Europe: Threat of possible terrorist attack on American bases

2024-07-01 21:28:16, Kosova & Bota CNA

Europe: Threat of possible terrorist attack on American bases

Source, AP

US military bases and personnel across Europe are on heightened alert after the latest information from US intelligence alerted them to a possible terrorist attack targeting facilities or personnel.

A US defense official confirmed the news to VOA on Monday that military bases across the US European Command (EUCOM) have been alerted to a possible attack.

The official did not provide details on the content of the information that prompted the increased security measures. Meanwhile, counterterrorism officials from many countries have warned of growing threats, including those related to the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris.

A statement released Monday by EUCOM indicates that the increased security measures are the result of a combination of factors.

"The increase in alertness is not related to a single threat, but to the concern raised by a number of combined reasons such as major events including the European football championship and the Olympic Games, together with a growing threat of possible attacks by individuals bad guys against various non-military targets in Europe," the statement said.

EUCOM "advises personnel in Europe to exercise caution at all times, report suspicious activity, follow travel advisories issued by the State Department, and take additional measures to mitigate personal risk."

The US defense official stressed that the military "is taking additional steps to ensure that US troops are safe both during work activities and during personal activities."

A report published last month by cyber security firm Recorded Future warned that despite the high risk of cyber attacks, the biggest threat to the Paris Olympics remains the possibility of terrorist attacks.

French authorities have already disrupted at least two terrorist plots. In one of the cases, the 18-year-old suspect was accused of plotting to carry out an attack on behalf of the Islamic State in one of the stadiums that will be used for the Olympic competitions.

Top US counterterrorism officials have also acknowledged that the Islamic State terrorist organization has also stepped up its activities in recent months.

Much of the concern has focused on the group's Afghan branch, known as IS-Khorasan.

"Both ISIS and ISIS-Khorasani ... have demonstrated the ability and intent to conduct operations abroad," White House Deputy National Security Adviser Jen Daskal said at a counterterrorism conference in Omaha, Nebraska, last week. passed.

The director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Christine Abizaid, also warned of increased IS-Khorasan activity in May.

"This ability of the global activity of ISIS, even without controlling a territory, the ability to reach, through the Internet, a network of supporters, some of whom will carry out attacks, is quite worrying," she said at a conference. security in Doha.

Ms. Abizaid further called IS-Khorasan's ability to strengthen its presence in Afghanistan "the most important capability we have seen in the global ISIS network in the last three years."

The IS-Khorasan group claimed responsibility for the January attack at a memorial service in Kerman, Iran. The attack claimed the lives of around 90 people. He also claimed responsibility for the March attack on a Moscow concert hall that killed more than 140 people.

US counterterrorism officials have also raised concerns that IS-Khorasan has become more adept at using transnational criminal networks and human-smuggling networks, showing interest in potentially sending its operatives to the United States. ./ VOA