The Rise of Violent Extremism: A Threat Post-Jihadism

2024-03-03 18:23:00
“After jihadism, another booming movement is capturing the attention of anti-terrorist services”

According to federal prosecutors, the four people are suspected of being linked to violent Islamist extremism. They allegedly came into contact with each other via messaging where they mentioned the Islamic State and spoke of “violent actions”. Discussions which left no doubt about the fact that these four young people are radicalized, and which aroused the attention of the police. “We want to intervene in this type of case as soon as possible,” Eric Van Der Sypt, spokesperson for the federal prosecutor’s office, explains to Het Laatste Nieuws. The investigation will have to demonstrate whether the four young people arrested were really planning to commit one or more attacks, “but their plans were sufficiently concrete to attract our attention”, adds the spokesperson.

Terrorism: “International and European trends are alarming”

During the operation, the homes of the four young people were searched, but no weapons or explosives were discovered. “Several phones and laptops” were seized, notes Eric Van Der Sypt.

Little information was given on the individuals arrested, except that the 15-year-old minor has lived in Ninove for a year but was reportedly arrested in Brussels. The only adult in the group is from Liège, according to our Flemish colleagues.

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