Daesh more dangerous in Europe than Al Qaeda was in 1990s

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Daesh more dangerous in Europe than Al Qaeda was in 1990s
Daesh fighter

Washington - Clapper has suggested that European cities such as London, Berlin or Rome could be next on the Daesh hit list.

By IANS

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Published: Sun 1 May 2016, 1:29 PM

Last updated: Sun 1 May 2016, 3:34 PM

The threat against Europe from Daesh militants is worse than the threat from Al Qaeda was in the late 1990s, a US expert has said.

"I think the situation in Europe is even more dire than what was happening with Al Qaeda in the 1990s," Colin P. Clarke, an associate political scientist at the US think tank RAND Corporation, told Xinhua news agency.

Daesh was not only taking over large swaths of land in Iraq and Syria but had shown its teeth by launching a series of horrible terror attacks all over Europe.

In November, Daesh gunmen killed 130 victims in a vicious attack in Paris that made headlines worldwide.

And just last month, Daesh struck again in Brussels, simultaneously setting off three nail bombs -- bombs packed with nails that fly out at lighting speed and pierce through flesh -- at an airport and metro station that killed more than 30 victims.

US top intelligence official James Clapper said earlier this week that the militant group has cells in Britain, Germany and Italy. 

He made the comments just after US President Barack Obama asked European leaders to step up their efforts and contribute more to the fight against Daesh.

Clapper has suggested that European cities such as London, Berlin or Rome could be next on the Daesh hit list as carrying out brutal attacks increases the group's relevance and helps boost recruitment efforts.

"Then, Al Qaeda was using Europe as a staging ground to recruit, fundraise and build its media and logistical capabilities. 

"The threat from Daesh today is ... the group seeking to conduct spectacular attacks in major European cities like Paris and Brussels," Clarke said.


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