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Europol: New-style Islamic State seeks to target Europe Europol: New-style Islamic State group seeks to target Europe
(about 3 hours later)
Self-styled Islamic State has developed a new style of combat to target Europe in particular, the director of the EU's law enforcement agency says. Self-styled Islamic State has developed a new "special forces" style of combat to target Europe, the director of the EU's police agency Europol says.
Rob Wainwright was speaking as Europol opened its new counter-terrorism centre in The Hague. More attacks like those in Mumbai in 2008 and Paris last November could be being planned, Rob Wainwright said.
The centre will seek to improve information exchange and identify the links between terrorism and other criminal sectors. He was speaking as Europol opened its new counter-terror centre in The Hague.
The need was highlighted by the Paris attacks in November that killed 130. The unit will seek to improve information exchange and identify the links between terrorism and other areas of crime.
On Sunday, the Islamic State group posted a video apparently showing nine of the suspected Paris gunmen before they carried out the attacks. The need was highlighted in particular by the Paris attacks on 13 November that killed 130 people. On Sunday, the Islamic State group posted a video apparently showing nine of the suspected gunmen before they carried out those attacks.
What is Islamic State?What is Islamic State?
Who were the Paris attackers?Who were the Paris attackers?
Paris attacks: Who were the victims?Paris attacks: Who were the victims?
Paris attacks: What happened on the nightParis attacks: What happened on the night
Drugs sector 'Soft targets'
The opening of the Europol centre coincided with its new report on the IS group. The opening of the centre coincided with Europol's new report on IS.
Mr Wainwright said the group had "developed a new combat style capability to carry out a campaign of large-scale terrorist attacks on the global stage, with a particular focus on targeting Europe". The Paris attacks and the downing of a Russian airliner over Egypt last October "suggest a shift in IS strategy towards going global", it says.
Europe's leaders, he said, had decided to establish "for the first time a dedicated pan-European operational centre to combat terrorism". "IS is preparing more terrorist attacks, including more 'Mumbai-style' attacks, to be executed in member states of the EU, and in France in particular," the report, Changes in modus operandi of Islamic State terrorist attacks, says.
The Europol report says: "IS is preparing more terrorist attacks, including more 'Mumbai-style' attacks, to be executed in member states of the EU, and in France in particular.
"The attacks will be primarily directed at soft targets, because of the impact it generates.""The attacks will be primarily directed at soft targets, because of the impact it generates."
The 13 November attacks in Paris and the downing of a Russian airliner over Egypt last October "suggest a shift in IS strategy towards going global", it says. It suggests refugees fleeing Syria and other nations for Europe may be vulnerable to recruitment.
"Indeed there are reports that refugee centres are being specifically targeted by Islamic extremist recruiters," the report says.
Other points in the report:
Mr Wainwright said more than 5,000 EU nationals had been radicalised fighting abroad and many had returned home.Mr Wainwright said more than 5,000 EU nationals had been radicalised fighting abroad and many had returned home.
He said the centre's priority would be to improve information exchange between EU members. Europe's leaders, he said, had decided to establish "for the first time a dedicated pan-European operational centre to combat terrorism".
Mr Wainwright said the centre's priority would be to improve information exchange between EU members.
It will also focus on links to other criminal sectors.It will also focus on links to other criminal sectors.
Mr Wainwright said: "We know that many terrorist suspects, such as those responsible for the terrible attacks in Paris, have a criminal background, are linked with the drugs sector, firearms and other criminal sectors.Mr Wainwright said: "We know that many terrorist suspects, such as those responsible for the terrible attacks in Paris, have a criminal background, are linked with the drugs sector, firearms and other criminal sectors.
"Critical to Europol, therefore, functioning as the EU's information hub on countering crime and terrorism will be to uncover those links.""Critical to Europol, therefore, functioning as the EU's information hub on countering crime and terrorism will be to uncover those links."
The new unit will have between 40 and 50 experts in counterterrorism.The new unit will have between 40 and 50 experts in counterterrorism.
Europol has in total about 800 staff at its headquarters in The Hague. They work with law enforcement agencies in the 27 member states and in other non-EU partner nations to combat serious crime. Europol has in total about 800 staff at its headquarters in The Hague. They work with law enforcement agencies in the 28 member states and in other non-EU partner nations to combat serious crime.