Latest Terrorism Monitor Articles
Somalia: Africa’s Horn of Anarchy
Fourteen years after the ouster of authoritarian President Siad Barre in 1991 and the subsequent descent of the country into chaos, Somalia remains a lawless patchwork of warring fiefdoms. Terrorist networks have flourished in Somalia and neighboring countries, contributing to the deadly synchronized bomb attacks... MORE
After 3/11: The Evolution of Jihadist Networks in Spain
Nearly two years after the March 11, 2004 terrorist attacks in Madrid, new militant Islamist cells continue to be disrupted in Spain on a regular basis. In 2004, Spanish Police detained almost 100 jihadists. The trend continued in 2005 with more than 80 Islamic militants... MORE
The Transformation of Ansar al-Islam
Ansar al-Islam seems to have dropped off the radar screen, while an even more active and deadly terrorist organization with similar nomenclature, Ansar al-Sunna, has emerged in its place. With its membership scattered and installations decimated, has Ansar al-Islam disappeared as a coherent force? Although... MORE
“Mujahideen of the Lowlands” on Trial in the Netherlands
The trial of 14 young radical Muslims is attracting widespread attention in Holland and elsewhere. This article examines the network and explains how young second-generation immigrants are radicalized to pose an unprecedented security threat to the Dutch state. Mohammed Bouyeri, who is already serving a... MORE
Assessing the Iraqi Elections’ Impact on Terrorism and Insurgency
As Iraq staged its first election for a full-term parliament since the fall of Saddam Hussein, there are increasing hopes in Washington and London that the pace of the steadily growing insurgency may have at long last been stunted. But if previous elections in post-Saddam... MORE
Sierra Leone: An Obscure Battlefield in the War on Terrorism
On the dusty trash strewn streets of the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown, men, women, and children with missing arms and legs wander aimlessly through half-completed concrete buildings. The surrounding hills are covered with hastily constructed shanties made of corrugated iron, plastic, or any other material... MORE
Australian Anti-Terror Raids: A Serious Plot Thwarted
Since September 11, 2001, Australians have been warned that an attack on Australian soil by al-Qaeda or its allies is probable, if not inevitable. In October, ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organization) released its 2004/05 annual report, which warned of the risk of “home grown” terrorists.... MORE
The Salafi-Jihadist Movement in Iraq: Recruitment Methods and Arab Volunteers
This is the second in a two-part series on al-Zarqawi and al-Qaeda in Iraq. This article focuses on the Salafi-jihadist base from which al-Zarqawi draws support and new recruits. The experience of Arab fighters in Iraq is the latest and most important development of the... MORE
Radical Islam in Latin America
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, the possibility of al-Qaeda infiltrating Latin America became a priority for U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials. However, the most publicized incidents of radical Islamist activity in Latin America have not been linked to al-Qaeda but instead... MORE
New Developments Following the London Bombings
The release of a videotape featuring July 7 bomber Mohammed Siddique Khan's message to the world, cleverly interspersed with Ayman al-Zawahiri, has led many to suspect al-Qaeda's controlling hand. Yet the most credible leads continue to point to a self-starter cell of dedicated young British... MORE