RISE IN TERRORIST ATTACKS IN EUROPE IN 2012
2013/4/25
Findings from Europol’s latest strategic analysis product – the 2013 EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report – show how the total number of terrorist attacks and related arrests in the EU significantly increased in 2012, in contrast to previous years. This and other findings in the report describe a threat from terrorism that remains strong and varied in Europe. It continues to evolve from one posed by structured groups and networks to smaller EU-based groups and solo terrorists, while the Internet remains a key facilitator for terrorism-related activities.
The terrorist bomb attack at Burgas airport in Bulgaria, and the shootings by a lone gunman in France, claimed the lives of 14 people in 2012 and illustrate the serious threat that terrorism poses to the European Union and its citizens. Three other citizens also lost their lives to terrorism in 2012, in separate attacks in Belgium, France and Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, increasing numbers of radicalised EU citizens travelled to regions of conflict to engage in terrorist activities. “There is growing concern about the threat posed by these people, given the possibility of their returning to the European Union intent on committing acts of terrorism”, says Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol. In this respect the developments in the Sahel region are of major interest to the security situation of the EU.
The main figures for 2012 are:
• 219 terrorist attacks in EU Member States (up from 174 in 2011)
• 537 individuals arrested in the EU for terrorist-related offences (up from 484 in 2011)
• 17 people died as a result of terrorist attacks in the EU.
• 400 individuals in concluded court proceedings for terrorism charges.
A number of firearms-related incidents occurred across the EU in 2012, the most prominent of which involved a religiously inspired solo terrorist, who shot and killed seven people in France. In the course of separate investigations, weapons and ammunition were also found with other religiously inspired cells in 2012. Furthermore, fatal and non-fatal shootings have been carried out by separatist terrorists and anarchists.
The Internet remains an essential communication platform for terrorist organisations and their sympathisers, enabling increasingly wide-spread access, anonymity and connection to a global audience that can be addressed in a targeted way.
The rapid development of social media on the Internet has provided new opportunities for instant and personalised access to supporters as well as potential recruits for terrorist groups.
“The fight against terrorism remains a top priority for the European Union and for Europol. We will continue to play a key role in combating organised crime and terrorism, using our unique information capabilities and expertise to support the competent authorities of the EU Member States”, says Rob Wainwright.
The TE-SAT is a public report produced by Europol on the basis of information provided and verified by the competent law enforcement authorities in the Member States of the EU. The arrests and terrorist or violent extremist incidents that took place in the EU, as referred to in this report, are those that Member States have reported to Europol for the purposes of the TE-SAT.
-------------------
EUROPOL LAUNCHES ITS INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
2013/4/24
The Hague, the Netherlands - Europol is delighted to announce the launch of its annual photo competition for the best law enforcement photographs. This international photo competition, now in its fifth year, recognises outstanding photography from the challenging and rewarding work of police and law enforcement agencies.
Last year’s competition attracted a record number of entries from all corners of Europe and beyond. The high quality entries portrayed the highs and lows of law enforcement work, across the spectrum of services including police, border and customs guards, SWAT teams, Gendarmerie and more.
Entries this year are welcome from amateur and professional photographers working for law enforcement agencies and magazines in EU countries and those countries with Europol Agreements.
Three winning photographers will win a trip to the Netherlands and a visit to Europol. Other outstanding entries will be selected for use in Europol’s 2014 calendars, publications and other communication products.
The closing date for entries is 31 July 2013.
--------------------
DUTCH, INDONESIAN, KOREAN NATIONAL POLICE FORCES JOIN VIRTUAL GLOBAL TASKFORCE AT EUROPEAN CYBERCRIME CENTRE
2013/4/18
THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Three new member countries have joined the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT), an international alliance of law enforcement and private sector agencies dedicated to combating online child sexual abuse. Representatives from the Dutch National Police, Indonesian National Police and the Korean National Police attended an official signing in ceremony at the new European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague. Edwin R Nolan, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the United States Embassy in The Netherlands, also spoke at the event and stressed the importance of global cooperation in the fight against online child sexual exploitation.
“I am proud to welcome these three law enforcement agencies to the VGT and I look forward to working together as we expand the global reach of the VGT to combat the online sexual exploitation of children everywhere,” said VGT Chair Ian Quinn, head of the Cyber Crimes Center for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The VGT now consists of 12 international law enforcement agencies, and 11 private sector partners. Earlier this year, Kids Internet Safety Alliance (KINSA) and NetClean joined the VGT as new private sector partners.
“The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) is honored to join the renowned VGT as a new member,” said Kim Jae-kyu, director of the Cyber Terror Response Center for the KNPA. “With Korea’s new government placing an extra emphasis on the safety of children, the KNPA will actively engage in VGT projects and cooperate with members to save vulnerable children and to bring perpetrators to justice. The KNPA hopes our joint effort will lay the foundation for a safer world which children deserve to live in.”
“We would like to extend our appreciation for being a part of the VGT,” said Police Brigadier General Arief Sulistyanto, director of commercial crime for the Indonesian National Police. “This is an important opportunity to strengthen our efforts to combat crime, in particular online child pornography.”
"The Dutch National Police is looking forward to working with these important international partners that are united in the VGT,” said DNP representative Miriam Barendse, chief constable. “Only by means of a collective international approach, we will be able to combat the online sexual exploitation of children effectively. I am proud to be part of this effort".
The other nine VGT law enforcement member agencies are: HSI; the Australian Federal Police; the United Kingdom’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre; the National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre, a division of the Canadian Police Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, Royal Canadian Mounted Police; the Italian Postal and Communication Police Service; New Zealand Police; INTERPOL; Europol; and the Ministry of Interior for the United Arab Emirates.
The other VGT private partners are: End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes network (ECPAT International), International Association of Internet Hotlines (INHOPE), the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC), PayPal, Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, World Vision Australia, Research In Motion and The Code.
--------------------------
POWERFUL MEXICAN CRIMINAL SYNDICATES ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP THEIR EUROPEAN DRUGS BUSINESS
2013/4/12
The Hague, the Netherlands - As part of its responsibility to monitor developments in the threat from organised crime in Europe, Europol has gathered intelligence identifying that Mexican criminal groups are attempting to establish themselves as key players in the European drugs market.
Over the last decade, Mexican organised crime groups have developed a central role in the international organised crime landscape. They have become global market coordinators in trafficking cocaine for the European and North American markets, and in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs for the European, North American and Asian markets.
In addition, groups such as the powerful and violent criminal syndicate, Los Zetas, are reportedly involved in trafficking human beings for sexual exploitation from North East Europe to Mexico. Mexican criminal groups are also trafficking firearms from South East Europe to barter with criminals involved in the cocaine trade in Central South America.
An attempt by the Sinaloa Cartel to settle in Europe, to develop their wholesale cocaine distribution business, was recently averted by a timely, intelligence-led law enforcement operation. Despite this, Mexican organised crime groups are expected to continue expanding their roles along the supply chain towards Europe to increase their profits.
These criminal groups have an extremely violent operating culture, however only an isolated number of violent incidents in Europe – including a murder attempt - have so far been attributed to the groups.
“We do not want the level of violence and brutality which we see in Mexico mirrored in Europe. Together with our law enforcement partners we will continue our efforts to tackle the criminals who are active within the illegal drug markets and ensure that Mexican organised crime groups cannot gain a foothold in Europe,” says Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol.
Europol’s latest threat notice (insert link to ‘public version’) on the impact of Mexican organised crime groups in Europe has been disseminated to Europol’s cooperation partners in the EU and beyond.
------------------------------
MAJOR HIT ON INTERNATIONAL ALBANIAN ORGANISED CRIME NETWORK
2013/4/11
The Hague, the Netherlands - An organised criminal network of Albanian speaking criminals, suspected of illegally trafficking drugs with links to trafficking in human beings for prostitution, has been dismantled with the support of Eurojust and Europol. 19 persons were arrested yesterday during a joint action day which involved judicial and law enforcement authorities in Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Albania.
Seven arrests were made in Albania, one in France and 11 in Italy. Previously one arrest had been made in the Netherlands and one in Belgium, bringing the total number of arrests to 21.
The investigation began in Italy 2010 led by Mr Andrea Cusani of the District Anti-Mafia Prosecution office of Florence. The suspects involved in drugs trafficking and with links to trafficking of human beings for sexual exploitation were located in Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Albania. The targeted organised criminal group is predominantly composed of Albanian nationals, with leading members active in Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Yesterday’s operation was coordinated from an Operational Coordination Centre set up at Eurojust, starting at 06:30 [CET]. The action day was run by the Italian National Desk at Eurojust, with assistance from the Eurojust Case Analysis Unit. Throughout the operation, Europol’s mobile office was deployed within the coordination centre with two officers, giving real-time support.
The action would not have been a success without the participation of the Arma dei Carabinieri, Comando Provinciale and Procura della Repubblica di Firenze; the Direction Interregionale de la Police Judiciaire de Bordeaux; the Investigative Judge in Brussels, the Public Prosecution Office and the Federal Judicial Police of Brussels; and the Albanian General Prosecution Office and Anti Drugs Special Police Unit.
----------------------------------------
SUSPECTED LATVIAN MURDERER ARRESTED IN POLAND
2013/4/5
The Hague, the Netherlands - With the assistance from Europol a 33-year old Latvian criminal was arrested in Poland on the 3rd March. The fugitive was subject of a European Arrest Warrant, since he is the suspect of several murders and he has been charged with being a member of an organised crime group.
The Latvian citizen has been wanted for 3 years by Latvian authorities and he has most likely been living in Poland since a year ago, where he often changed his place of residence, appearance, mobile phones and cars. In the planning and coordination of the arrest all kinds of security and maximum of precautions were taken, because the criminal could have been armed and with his background as a former Latvian police officer he would be familiar with operational methods.
The criminal was observed by the Polish surveillance teams, waiting for the opportunity for his arrest. On 03 March 2013 at 2 a.m., he was detained in one of the late night shops of Bialystok in Poland. He was totally surprised and did not resist. The police found on him the identity card of another person whom he tried to impersonate. The man was taken to a police detention centre, where he will wait further prosecution and court decisions.
During the operation the Polish officers were in touch with their counterparts in Latvia, Lithuania and Europol, who coordinated the multilateral operation.
The following special units from the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBS) were involved in the search operation: Unit for International Cooperation, Fugitives Unit and Special Operational Department (Surveillance and SWAT-Team).
| < Prec. | Succ. > |
|---|