Police Shocked By Scale Of Islamic State Network in Europe

Police Shocked By Scale Of Islamic State Network in Europe

Police have uncovered a large and growing network of Islamic State fighters, at least two of whom came to Europe as “refugees.” French and Belgian authorities have found that the scale of the threat of terrorism could be much bigger than they had previously thought. 

They’ve found that the members of these terror cells are mostly young Muslim men from the Brussels suburbs of Molenbeek and Schaerbeek and many were former criminals often involved with petty thefts and assaults. Among the jihadis is Paris attacker Abdelhamid Abaaoud. 

Islamic State fighters in Syria gave him the name Abu Omar al-Belgiki meaning that he was Abu Omar from Belgium. Abaaoud lived most of his live in the notorious Brussels suburb of Molenbeek along with many of the other terrorists who took part in the Paris and Brussels attacks. 

The 28-year-old terrorist lived and fought for the Islamic State in Syria for at least two years, took part in various battles and sent video messages to sympathizers back home. Abaaoud, also like many ISIS fighters, is said to have committed atrocities toward prisoners such as dragging them behind his pick up truck through the Syrian desert reports Die Welt. 

Fighting wasn’t Abaaoud’s major skill, rather he was a skilled recruiter for the Islamic state and was able to create and maintain networks of Islamist fighters, sympathizers and fundraisers. One of his specific skills was recruiting those who wished to become suicide bombers.