major transit point for Takfiri recruits".
posted by Casey Britton | 8:27 AM
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