Al-Qaeda activities in Europe

{{main|Caucasus Emirate|Insurgency in the North Caucasus}}

Al-Qaeda linked militants organized around the Caucasus Emirate have been involved in the Second Chechen War and the Insurgency in the North Caucasus. In August 2009 it was reported that during a raid the Russian police had killed an Algerian-born militant in Dagestan who according to the Federal Security Service, was "the Al-Qaeda co-ordinator in Dagestan". The militant was an Algerian national known as "Doctor Mohammed" and was thought to be a member of the 'Jamaat Shariat of Dagestan'{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8230295.stm |title=Russia 'kills al-Qaeda operative' |work=BBC News |date=31 August 2009 |access-date=4 January 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/news/security/jiwk/jiwk090909_1_n.shtml |title=Al-Qaeda seeks foothold in North Caucasus |publisher=Janes.com |access-date=4 January 2012}}

In 2010, Russian police shot and killed a militant in the Russian republic of Dagestan. The man was later determined to be one of the co-founders of the North Caucasus branch of al-Qaeda. The man's name was Mohamed Shaaban.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

On 11 December 2010, a man linked to Al-Qaeda exploded a car bomb and a suicide bomb in Stockholm, killing only himself and injuring two others. Firefighters reported that the car had a gas cylinder, resulting in further explosions.{{Cite news|last=Hanson|first=Matilda E.|date=2010-12-11|title=Man sprängde sig själv i Stockholm|language=sv|work=Svenska Dagbladet|url=https://www.svd.se/man-sprangde-sig-sjalv-i-stockholm|access-date=2020-11-05|issn=1101-2412}} He was later revealed to be Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly, an Iraqi man,{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/12/stockholm-suicide-bomber-profile|title=Stockholm suicide bomber: Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly profile|last=Paige|first=Jonathan|date=2010-12-12|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-02-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} who was born in Baghdad and was granted Swedish citizenship in 1992.{{Cite news|last1=Burns|first1=John F.|last2=Somaiya|first2=Ravi|date=2010-12-13|title=Police Say Early Detonation of Bomb Averted Disaster in Sweden (Published 2010)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/world/europe/14sweden.html|access-date=2020-11-05|issn=0362-4331}}

In 2003 Tony Blair sent armoured vehicles and hundreds of troops to London Heathrow Airport because the UK security services claimed there was a planned Al-Qaeda attack.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article576410.ece |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070510134816/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article576410.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 May 2007 |title=The Times Al-Qaeda's Heathrow jet plot revealed |work=The Times |location=UK |access-date=4 January 2012}} MI5 said they received detailed intelligence in February 2003 about a plot to hijack planes flying from Eastern Europe and to fly them into Heathrow, to punish the United Kingdom for supporting the Iraq War.

The men behind the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot reportedly had links to al-Qaeda.{{cite news|author=|title=Security chief: Airline terror plot 'close to execution' |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/10/us.security/index.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825054344/http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/10/us.security/index.html |archivedate=25 August 2010 |url-status=live}} MI5, Britain's secret service, accused the militant Islamic organisation of committing the attack. Osama bin Laden also made a video of the suicide bombing.{{Cite news|last1=Natta|first1=Don Van Jr.|last2=Sciolino|first2=Elaine|last3=Grey|first3=Stephen|date=2006-08-28|title=Details Emerge in British Terror Case (Published 2006)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/28/world/europe/28plot.html|access-date=2020-11-06|issn=0362-4331}} U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chertoff was clearly accusing al-Qaeda.{{Cite web|title=CNN.com - Agent infiltrated terror cell, U.S. says - Aug 11, 2006|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/10/us.security/index.html|access-date=2020-11-06|publisher=CNN}} In September 2009, Tanvir Hussain, Assad Sarwar and Ahmed Abdullah Ali were convicted of conspiring to activate bombs disguised as drinks on aircraft leaving from London and going to North America.{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=24395 |title=Three Britons found guilty of transatlantic jet bombing plot |work=The News International |access-date=4 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924085820/http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=24395 |archivedate=24 September 2009 }}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8242238.stm |title=UK | Three guilty of airline bomb plot |work=BBC News |date=7 September 2009 |access-date=4 January 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.lavanguardia.es/internacional/noticias/20090908/53779677828/al-qaeda-podria-intentar-otro-atentado-con-aviones-comerciales-en-occidente.html |title=Al Qaeda podría intentar otro atentado con aviones comerciales en Occidente |language=es |work=La Vanguardia |date=9 September 2009 |access-date=4 January 2012 |archive-date=13 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913074128/http://www.lavanguardia.es/internacional/noticias/20090908/53779677828/al-qaeda-podria-intentar-otro-atentado-con-aviones-comerciales-en-occidente.html |url-status=dead }} British and US security officials said the plan – unlike many recent homegrown European terrorist plots – was directly linked to al-Qaeda and guided by senior Islamist militants in Pakistan.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804512098&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |title=UK court convicts 3 of plot to blow up airliners International |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=7 September 2009 |access-date=4 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512043550/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804512098&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull |archivedate=12 May 2011 }}{{cite news|last=Sandford |first=Daniel |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8221375.stm |title=UK | Airline plot: Al-Qaeda connection |work=BBC News |date=7 September 2009 |access-date=4 January 2012}}{{cite web |author=Do G1, com agências internacionais |url=http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Mundo/0,,MUL1295087-5602,00-TRES+BRITANICOS+SAO+CONDENADOS+POR+PLANEJAR+EXPLODIR+AVIOES+EM.html |title=Três britânicos são condenados por ter planejado explodir aviões em 2006 |language=pt |publisher=G1.globo.com |access-date=4 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913073944/http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Mundo/0,,MUL1295087-5602,00-TRES+BRITANICOS+SAO+CONDENADOS+POR+PLANEJAR+EXPLODIR+AVIOES+EM.html |archive-date=13 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://noticias.terra.com.br/mundo/interna/0,,OI3963068-EI8143,00.html#scroll |title=Plano para atacar aviões teria elo com Al-Qaeda paquistanesa |language=pt |publisher=Noticias.terra.com.br |access-date=4 January 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.knack.be/nieuws/europa/beramers-vliegtuigaanslagen-veroordeeld/site72-section25-article39053.html |title=Beramers vliegtuigaanslagen veroordeeld |language=nl |publisher=Knack.be |date=29 December 2011 |access-date=4 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217223713/http://www.knack.be/nieuws/europa/beramers-vliegtuigaanslagen-veroordeeld/site72-section25-article39053.html |archivedate=17 February 2012 }}

{{see also|Islamism and Islamic terrorism in the Balkans}}

{{Main|Al-Qaeda in Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnian mujahideen}}

During the Bosnian War in the early 1990s, al-Qaeda is considered to have been involved with organising volunteers for the Bosnian mujahideen.{{Cite book|first=Charles R.|last=Shrader|year=2003|title=The Muslim-Croat Civil War in Central Bosnia: A Military History, 1992-1994|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_ceXJTw71MC&pg=PA52|publisher=Texas A&M University Press|page=52|isbn=9781585442614}}[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/bosnia/july-dec05/holbrooke_11-22.html PBS Newshour with Jim Lehrer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002173827/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/bosnia/july-dec05/holbrooke_11-22.html |date=2 October 2013 }}, A New Constitution for Bosnia, 22 November 2005 Al-Qaeda leaders including Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri are thought to have visited camps in Bosnia during the war.{{Cite book|first=Abdel Bari|last=Atwan|year=2012|title=The Secret History of al Qaeda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EDshBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT155|publisher=Saqi|page=155|isbn=9780863568435}} The volunteer mujahideen from all over the world flocked there, including France, Indonesia, Iraq, Malaysia, Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Yemen.{{Cite web|date=2014-09-07|title=It's no wonder today's jihadis have set out on the path to war in|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/after-atrocities-committed-against-muslims-bosnia-it-no-wonder-today-s-jihadis-have-set-out-path-war-syria-9717384.html|access-date=2020-11-06|website=The Independent|language=en}}

In May 2009 two French nationals were detained by Italian police due to suspected immigration offences however they are now suspected of being key Al-Qaeda figures. It is thought that they had planned to attack Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France. Italian police stated that they are "two leading men for the communication of al-Qaeda in Europe".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8045124.stm |title=Italy arrests 'al-Qaeda plotters' |work=BBC News |date=12 May 2009 |access-date=4 January 2012}}

In 2012, a pentito of the Camorra stated that, the criminal organisation was in contact with members of Al-Qaeda and aware of incoming terrorist attacks. The organisation was informed that "something involving airplanes would have happened" and that Al-Qaeda was planning a train bombing in Spain.{{cite web

|url = http://www.ilmattino.it/napoli/citta/esclusivo_11_settembre_camorra_informata_in_anticipo_dell_039_attentato_leggi_il_racconto_choc_del_pentito/notizie/199905.shtml

|title = "11 settembre, camorra informata in anticipo dell'attentato" Leggi il racconto choc del pentito

|website = Il Mattino

|publisher = Caltagirone Editore

|location = Naples, Italy

|language = it

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20140613191854/http://www.ilmattino.it/napoli/citta/esclusivo_11_settembre_camorra_informata_in_anticipo_dell_039_attentato_leggi_il_racconto_choc_del_pentito/notizie/199905.shtml

|archive-date = 13 June 2014

|url-status = dead

|access-date = 26 September 2018}}

In 2015, the Vatican was listed as a possible target for an attack by people associated with al-Qaeda.{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/24/europe/italy-anti-terrorism-operation/index.html|title=Italy: Suspects discussed Vatican attack|author=Greg Botelho, Don Melvin and Hada Messia|date=24 April 2015 |publisher=CNN|access-date=2019-05-09}}

Islamist elements in the Kosovo Liberation Army during the Kosovo War from Western Europe of ethnic Albanian, Turkish, and North African origin, were organised by Islamic leaders in Western Europe allied to Bin Laden and Zawahiri.{{cite book|author=Yossef Bodansky|title=Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vur8xnVanEUC&pg=PA398|date=4 May 2011|publisher=Crown Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-307-79772-8|pages=398–403}}

SHISH's head Fatos Klosi had said that Osama was running a terror network in Albania to take part in the war under the disguise of a humanitarian organisation reportedly started in 1994. Claude Kader who was a member testified its existence during his trial.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/6d844d0d31d7cf39ccd52891567235be|title=Bin Laden, Albania Link Reported|website=AP NEWS}} In 2001, the official Belgrade news agency, Tanjug, reported that the "terrorist and fanatical Islamist" Osama bin Laden, had come from Albania to use his armer forces of 500 Islamic militants in Kosovo around Korce and Pogradec to "commit terrorist acts."{{Cite web|title=Behind the Headlines|url=https://www.antiwar.com/justin/j102901.html|access-date=2020-11-06|website=antiwar.com}}

{{main|2004 Madrid train bombings|Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group}}

The 11 March 2004 train bombings in Madrid killed 191 people and wounded more than 2,000. The terror cell had links to Al-Qaeda{{Cite web|title=Madrid train bombings of 2004 {{!}} Description & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Madrid-train-bombings-of-2004|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|language=en}} and the affiliated Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM). It was the violent start of the new Al-Qaeda. The new Islamic terrorist organization was already made up of jihadist organisations dependent on Osama Bin Laden, who made their own decisions.{{Cite news|date=2005-07-21|title=The New Al-Qaeda: Madrid bombings|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/4697707.stm|access-date=2020-11-06}} It was the worst Islamist attack in European history.[http://www.elpais.com/graficos/espana/Sentencia/atentados/11-M/elpgranac/20071031elpepunac_1/Ges/ Judgment of the attacks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601185847/http://www.elpais.com/graficos/espana/Sentencia/atentados/11-M/elpgranac/20071031elpepunac_1/Ges/ |date=1 June 2013 }}. El país, 2008.[http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/266766/0/Al-Qaeda/atentados/Madrid/ Al Qaeda claimed the attacks in Madrid]. 20 minutos, 2007.{{Cite web|title=Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group|url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/129|publisher=Stanford University|date=6 August 2012}} On 2 August 2012 three members of Al-Qaeda were arrested in Ciudad Real and Cadiz, suspected of planning attacks in Spain and other European countries. There was an intended attempt at a mall in Cadiz with teleridigidas aircraft loaded with explosives. At the time of the arrest of one of the jihadists who opposed a "huge resistance, using their military training" were eliminated by the police.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19091753]. BBC News, 2012.

A Europe-wide terror plot against the 1998 FIFA World Cup had the backing of bin Laden and Al-Qaeda.{{Cite book|editor-first1=Nicholas John|editor-last1=Cull|editor-first2=David Holbrook|editor-last2=Culbert|editor-first3=David|editor-last3=Welch|first=Nicholas J.|last=Cull|year=2003|title=Propaganda and Mass Persuasion: A Historical Encyclopedia, 1500 to the Present|chapter=Osama bin Laden|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Byzv7rf6gL8C&pg=PA222|publisher=ABC-CLIO|page=222|isbn=9781576078204}}{{Cite web|date=1998-05-27|title=European Police Raids Target World Cup Terrorist Threat|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-27-sp-53951-story.html|access-date=2020-11-03|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=1998 Global Terrorism: Europe Overview|url=https://fas.org/irp/threat/terror_98/europe.htm|access-date=2020-11-03|website=fas.org}} Preparations for an act of terrorism against the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France were completed by European law enforcement agencies between March and May 1998. The assassination was orchestrated by the Algerian Armed Islamic Group (GIA){{Cite web|date=2001-06-23|title=Spanish police arrest Bin Laden suspect|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jun/23/gilestremlett|access-date=2020-11-06|website=The Guardian|language=en}} along with Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. More than 100 people had been arrested in seven countries as a result of the investigation.[https://publications.ffi.no/nb/item/asset/dspace:3749/01-03789.pdf FFI Rapport]

In December 2000, the "Frankfurt Group", an Al-Qaeda cell consisting of more than ten terrorists from Germany, France and the United Kingdom led by bin Laden deputy Mohammed Bensakhria was rounded up by law enforcement.{{Cite news|last=Tremlett|first=Giles|date=2001-06-23|title=Spanish police arrest Bin Laden suspect|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jun/23/gilestremlett|access-date=2020-11-03|issn=0261-3077}} The group had planned to bomb the Strasbourg Cathedral on New Year's Eve.{{Cite news|title= Five Linked to Al Qaeda Face Trial in Germany|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2002/04/15/five-linked-to-al-qaeda-face-trial-in-germany/4b7c7dee-6dfd-4ed3-abba-bf474b58db74/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=15 April 2002}}{{Cite news|title=Chronology: The Plots|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/front/special/cron.html|work=PBS Frontline|date=25 January 2005}}

In October 2009 a physicist of Algerian descent working for CERN was arrested due to his links with Al-Qaeda.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8303658.stm |title=Scientist on French terror charge |work=BBC News |date=12 October 2009 |access-date=4 January 2012}} Officials said he had been in contact with people linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and planned attacks. He later admitted to corresponding with Al-Qaeda members located in North Africa over the Internet.{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1255204771807&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |title=JPost – French physicist admits to emailing al-Qaida |work=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=4 January 2012 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In January 2015, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was responsible for coordinated attacks in Paris, including the Charlie Hebdo shooting, killing several people.{{Cite web|title=Charlie Hebdo shooting {{!}} Facts, Victims, & Response|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Charlie-Hebdo-shooting|access-date=2020-11-03|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|language=en}}

In September 2009 security measures were heightened in response to a direct threat against Germany, through an Al-Qaeda video, the threat came about due to German participation in the Afghanistan war{{cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6841890.ece |title=Germany on edge after fourth consecutive al-Qaeda bomb attack warning |work=The Times |location=UK |access-date=4 January 2012}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite news|last=Gardner |first=Frank |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8269995.stm |title=Europe | Al-Qaeda video threat to Germany |work=BBC News |date=22 September 2009 |access-date=4 January 2012}}{{Cite web|last=Issn 1999-8414)|first=Andreas Klamm, Journalist (3mnewswire org / Mjb Mission News|date=2009-09-26|title=German Elections: Osama Bin Laden and the Al Qaeda Network Threatens Germany|url=https://johnbaptistmission.blogspot.com/2009/09/german-elections-osama-bin-laden-and-al.html|access-date=2020-11-03|website=John Baptist Mission international (Togo, Africa)}} Osama bin Laden stated:{{Cite news|author=|date=2009-09-25|title=Bin Laden demands Europe withdraw Afghanistan troops|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qaeda-laden-message-idUSLP56703920090925|access-date=2020-11-03}}{{Cite news|date=2009-09-25|title=Bin Laden demands Europe withdraw Afghanistan troops|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qaeda-laden-message-idUSLP56703920090925|access-date=2020-11-06}}

{{blockquote|It is shameful to be part of an alliance whose leader does not care about spilling the blood of human beings by bombing villages intentionally.

If you had seen [the mass killings] of your American allies and their helpers in northern Afghanistan ... then you would understand the bloody events in Madrid and London,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8275746.stm |title=South Asia | 'Bin Laden' urges Afghan pull-out |work=BBC News |date=25 September 2009 |access-date=4 January 2012}}}}

{{Portal|Europe}}

• Al-Qaeda involvement in Africa
• Al-Qaeda involvement in the Middle East
• Islamic terrorism in Europe

• [http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090909_2698.php Foiled Plot Offers Clues to Recent Absence of Major Terror Attacks on West, Wednesday, 9 Sept. 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914041825/http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090909_2698.php |date=14 September 2009 }}
• [https://archive.org/details/alqaidasjihadine0000kohl Al-Qaida's jihad in Europe: the Afghan-Bosnian network] By Evan Kohlmann

• Al Qaeda in Europe: The New Battleground of International Jihad, by Steven Emerson (Foreword), Lorenzo Vidino (Author). {{ISBN|978-1-59102-433-0}}.{{cite book|title=Al Qaeda in Europe: The New Battleground of International Jihad |id={{ASIN|1591024331|country=uk}} }}
• Al-Qaida's Jihad in Europe: The Afghan-Bosnian Network, by Evan F. Kohlmann. {{ISBN|978-1-85973-807-8}}.{{cite book |last=Hafez |first=Mohammed |title=Al-Qaida's Jihad in Europe: The Afghan-Bosnian Network |isbn=1859738079 |date=3 December 2004 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/alqaidasjihadine0000kohl }}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Al-Qaeda}}

Category:Islamic terrorism in Europe