Islamic State set for jihadist attacks

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Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury

There have been a series of jihadist attacks by radical Islamic terrorists, where in most cases Islamic State has claimed responsibility. In Afghanistan Jalalabad city, ISIS men attacked a prison killing 29 people, while more than one thousand members of this notorious outlet had managed to flee. The attack began when car bombs were detonated at the prison’s entrance.

According to BBC analysts, jailbreaks are a known tactic for combatants in Afghanistan. But the well-coordinated group attack on a prison complex in Jalalabad is one of the biggest and most complex assaults claimed by ISIS in the country.

Eastern Afghanistan has been the main stronghold of ISIS since it announced the establishment of its Khorasan Province (ISKP) – an IS branch in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region – in January 2015.

ISIS had been weakened as a result of several military operations by the Afghan government, the Afghan Taliban and US forces over the past two years.

But the recent deadly attacks claimed by ISIS show the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban exaggerated the defeat and even elimination of the group.

Despite recent losses of territory and fighters, ISIS still has sleeper cells mainly in the cities, especially in Kabul and Jalalabad.

By carrying out such attacks, ISIS wants to show its resilience and give the impression that its network and capabilities still remain intact.

The attack is also part of an effort by the newly-appointed ISKP leader to prove his credentials, boost the morale of his followers and possibly attract new recruits. In a recently released statement, he reassured the IS captives that their colleagues would not “sit idle”.

Islamic State has also claimed responsibility for the gruesome terrorist attacks in Vienna, Austria, says SITE intelligence.

Earlier, Austria’s Interior Ministry said, the terror attack that left four people dead was carried out by at least one Islamic terrorist group.

Karl Nehammer told a morning news conference that police shot dead a heavily armed attacker who was a sympathizer of Islamic State.

He said, “We experienced an attack yesterday evening from at least one Islamist terrorist, a situation that we have not had to live through in Austria for decades”, adding that authorities could not rule out that there were more perpetrators.

Meanwhile, the head of Austria’s Jewish community, Oskar Deutsch, said on Twitter that it was not clear whether the city’s synagogue had been the target of the shots fired, but that it and adjoining offices were closed at the time.

“Upon hearing some shots downstairs, I looked down the window and I saw the attacker running into various bars and restaurants…and people running away,” said Rabbi Schlomo Hofmeister, an eyewitness to the attack.

“There were one or two attackers chasing them all over the street,” he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in response to the attack: “We share the shock and sadness of the Austrians after an attack in Vienna. This is our Europe. Our enemies need to know who they are dealing with. We won’t give in to anything.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen joined Macron in expressing solidarity with the people of Austria. “I am shocked and saddened by the brutal attack that took place in Vienna. My thoughts are with the families of the victims and the Austrian people. Europe stands in full solidarity with Austria. We are stronger than hatred and terror.”

The German Foreign Ministry also took to Twitter to express dismay at what was unfolding in Vienna. “Terrifying, disturbing reports reach us this evening. Even if the extent of the terror is not yet known, our thoughts are with the injured and victims in these difficult hours. We must not give way to the hatred that is intended to divide our societies.”

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte condemned the attack, writing on Twitter that there is “no place for hate and violence in our common European house.”

“We are following with very great concern the terrible news coming from Vienna,” Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio added. “A vile attack which we strongly condemn. Italy is close to the Austrian people. Europe must respond.”

European nations must wake up against radical Islam

There are millions of Muslim migrants in the entire European Union and Britain. The most disturbing fact is, majority of these Muslims are increasingly becoming radicalized and many of them are turning either pro-jihadists or jihad sympathizers. The situation in Britain in particular is extremely volatile, where migrant Muslims are gradually imposing sharia rule with the ultimate goal of turning Britain into another caliphate. Policymakers in Britain as well as the European nations should immediately take stern measures in identifying the radical Muslims and deport them without further delay.

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is an internationally acclaimed multi-award-winning anti-jihadist journalist, counter-terrorism specialist and editor of Blitz

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