How Isis laid out its plans to export chaos to EuropeBefore the Paris attacks, leaders of the terror group gathered to hear its new strategy: spreading fear through European capitals
Nine days before the Paris attacks, Islamic State leaders gathered in the Syrian town of Tabqah to talk about what was coming next for the terror organisation. Senior officials from across the so-called caliphate had made difficult journeys under constant fear of airstrikes to the small town west of Raqqa.
In what marked a critical phase in the group’s evolution, there was to be a new focus on exporting chaos to Europe, the assembled men were told. And up to 200 militants were in place across the continent ready to receive orders.
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The men were to form classic sleeper cells, and wait for orders. Isis leaders saw opportunity wherever it may arise, but this new wave would place emphasis on wreaking havoc in Italy, Belgium, France, Germany and the UK.
“They said the UK was the hardest to get to,” one Isis member said. “But Belgium was easy. Spain was also mentioned, but not as much as the rest.”
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Isis leaders believe that European societies are easily weakened through savagery. One of the group’s members said its senior officials had a deep understanding of the European political architecture and of the fears of its people.
“At the meeting, they talked about which societies would crumble first and what that would mean. They thought big attacks would lead to pressure on the European Union and even Nato. This would be ideal for them.”
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While the group is clearly on the back foot militarily in some corners of its “caliphate”, its strategic goals are now perhaps more in reach than ever before.
“They think a lot about this. They think they know you better than you know yourselves.”
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/m ... s-brussels