Kathryn Haahr
Ms. Haahr is a foreign affairs and counter-terrorism consultant in Washington, D.C.
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Articles by Kathryn Haahr
Spanish Police Arrest Jamaat al-Tabligh Members in Bomb Threat
On January 19, Spanish police arrested 14 Pakistani and Indian individuals purportedly belonging to the conservative Islamist movement Jamaat al-Tabligh (JaT) for allegedly planning to carry out suicide bomb attacks
Italy’s Underground Islamist Network
In late July, Italian police announced that they had arrested three Moroccans in a counter-terrorism operation codenamed "Hammam." The operation was aimed at breaking up a terrorist cell believed to
Catalonia: Europe’s New Center of Global Jihad
The strengthening of Islamist groups, combined with an increase in jihadi networks and activities in and around Barcelona, underscores Catalonia's status as a European center for al-Qaeda-associated terrorism operations. Statements
French Intel Report Warns of Possible Terror Attack During Elections
According to a leaked secret French report examined by the Arab newspaper al-Hayat, Osama bin Laden plans to repeat the "Spanish scenario" by attacking selected French targets during the upcoming
Spain’s Operation Suez Reveals al-Qaeda Support Rings in Europe
Two recent counter-terrorism developments in Spain highlight how Spanish officials are trying to confront the threat posed by Islamist terrorism. In the first incident, the attorney general attached to the
GSPC Joins al-Qaeda and France Becomes Top Enemy
Al-Qaeda deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri's recent September 11 threat to France, coupled with al-Qaeda's official integration with the Algerian Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), is significant for two principal
Authorities Break-up GSPC Terrorist Cells in Italy
On July 21, Italian officials announced that they had arrested four Algerian GSPC members because of their involvement in a variety of terrorist planning operations and terrorist support activities. The
New Reports Allege Foreign Fighters in Iraq Returning to Europe
Recent pronouncements by a Spanish judge who has led high-level inquiries into al-Qaeda in Spain, Baltazar Garzon, and the head of France's domestic security service, Pierre de Bousquet, imply that
Emerging Terrorist Trends in Spain’s Moroccan Communities
Recent counter-terrorism operations in Spain have spotlighted an increasing presence of Salafi-Islamists and al-Qaeda "loyalists" in Andalucia and, more alarmingly, in the Spanish autonomous communities of Ceuta and Melilla (located
GSPC in Italy: The Forward Base of Jihad in Europe
Italy has evolved from a logistics base for Islamic militants to a de facto base of operations for Algeria's Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) targeting Italy, other European
The 2006 Olympics: Assessing the Threat of Unconventional Attacks
Al-Qaeda’s repeated threats to punish Italy for its continued involvement in Iraq, coupled with the organization’s public pronouncements justifying chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) attacks against its adversaries, may
Assessing Spain’s al-Qaeda Network
The Commission investigating the March 11, 2004 terrorist attacks in Madrid recently concluded that since the late 1990s, foreign radical Islamists have been using Spain for jihadist activities in support
Spain’s 9/11: The Moroccan Connection
Following the March 11 attacks in Madrid, the nature of the Islamist threat to Spain has become a sensitive matter for all Spaniards, including Spain's Muslims. As evidence emerges indicating
Iran’s Changing Relationship with Hezbollah
Iran's alleged links with al-Qaeda has eclipsed the fact that the Islamic Republic remains blacklisted by the U.S. State Department as the most prolific state sponsor of terrorism, essentially because
Algerian Salafists and the New Face of Terrorism in Spain
The involvement of Moroccan Islamists in the Madrid terrorist attacks on March 11 has overshadowed the significantly larger role that Algerian Salafists — with ties to al-Qaeda — have had
Italy: Europe’s Emerging Platform for Islamic Extremism
Investigations by the Italian security services since 2001 indicate that Italy has become a platform for al-Qaeda associated terrorist operations in Europe and Iraq. Italy's Muslim population is concentrated in
ITALY: EUROPE’S EMERGING PLATFORM FOR ISLAMIC EXTREMISM
Investigations by the Italian security services since 2001 indicate that Italy has become a platform for al-Qaeda associated terrorist operations in Europe and Iraq. Italy's Muslim population is concentrated in
Algerian Salafists and the New Face of Terrorism in Spain
The involvement of Moroccan Islamists in the Madrid terrorist attacks on March 11 has overshadowed the significantly larger role that Algerian Salafists — with ties to al-Qaeda — have had
Iran’s Changing Relationship with Hezbollah
Iran's alleged links with al-Qaeda has eclipsed the fact that the Islamic Republic remains blacklisted by the U.S. State Department as the most prolific state sponsor of terrorism, essentially because
Spain’s 9/11: The Moroccan Connection
Following the March 11 attacks in Madrid, the nature of the Islamist threat to Spain has become a sensitive matter for all Spaniards, including Spain's Muslims. As evidence emerges indicating