October will mark a year since the war between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas began. But the impact of the war has reached European countries apart from the Middle East. French leader Gerald Darmanin had claimed that since October 7, more than 1500 racist attacks have been made on Jews alone. At the same time, terrorist groups are targeting others as well. This pattern is visible in Germany and many other places apart from France.
The effect is visible in Germany
At the end of August, the Festival of Diversity was being celebrated in the German city of Zollingen. During this, a stabbing incident took place in which three people died and eight were injured. The terrorist organization Islamic State took responsibility for this and said that the attack was a revenge for the rights of Palestine and other Muslims. Attacks by Islamic extremists have been increasing across Europe since October 7. On the same day of the attack in Germany, two explosions took place outside a Jewish religious place in La Grand Motte, France.
Suspects are constantly being arrested
In August itself, famous singer Taylor Swift’s show in Vienna was cancelled because there was a fear of a terrorist attack on her event. Let us tell you that this fear was not baseless, rather two suspects who were associated with the Islamic State had been arrested. They admitted in front of Austrian security agencies that they were planning to kill a large group. After this, the music concert was stopped. Earlier, similar fears were raised during the Paris Olympics, to avoid which France spent a lot on security. There was this fear in the football championship too. But both these big events went off smoothly.
Big attacks on these countries
In May, a security guard was killed and five others were injured in a stabbing incident during a rally in Mannheim, Germany. The attack was aimed at the leader of Pax Europa, a group that criticizes Islam. Russia too was not spared. In March, a major attack took place on Russia’s Crocus City Hall, which was one of the biggest terrorist attacks in the country. Gunmen entered a music concert here and killed about 150 people and set the building on fire. The Islamic State admitted that four of its members had carried out this attack.
Why are attacks increasing?
Whatever instability there is in the Middle East, it will definitely have an impact on Europe. In fact, the Middle East has been embroiled in internal wars for decades. When they are not fighting other countries, internal forces keep fighting. The direct effect of this is that people from there start fleeing and taking refuge in European countries, be it Germany, France or Italy. This is fine till here but as the population increases, conflicts between the native people of the countries and the refugees also start increasing. As was often seen in France.
What is the modus operandi of terrorist organizations
Talking about Islamic State, it started targeting the growing loneliness and broken families in Europe. Its militants stationed in Europe would target such young people and change their ideology by instigating them. After this, even a person with a staunch western mindset would join Islamic fundamentalists. There were many such examples. According to Europol report, till now about 6 thousand Europeans have left their country to support Islamic State and went to Syria or Iraq. Apart from France and Germany, the maximum number of youth reached there from United Kingdom.
At present, the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq has been officially destroyed, but this ideology has spread to many countries. Even now they are inciting attacks through the Internet, but these attacks are not happening in groups, but alone or in small groups of four-five, as is seen in Russia or France. The Islamic State is benefiting from this because since these fighters working on the ground do not have access to the leaders, their capture cannot pose any danger.
Restrictions will be imposed to stop knife-pelting
German Home Minister Nancy Faser recently said that the government is thinking of banning the carrying of knives or any sharp weapons in crowded places or concerts. Also, minimum help will be given to refugees living without documents in the country so that they cannot commit such crimes.
The graph of online hate is also up
After October 7, attacks on Europe increased, and some specific religious groups are also being targeted. For example, in France, more than 1500 attacks took place on Jews within 10 months. This is more than three times the number in the whole of 2022. Attacks in the Netherlands increased more than 800 times. There were attacks on Jewish religious places in Vienna, Austria. Immediately after October 7, online attacks on Jews increased 1000 times, while the Muslim community also started becoming a victim of online hate.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)