DTIC ADA536135: CTC Sentinel. Volume 4 Number 1, January 2011

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by  Defense Technical Information Center

JAnUARY 2011 . VoL 4 . IssUE 1
CoMBATInG TERRoRIsM CEnTER AT WEsT poInT
C TC SEn T InEL
oBJECTIVE . RELEVAnT . RIGoRoUs
Terrorist Awakening in
Contents
Sweden?
FEATURE ARTICLE
1 Terrorist Awakening in Sweden?
By Magnus Ranstorp By Magnus Ranstorp
REpoRTs
6 British Universities Continue to Breed
Extremists
By James Brandon
8 Improving Airline Security in the
United States
By Rafi Ron
11 Al-Qa`ida’s Yemeni Expatriate
Faction in Pakistan
By Evan F. Kohlmann
15 Understanding Al-Qa`ida’s Business
Model
By Alex Gallo
18 Disengagement or Deradicalization:
A Look at Prison Programs for Jailed
Terrorists
By Andrew silke
21 Recent Highlights in Terrorist Activity
24 CTC Sentinel Staff & Contacts

Swedish police at the scene of a terrorist attack in central Stockholm in December 2010. - Photo by Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images
F
or decades, sweden has Islamist extremism which outlined that
been regarded as the relative it had identified about 200 extremists
backwater of international in Sweden; more than 80% were socially
terrorism. Even Usama bin connected, and most lived inside the
Ladin had mentioned Sweden as immune three major cities of Sweden, with more
from terrorism in an al-Jazira broadcast than half residing in Stockholm.1
in October 2004. This sense of immunity
was shattered twice in December 2010. This article examines the circumstances
First, a suicide bomber struck in the behind these developments and their
About the CTC Sentinel
Nordic countries for the first time ever implications for the evolution of
The Combating Terrorism Center is an
on December 11. The Swedish security terrorism in Sweden. It illustrates the
independent educational and research
service, Säkerhetspolisen (SÄPO), had interconnectivity of terrorist social
institution based in the Department of social
no record of the bomber before the attack, networks, and it underscores the
sciences at the United states Military Academy,
as he had studied and lived for a decade importance of terrorist travelers to
West point. The CTC sentinel harnesses
in the United Kingdom. At the same time, Pakistan and Somalia and the potential
the Center’s global network of scholars and
he admitted he had traveled to Iraq to for a boomerang effect. To some extent,
practitioners to understand and confront
perform jihad. Second, four Swedes were this article argues that the events in
contemporary threats posed by terrorism and
arrested later that month for planning Sweden are a microcosm or reflection of
other forms of political violence.
to conduct a protracted Mumbai-style broader terrorism trends.
attack on the Jyllands-Posten newspaper in
Copenhagen, Denmark. The men were
The views expressed in this report are those of
the authors and not of the U.s. Military Academy, arrested after driving from Sweden to
the Department of the Army, or any other agency Copenhagen to execute the attack. Third,
1 “Våldsbejakande islamistisk extremism i Sverige,” Säk-
of the U.s. Government. SÄPO produced a report on violent
erhetspolisen, 2010.
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harnesses the Center?s global network of scholars and practitioners to understand and confront
contemporary threats posed by terrorism and other forms of political violence.
14. ABSTRACT
This article examines the circumstances behind these developments and their implications for the evolution
of terrorism in Sweden. It illustrates the interconnectivity of terrorist social networks, and it underscores
the importance of terrorist travelers to Pakistan and Somalia and the potential for a boomerang effect. To
some extent, this article argues that the events in Sweden are a microcosm or reflection of broader
terrorism trends.
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JAnUARY 2011 . VoL 4 . IssUE 1
Anatomy of Sweden’s First Suicide Bomber His wife inserted a martyrdom picture, After sending his farewell e-mails,
On December 11, 2010, a 28-year-old “Hoor al-Ayn,” depicting a martyr on al-Abdaly proceeded to ignite his
Iraqi-Swede, Taimour Adbulwahab al- horseback as “mood background” for car filled with gas canisters and
Abdaly, became the first suicide bomber the recording. This suggested either his flammable material, which burst into
in Sweden when he accidentally detonated wife knew more than she claimed, or flames at 4:52 PM. He then walked
one of the six pipe bombs strapped to his that there was possibly an accomplice toward the pedestrian shopping street
body among busy Christmas shoppers in to al-Abdaly at large.2 Drottninggatan for 10 minutes, where
central Stockholm. The Swedish public he began to fiddle with his equipment,
narrowly escaped a major terrorist The issue of possible accomplices has walking in and out of a side street
attack that was cleverly designed as a been strongly suspected for a number talking on either a communication radio
multipronged, one-man mass casualty of reasons. First, in the pre-recorded or mobile phone before his explosive
event. Beginning with the explosion of tapes, there is clearly a second person device detonated prematurely. From
his station wagon filled with gas tubes breathing and there have been efforts eyewitness accounts, it is clear there
and flammable material, al-Abdaly had to remove everything below 100 hertz was a malfunction rather than a desire
planned to walk down Drottninggatan, on all three tapes.3 A second reason is to abort the operation. Taking refuge in
a major pedestrian shopping street, the two-way radio found by his body a more deserted side street, al-Abdaly
toward a large department store and the after one of the pipe bombs detonated placed his bomb belt down moments
main central railway station placing two prematurely. Third, according to before his pipe bomb exploded.6 He died
or more explosive devices at different those close to the investigation, the quickly without killing anyone else.
locations before detonating his own contraption of pipe bombs was too
serial-connected pipe bombs strapped cumbersome and complex for him to have Profile of Taimour al-Abdaly
to his body. Al-Abdaly had at least six put on his body alone. Fourth, closed- Five days after the suicide bombing,
pipe bombs filled with ball bearings, a circuit television footage captured, after SÄPO provided the findings of a
pressure-cooker, and a backpack filled the accidental detonation, the images previously cabinet-commissioned
with explosives and nails. of a man wearing a sketchy billboard report on Islamic extremism in Sweden.
sign for “London restaurant” with a Embarrassingly, SÄPO had to admit
Al-Abdaly commenced the operation red khaffiyeh wrapped around his face that al-Abdaly was not among the 200
earlier that day at the crack of dawn that seemed to be the only individual Islamic extremists it had previously
by driving to Stockholm from his focused and drawn to the scene where identified. Interestingly, SÄPO’s chief,
parents’ house in the small town of al-Abdaly was dying, as everyone else Anders Danielsson, also placed partial
Tranås, a 170-mile journey northward. fled the explosion. Fifth, al-Abdaly’s blame why they missed him on MI5—his
He would have arrived in Stockholm disclosure on the farewell tape that British counterpart—as al-Abdaly had
about three hours later following the he frequently traveled to the Middle resided in the United Kingdom since
collection of explosive devices from an East to wage jihad raised the prospect 2001 (although he frequently visited his
undisclosed storage site. Assuming al- that he had links to more organized parents in Sweden).
Abdaly arrived in Stockholm around terrorist networks in the region. This
midday, it is still unclear where he was strengthened by his affinity to the Profiling Taimour Abdulwahab al-
initially went and what he did prior Islamic State of Iraq on his Facebook Abdaly has produced a complicated
to the commencement of the terrorist page, postings of Shaykh Muhammad picture of a relative loner that
assault at 4:40 PM. At precisely that al-Maqdisi and multiple credible claims radicalized in Luton in the United
time, al-Abdaly sent different e-mails to by radical al-Qa`ida-affiliated websites Kingdom, surrounded possibly by
three recipients: his wife, the Swedish that suggested he belonged to the Islamic shadowy figures connected as “brokers”
Security Service SÄPO (which failed to State of Iraq. Postings on al-Hanin to Mohammed Siddique Khan, a small
check it for 4.5 hours), and Tidningarnas and the popular Shumukh al-Islam cadre of the outlawed Islamist group
Telegrambyrå, the official Swedish websites suggested this affiliation.4 al-Muhajiroun, and possibly by a more
wire service. The e-mail contained pre- It has also emerged that General Zia nefarious terrorist network emerging from
recorded sound files. In the English and Alkanani, the counterterrorism chief in Iraq, as he traveled there frequently.
Arabic versions, al-Abdaly’s message Iraq, has claimed that al-Abdaly spent
was addressed to his wife asking for three months in Mosul at an explosives Al-Abdaly was born in Baghdad in 1982
forgiveness and explaining that he had training camp together with an Egyptian and arrived with his father, mother, and
been secretly a mujahidin for the past accomplice, according to imprisoned al- older sister to Tranås, Sweden at the
four years and that his business trips Qa`ida members.5 age of 10. Tranås is a small town with
to the Middle East had been a lie. Al- a population of 18,000 inhabitants.
Abdaly’s wife, living in Luton in the It appears that al-Abdaly adapted
2 Martin Ekelund, “Nätet avslöjar medhjälparen,” Af-
United Kingdom, would later profess well there, quickly learning Swedish,
tonbladet, January 3, 2011. Also see www.gudmundson.
no knowledge of his activities in an becoming known as a keen basketball
blogspot.com.
exclusive interview to controversial player and was well-liked by his friends.
3 Mikael Stengård and Eveline Grassman, “Experter:
television broadcaster, Muslim convert He graduated from secondary school in
Ljudet är manipulerat,” Aftonbladet, December 18, 2010.
and ex-Taliban prisoner Yvonne Ridley,
4 Sam Jones and Haroon Siddique, “Stockholm Suicide
yet a longer unedited version of the tape
Bomber Confronted by Luton Mosque Leaders,” Guard- 3 Months in Mosul,” al-Arabiya, January 7, 2011.
appeared within 24 hours on the couple’s
ian, December 13, 2010. 6 Richard Ashberg and Johanna Hellsten, “Buken full
shared YouTube account: mona123timo.
5 “Iraqi Official to al-Arabiya: Stockholm Bomber Trained med metal,” Aftonbladet, December 16, 2010.
2
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natural sciences and there was no major to attend a terrorist training camp.11 It Some of these followers were connected
indication that religion was a significant is still to be determined if there is any to radical cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed,
part of his life. In fact, he had a Jewish connection between Q and al-Abdaly. and they had open recruitment stalls
girlfriend.7 All of this would change as It is likely, however, that al-Abdaly on the high street near the al-Abdaly
he moved to Luton in the United Kingdom came into contact with more extremist family home.
to enroll at the University of Bedfordshire elements since the Bury Park area of
to study sports therapy in 2001. Luton has “featured prominently in Al-Abdaly appears to have been affected
counterterrorism investigations.”12 by a confrontation with Qadeer Baksh,
Only weeks after al-Abdaly enrolled in Regardless, the July 2005 London the chairman of the Luton Islamic Center.
the university, the September 11, 2001 attacks likely played a role in al- According to mosque officials, al-
attacks occurred. This was a period Abdaly’s radicalization process. Abdaly showed up at the Luton Islamic
of immense identity turmoil with Center, also known as the al-Ghurabaa
intertwined experiences of xenophobia, It is also clear that al-Abdaly was mosque, during Ramadan 2006-2007.
Islamophobia and extremist Islamist affected by the 2006 Israel-Hizb Allah According to Baksh, his congregation
sentiments.8 The far-right English war in Lebanon. This is evident from immediately drew to his attention that
Defense League was active in Luton his postings on Facebook. While he al-Abdaly harbored extremist views
as well. The activities of the Finsbury seemed to admire Hizb Allah leader about jihad and takfiri principles and was
Park Mosque and the openly radical Hassan Nasrallah, it was also clear that encouraging rebellion against Muslim
Abu Hamza al-Masri were only a short he was vehemently anti-Shi`a in Iraq. leaders. This caused Baksh to undertake
train ride away, and investigators are Similarly, he watched shock video clips several personal interventions in an
pursuing leads as to whether al-Abdaly with violent images from Chechnya that effort to deconstruct his arguments
visited the controversial mosque.9 There with a theological debate. On several
are no signs that al-Abdaly was involved “The debate climate about occasions, it seemed al-Abdaly came to
in radical groups at the university. accept Baksh’s rebuttals, but it became
terrorist threat assessment
Instead, while at university he met his known that al-Abdaly continued to
future wife, Mona (also known as Umm in Sweden had been stifled spread extremist views among the
Amira), a young woman from Romania community. As a result, Baksh decided
by ideologically-driven
who partially grew up in Sweden.10 He to publicly confront him in front of 100
married her in 2004, and he graduated debaters who used the worshippers at an early morning prayer.14
with a BSc in sports therapy. They had Al-Abdaly stormed out of the mosque
label of Islamophobia
their first daughter in 2006, the second humiliated, angry and disappeared,
in 2008 and in the summer of 2010 and racism to silence the probably traveling back and forth to the
they had a son and named him Usama Middle East and Sweden.15
issue. This is not possible
in honor of Usama bin Ladin. After
meeting al-Abdaly, she rapidly became anymore.” In 2007, al-Abdaly began traveling
religious, wearing the djellaba. extensively to Jordan and Iraq. In 2008,
he reportedly traveled to Syria as well.16
A suspected turning point for al-Abdaly Al-Abdaly collected new Swedish
was the fact that Mohammed Siddique regularly portrayed Russian atrocities passports in 2001, 2007 and 2008,
Khan and the London bombers had and the bravery of the mujahidin, suicide the last of which he claimed was lost
driven to Luton railway station before operations in Iraq, and humiliating abroad.17 This is seen as evidence that
heading to conduct the operation of July interrogation scenes where U.S. soldiers he was attempting to conceal his travel
7, 2005. In fact, three streets from al- taunted Iraqi prisoners. He also seemed patterns and destinations to perform
Abdaly’s house in Bury Park, Luton, to have a fascination with Judgment jihad in the Middle East. It is possible
lived Mohammed Quayyum Khan, Day, radical extremist ideologues that he even had an extra Swedish
known as “Q,” who was instrumental and anashid (jihadist songs). His own passport so he could switch back and
in arranging for the ringleader of the Facebook profile picture depicted a forth, concealing his entry and exit
2005 London bombers, Mohammed mujahid raising the black battleflag to suspicious destinations to British
Siddique Khan, to travel to Pakistan of Islam. Some have speculated that officials.
he came into contact with the Reflect
Project, previously known as al- Al-Abdaly surfaced again on November
Muhajiroun, which organized a protest 19, 2010 when he returned to Sweden
7 Eduardo Grutzky, “Jag var självmordsbombarens frit-
at a homecoming parade in Luton for alone to stay with his parents long
idsledare,” Newsmill.se, January 5, 2011.
troops who had served in Afghanistan.13
8 Jonathan Githens-Mazer and Robert Lambert, Islamo-
phobia and Anti-Muslim Hate Crime: A London Case Study Home,” Sunday Telegraph, December 19, 2010.
(Exeter: University of Exeter, 2010). 11 Sam Jones, Ian Corbain, Richard Norton-Taylor and 14 BBC Newsnight, December 13, 2010.
9 Sean O’Neill and Daniel McGrory, The Suicide Factory: Shiv Malik, “The ‘Bubbly’ Luton Radical Who Became 15 Ibid.
Abu Hamza and the Finsbury Park Mosque (London: Harp- a Suicide Bomber in Sweden,” Guardian, December 14, 16 Martin Evans, “Stockholm Bomber: Family Blame
er Collins, 2006). 2010. Britain for Radicalization,” Telegraph, December 13,
10 Olle Lönnaeus and Erik Magnusson, “Mannen som 12 Ibid. 2010.
skulle sprang sig själv,” Sydsvenskan, December 19, 13 Jason Lewis, “Stockholm Bomber: Banned Extremists 17 Martin Ekelund, “Reste med olika pass,” Aftonbladet,
2010. Recruit Near Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly’s Luton December 23, 2010.
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enough to celebrate his own and his Traveling in separate convoys, Safia These overlapping social networks made
father’s birthday, which they commonly was with the wife of U.S. citizen Daniel it easy for SÄPO to identify and monitor
share. He stayed in his parents’ flat in Maldonado, a convicted terrorist who the different suspects in the plot against
Tranås and proceeded over the next two had undertaken training in bomb-making Jyllands-Posten. Apart from Munir Awad
weeks to acquire a vehicle for $1,300, and volunteered for suicide operations.20 and Sahbi Zalouti, the network involved
aluminum powder, pyrotechnics and 30-year-old Moroccan Omar Abdallah
nails and ball bearings from local Second, Awad, his girlfriend and Aboelazm, a convicted sexual offender
hardware stores. Few believe that he their baby were caught in Dera Ghazi who has been in psychiatric care, and
was alone in what seems to be a rather Khan by Pakistani security, together 44-year-old Mounir Dhahri, a former
overly complex operation for a lone with Mehdi Ghezali and seven other drug addict convicted of spousal abuse,
wolf. His carefully prepared farewell Germans in August 2009 after traveling drug offenses and assault.22 It is believed
tapes in Arabic, Swedish and English through Iran en route to Miran Shah in that Zalouti was the more senior leader
strengthens this suspicion. North Waziristan Agency of Pakistan’s in the network, but he bailed out of the
Federally Administered Tribal Areas. trip to Denmark. Consequently, it is
Al-Abdaly’s farewell tapes followed a It is believed that two of the Germans believed that Mounir Dhahri became
familiar al-Qa`ida-inspired narrative have links to the Islamic Movement the key figure driving the plot forward.
script. It emphasized humiliation of of Uzbekistan (IMU). According to Dhahri also spent significant time in
Muslims under siege as evidenced Ghezali, he was traveling to a Tablighi Pakistan, which is likely to become key
by the occupation of Muslim lands Jama`at meeting, although security to the investigation.
(Afghanistan); reinforced by officials confiscated $10,940 in cash,
metaphorical issues (the Lars Vilks knives, a neck trap (disguised in There are also indirect links between
controversy18); offering reciprocal diapers) and electronic items.21 This 43- Munir Awad and the Jyllands-Posten plot
revenge by urging “all mujahidin in day prison incident became problematic and the earlier 2009 plot against the
Europe and Sweden” to strike now. for Helena Benaouda, the chairwoman same newspaper by David Coleman
The issue of possible affiliation to the of the Swedish Muslim Council, who Headley (who has been linked to the
Islamic State of Iraq was raised due to campaigned tirelessly protesting their senior terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri).23
the fact that al-Abdaly alluded to the innocence. Kashmiri, who also has close ties to
“Islamic State” in his script. A puzzling Lashkar-i-Tayyiba, provided Headley
feature is why the Islamic State of Third, Awad shared an apartment with with two sets of contacts for the planned
Iraq, if involved, did not claim any 26-year-old Ellas Bille Mohamed, one 2009 operation in Copenhagen: two
responsibility. By his own admission in of the two al-Shabab terrorists who followers in Derby, England, and
the tape, he participated for four years were recently convicted of preparing one individual in Stockholm named
in jihad overseas. and commissioning suicide operations Farid, a Moroccan-born businessman
in Somalia. This connection reinforces who declined participation in August
Munir Awad and the Jyllands-Posten Plot the overlapping social relationships in 2009 as he was believed to be under
The second terrorist incident involving these semi-closed extremist circuits and surveillance by SÄPO.24 Farid is a major
Sweden in December 2010 was the case suspicions about Awad’s previous travel figure in extremist circles in Stockholm
of four Swedes arrested for planning to patterns in Somalia and Pakistan. Awad and he knew some of the suspects in the
conduct a Mumbai-style attack on the also had strong social contacts with Jyllands-Posten plot of December 2010.
Jyllands-Posten newspaper in Copenhagen, Sahbi Zalouti, one of the accomplices
Denmark. The men were arrested after in the Copenhagen plot (who rented After discovering the December plot,
driving from Sweden to Copenhagen to the vehicle for the trip from Stockholm SÄPO and the Danish Intelligence
execute the attack. A central figure in to Copenhagen but never joined the & Security Service (PET) kept the
the plot is Munir Awad, a 29-year-old operation). While Zalouti was similarly Swedes under surveillance for two
Lebanon-born Swedish citizen. This detained in Pakistan in areas controlled months. On December 29, 2010, Awad,
case is well-known in Sweden for a by the Taliban and al-Qa`ida, another Aboelazm and Dhahri left Stockholm
number of reasons. accomplice, Mounir Dhahri, spent for Denmark in their rental car to
considerable time with extremists in launch a “storming” operation against
First, Awad and his pregnant girlfriend, Pakistan. Jyllands-Posten. In the middle of the night,
Safia Benaouda (the daughter of the they started the six hour drive from
head of the Swedish Muslim Council), Stockholm to Copenhagen. Later that
vember 2010.
was caught initially in Somalia in 2007 day in the morning, they were arrested in
20 Michael Taarnby and Lars Hallundbaek, “Al-Sha-
by Ethiopian forces and interrogated by
baab: The Internationalization of Militant Islamism in
Kenyan and U.S. intelligence. They had
Somalia and the Implications for Radicalisation Pro- 22 Ibid.
veered off a trip to Dubai and decided to
cesses in Europe,” report supported by the Danish Min- 23 Jette Elbeak Maressa and Heidi Plougsgaard, “Han er
visit Somalia “to see a more traditional
istry of Justice, February 26, 2010; “American Charged den pakistanske forbindelse,” Jyllands-Posten, October
Muslim culture,” in their own words.19
with Receiving Al Qaeda Terrorist Training in Weapons, 28, 2010.
Bomb-Making, and Interrogation Techniques in Soma- 24 Yassin Marmasbash, “Investigators Look into Pos-
18 Lars Vilks is a Swedish artist who depicted the Proph- lia,” U.S.A. v. Daniel Maldonado a/k/a Daniel Aljughaifi, sible Ties to ‘Mickey Mouse Project,’” Jyllands-Posten, De-
et Muhammad in drawings. Southern District of Texas, 2007. cember 30, 2010; Kaare Sorensen and Carsten Ellegard,
19 “Nowhere to Go: Sweden’s Complicity in the World- 21 “Här grips de – misstänkta för terrorism,” Aftonbladet, “David Headley forsogte at rekruttere terrorist i Sverige,”
Wide Detention of Monir Awad,” Cage Prisoners, No- September 12, 2009. Jyllands-Posten, November 9, 2010.
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Copenhagen in a joint Danish-Swedish contact and establish trust, the Somali out of the shadows, with no connectivity
intelligence operation after continuous community is the reverse and keen to to al-Qa`ida, that are beginning to pose
surveillance on the car throughout the work with authorities. The Somali issue a transnational terrorist threat.
journey. In a joint news conference, both is also shared with other neighboring
the SÄPO and PET heads emphasized countries as there are family and clan The Swedish context illustrates the
that an attack was imminent. The links cutting across Sweden, Denmark, close social networks or circuits that
terrorists had in their possession a Norway and the United Kingdom. Unlike extremists move in. Most know each
machine gun with a silencer and 72 other foreign fighter destination points, other; some even live together. An
cartridge shells as well as a 9mm pistol Somalis do not have a “romanticized” equally important, but often unexplored
with 36 shells. They also possessed a view about the brutality of the conflict; issue is the role of women, wives and
large quantity of plastic strips to tie the reverse is true for Pakistan or widows in these networks. These
hands.25 While the terrorist plan was a Yemen. women play not only supporting roles
Mumbai-style operation “in miniature,” and provide excellent cover for logistical
closely resembling the original Headley Both Sweden and Denmark are transactions, but also become pivotal in
plan, it is unclear whether the suspects increasingly focusing on Pakistan as a cementing social network ties.27 The role
had conducted advance reconnaissance destination as well as to a lesser extent of widows of prominent terrorist leaders
on Jyllands-Posten. The PET head, Jakob Yemen. For Denmark, the security is interesting in this respect as they can
Scharf, did not want to rule out the environment has been “red” for a become recruitment sergeants, as in the
possible connection to the Headley significant period as there have been Belgian case of Malika el-Aroud.
case. four terrorist trials during the last
four years. There have also been four Finally, the December 2010 attacks
Microcosm of Terrorism: Reflecting Broader attacks against Jyllands-Posten and the in and from Sweden were sudden and
Trends? Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard unexpected. Swedish politicians and the
Sweden experienced both luck and skill since 2009. Not only are converts and public were shocked. The debate climate
in averting two major mass casualty extremist recruits lured by extremist about terrorist threat assessment in
attacks in December 2010. Intelligence facilitation brokers, but Denmark and, Sweden had been stifled by ideologically-
by its nature involves filtering and to a lesser degree, Sweden are becoming driven debaters who used the label of
puzzling together fragments of prioritized symbolic attack targets Islamophobia and racism to silence the
information in a timely manner. As the for core al-Qa`ida, regional affiliates issue. This is not possible anymore. The
former head of the United Kingdom’s and Pakistani extremist groups due challenge for Sweden will be to debate
Joint Terrorism Analysis Center to the Prophet Muhammad cartoon the issues more frankly but sensibly,
(JTAC) once said, “Our work can best affair and the Lars Vilks controversy. while simultaneously addressing the
be described as trying to drink water This is exacerbated by the perception issue of countermeasures against
from a water hydrant on full blast. It is of a possible “Madrid effect,” where extremism. For this, Sweden is looking
not the absence of information; rather extremists are calculating that targeting toward Denmark, the Netherlands
the difficulty lies in filtering out the Sweden, as well as Germany, would not and the United Kingdom, which have
necessary and critical pieces and piecing only create a societal shock effect, but had longstanding community-based
these together quickly, accurately and to also contribute to eroding support for “experiments” in countering violent
the right agencies.”26 Even if SÄPO was ISAF contribution to Afghanistan. extremism. The trick is to find suitable
blindsided, it had as much to do with transferable lessons. It will require a
the UK intelligence agencies missing al- Terrorist mobility within the European national strategy against extremism.
Abdaly under their watch. Union is also cause for concern. The The other challenge is for the Swedish
recent case of Lars Doukajev, the one- Muslim community to address the issue
Both the al-Abdaly and Awad cases legged Belgian-Chechen bomber who of extremism from within.
illustrate the importance of intensifying was arrested in September 2010 after
focus on so-called terrorist travelers his explosives detonated prematurely Dr. Magnus Ranstorp is the Research
or foreign fighters. SÄPO has stated in a Copenhagen hotel as he was Director of the Center for Asymmetric
that it believes there are 20-30 Swedes preparing a parcel bomb for Jyllands- Threat Studies at the Swedish National
who have traveled to Somalia to Posten, is illustrative of the threat from Defence College.
fight and join al-Shabab; three or “lone wolves” or unexpected sources.
four individuals have died there. Doukajev filed off the serial number of
Authorities have focused on working his prosthetic limb and did not have a cell
with the Somali communities to phone, identification card, credit card,
strengthen their resilience against or any other piece of unique information.
extremism and recruitment. Unlike It took almost a week to identify him
other minority immigrant communities, and it was not the intelligence services
who are suspicious and difficult to but rather a tabloid newspaper that
succeeded. The worrying element is
25 “Terrorsigtede havde 108 skarpe skud klar,” Berling- not what intelligence services see, but
ske Tidende, December 30, 2010. rather what they do not know or miss.
26 Personal interview, Swedish National Defence Col- To an extent, this is the case with those 27 Nivette Dawood and Kristina Edblom, “Hustru – till
lege, November 2006. extremist groups in Pakistan emerging en terrorist,” Aftonbladet, December 19, 2010.
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British Universities university students graduated to the At present, it is difficult to say whether
Continue to Breed battlefields of international jihad. British Muslims who go to university
Indeed, since the report was published, are any more or less likely to carry out
Extremists
another graduate of a British university, acts of terrorism than those who do not.
Taimour Adbulwahab al-Abdaly, died Current research shows that around 35%
By James Brandon in December 2010 while attempting to of British terrorist convicts have studied
carry out a multiple bombing attack in for a higher education qualification—
in early october 2010, University Stockholm.5 not far off the national average.9 That
College London (UCL) published its said, many university graduates seem to
official inquiry into the radicalization Background have played key roles in those terrorist
of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who During the 1990s, British university
“These and other
is currently awaiting trial in the United campuses played a key role in the
States for attempting to destroy a evolution of international jihadist cases suggest that
Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas networks, providing extremist groups
Abdulmutallab’s
Day 2009. The inquiry concluded that a steady source of motivated and high-
“there is no evidence to suggest either caliber recruits whose UK passports radicalization at UCL was
that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was enabled them to move freely around the
not an outlier; it was part
radicalized while a student at UCL or world. One of the earliest such recruits
that conditions at UCL during that time was Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British of a trend of university-
or subsequently are conducive to the Muslim from a privileged Pakistani
educated radicals becoming
radicalization of students.”1 To reach background, who was radicalized in the
this conclusion, the report overlooked early-1990s while at the London School involved in sophisticated
abundant evidence that Abdulmutallab of Economics (LSE). After hearing
terrorist plots.”
had not only entrenched his extremist Omar Bakri, the leader of the radical
leanings while studying in London, but al-Muhajiroun group, speak on campus
also actively sought to popularize such about the then-ongoing massacre of
views among his fellow students.2 The Muslims in Bosnia, he embarked on
report, for instance, skimmed over the a career of jihadist action, becoming attacks that come closer to “success.”
many web postings Abdulmutallab made involved with militant groups in Bosnia, For instance, the 2007 attempted car
during his time at UCL that showed India and Pakistan.6 In 2002, Sheikh was bomb attacks in central London and
his increasing theological rigidity and found guilty of leading the kidnapping Glasgow airport, which failed only due
intolerance. It also did not mention that and beheading of U.S. reporter Daniel to minor technical flaws in the bombs’
the campus’ Islamic society (ISoc),3 of Pearl in Pakistan. Since then, British construction, was led by Kafeel Ahmed,
which Abdulmutallab was president universities have consistently acted as who had studied engineering at several
in 2006-2007, regularly invited hard breeding grounds for extremism, with British universities including Queen’s
line Salafist and Islamist speakers to British university graduates joining University Belfast.10
campus during this period, holding jihadist movements in Iraq, Kashmir,
events which one student described as Israel and elsewhere. Indeed, just one Similarly, one of the leaders of the
“brainwashing.”4 year after the conviction of Sharif, sophisticated 2006 plot to use liquid
Omar Khan Sharif, a former student at explosives to blow up transatlantic
The UCL report is only the latest evidence King’s College university in London, airliners was Abdulla Ahmed Ali, a
that UK universities are still failing to took part in a suicide bomb attack in graduate of London’s City University,
understand, let alone seriously grapple Tel Aviv. Sharif, like al-Abdaly, the of whose ISoc he had been president.
with, the problem of radicalization Stockholm bomber, is believed to have Another of the plot’s leaders was
of students at UK universities—more been pushed toward violence by the Waheed Zaman, a graduate of London
than 15 years since the first British rhetoric of Hizb al-Tahir (HT), a radical Metropolitan University.11 Similarly,
but ostensibly non-violent Islamist the two leaders of the successful July
group.7 Other students recruited into 7, 2005 London bombings, Mohammed
1 “Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab: Report to UCL Coun-
HT at British universities have gone on Siddique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer,
cil of Independent Inquiry Panel,” University College
to play leading roles in setting up HT had both attended Leeds Metropolitan
London, September 2010, available at www.ucl.ac.uk/
branches in Pakistan and Bangladesh.8 University. These and other cases suggest
caldicott-enquiry/caldicottreport.pdf.
that Abdulmutallab’s radicalization at
2 For the most complete account of Abdulmutallab’s
UCL was not an outlier; it was part of
radicalization, see Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens and 5 Duncan Gardham, Marcus Oscarsson and Peter
Jacob Amis, “The Making of the Christmas Day Bomb- Hutchison, “Sweden Suicide Bomber: Taimur Abdulwa-
er,” Current Trends in Islamist Ideology 10 (2010). hab al-Abdaly Was Living in Britain,” Daily Telegraph, 9 Robin Simcox, Hannah Stuart and Houriya Ahmed,
3 In the United Kingdom, a campus “Islamic Society,” or December 12, 2010. Islamist Terrorism: The British Connections (London: The
“ISoc,” is an independent university organization funded 6 Personal interview, eyewitnesses, October 2010. Center for Social Cohesion, 2010), p. 329.
and run entirely by students. They are generally seen by 7 Shiv Malik, “NS Profile - Omar Sharif,” New Statesman, 10 Steve Bird, “Profile: Kafeel Ahmed, Glasgow Attack
university administrations as the de facto “representa- April 24, 2006. Terrorist Who Burnt to Death,” The Times, December 16,
tive” of Muslim students. 8 For instance, Dr. Nasim Ghani, a graduate of a Lon- 2008.
4 Adam Nossiter, “Lonely Trek to Radicalism for Terror don medical college, is now a leading organizer of Hizb 11 “Profiles: Airline Plot Accused,” BBC News, Septem-
Suspect,” New York Times, January 16, 2010. al-Tahrir in Bangladesh. ber 7, 2009.
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JAnUARY 2011 . VoL 4 . IssUE 1
a trend of university-educated radicals ISoc also invited radical speakers to their activities.18 One lecturer was so
becoming involved in sophisticated give campus talks—some of which were frightened by the ISoc’s behavior that
terrorist plots. canceled following pressure from civil she considered contacting the police.
society groups and activists.15
A Case Study: London’s City University These events, which took place on a
A striking example of the radicalization The hard line Salafi-jihadi ideology central London campus during the
currently occurring on British university propagated by City University’s ISoc 2009-2010 academic year, illustrate the
campuses is the events of the 2009- had immediate effects on campus. Jewish dangers that radical Islamists pose on
2010 academic year at City University,12 and homosexual students on campus British university campuses—both in
a college of 21,000 students in central reported being harassed by students terms of disrupting relations between
London that has a large population of suspected of being from the ISoc.16 Muslims and non-Muslims and in terms
local and foreign Muslim students.13 A police investigation into an attack of increasing the risk of radicalization
During this period, the university’s on Muslim students by local youths toward terrorism. They also show the
ISoc, which was led by mainly UK-born, collapsed after the ISoc discouraged challenges of preventing radicalization.
South Asian-origin Salafists, created Muslim eyewitnesses from assisting the For instance, although the ISoc’s
an atmosphere in which extremism “kuffar” police service.17 The ISoc also repeated promotion of extremism has
could, and did, flourish. For instance, sought to forcibly impose its views on undoubtedly increased the chances of
throughout the year, the ISoc’s leaders Muslim students. For instance, in early terrorism, the police or the security
gave Friday sermons in which they 2010 the ISoc attempted to order female services could do little to intervene as no
defended the principle “defensive laws were broken. Such “sub-criminal
and offensive jihad,” denounced the “Such ‘sub-criminal extremism” is inherently difficult to
“Western value system,” endorsed tackle—not least because until a student
extremism’ is inherently
homophobia as “Islamic” and called for commits an act of terrorism, their
the killing of Muslims who intentionally difficult to tackle—not radicalization is generally only more or
missed prayers.14 Other sermons given less hypothetical.
least because until a
by ISoc leaders advocated the creation
of an “Islamic state” in which adulterers student commits an Official Reaction
would be stoned to death. The ISoc’s Despite the mounting evidence that
act of terrorism, their
website re-published material by Abu British universities remain a crucible
Muhammed al-Maqdisi, the Jordanian radicalization is generally of extremism, the UK government has
al-Qa`ida theorist, and Ali al-Tamimi, been slow to act. For instance, even
only more or less
a U.S. preacher convicted of terrorism after the 2005 London bombings,
(“May Allah hasten his release,” in the hypothetical.” universities were largely excluded
words of the ISoc website). Into early from the government’s “Preventing
2010, the website also re-published Violent Extremism” program.
writings by Anwar al-`Awlaqi, the Simultaneously, university vice-
wanted Yemeni-American cleric, who Muslim students to leave campus at chancellors are struggling to face up
the ISoc had attempted to host via video- 4 PM every day, while students also to campus radicalization. “We all used
link the previous year. When al-`Awlaqi reported that some female Muslims to be radicals…Radicalization can be
was reported killed in an airstrike had been forced to wear the hijab. The a good thing,” this author was told
in December 2009, the ISoc posted ISoc also prevented Muslims from by the vice-chancellor of one London
a message of support, writing “May using an “interfaith prayer room,” a university whose alumni have recently
Allah protect him and the Muslims” and practice which they believed was haram been involved in a number of terrorist
predicting “there are many others like (forbidden). Instead, they began holding plots.19 Alarmingly, some universities
al-Aulaqi [sic], and if he dies a hundred Friday prayers in the university’s main have not only turned a blind eye to
more like him will arise, alhamdulillaah courtyard, a deliberately confrontational such extremism, but have actively
[praise be to God].” During the 2009- gesture that disrupted the university’s defended such extremists. For instance,
2010 academic year, City University’s academic work and is credited with in early 2010 the national British media
increasing tensions between Muslim reported that Friday sermons in the
and non-Muslim students. ISoc campus prayer room at the London
12 The following material is partly drawn from a brief-
members also sought to intimidate two School of Economics were being given
ing paper co-written by this author. The paper is based
university lecturers and students who by a prominent member of HT, who
on recordings of ISoc sermons, open-source material
had sought to draw public attention to is also a Ph.D. student and part-time
and interviews with a wide range of staff and students at
lecturer at the university, who was
City University. For the full paper, see “Radicalisation on
British University Campuses: A Case Study,” Quilliam
Foundation, October 2010. 15 “Muslim Students Continue Street Protests,” Times 18 A sample of these problems can be seen in the follow-
13 The university does not keep statistics on the percent- Higher Education Supplement, March 16, 2010. ing article in City’s student newspaper, as well as in the
age of Muslim students, but this is estimated by staff at 16 Jennifer Lipman, “London Campus was ‘Launch Pad comments that follow it: “City Islamic Society Defends
between 10-20%. For more details, see ibid. for Islamist Terrorism,’” The Jewish Chronicle, October 21, Radical Preacher and Threatens the Inquirer,” The In-
14 “‘Taliban Rule’ at British University,” Sunday Times, 2010. quirer, January 2, 2010.
October 17, 2010. Much of this data was also available on 17 For full details of these incidents, see “Radicalisation 19 Personal interview, vice-chancellor, anonymous Lon-
the ISoc’s website, which has since been removed. on British University Campuses: A Case Study.” don university, January 2010.
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JAnUARY 2011 . VoL 4 . IssUE 1
using this platform to promote the stand up to campus radicals, particularly Improving Airline Security
group.20 In response, the university ones who control ISocs, have a monopoly
in the United States
issued a statement defending the HT over Friday sermons and, as in the case
member on the grounds that he had not of LSE, are openly backed by university
said “anything unlawful during sermons authorities. Moreover, once radicals By Rafi Ron
at Friday prayers.”21 The student have seized control of an ISoc or a prayer
union also issued a press release in his room, problems tend to self-perpetuate almost 10 years after 9/11, the
defense, stating that “no-one should as this leadership appoints or grooms Transportation Security Administration
be subject to a media witch-hunt” and equally radical successors each year. (TSA) recently introduced another
that “we stand with students and staff There is also no official mechanism for technology system to improve airline
united in opposition to Islamophobia taking radicals out of such leadership security. Known as Advanced Imaging
and racism on campus...and are united positions since ISocs are independent, Technology (AIT), or “body scanners,”
in opposition to the victimization of student-run organizations.25 the new devices created a public
our colleagues.”22 Since then, Muslims uproar over privacy concerns since the
attending LSE Friday prayers have said As a result of these trends, it is hard to technology effectively sees through a
that this HT member still regularly uses see radicalization at British universities subject’s clothes during screening.1 The
his Friday sermons at LSE to advocate lessening any time soon. This will not AIT systems have been rapidly installed
HT policy, promote HT events and even only affect the security of the United at airports across the United States in
denounce critics by name—despite HT’s Kingdom—individuals previously the wake of an attempted terrorist attack
documented involvement in several radicalized at British universities on a U.S.-bound airliner on December
instances of university radicalization.23 have beheaded American journalists 25, 2009.
Many British universities appear to in Pakistan, carried out suicide bomb
regard Islamist radicalization primarily attacks in Israel and, most recently, On that day, Umar Farouk
as a public relations problem. Sweden, aided radical movements Abdulmutallab, a young Nigerian
through South Asia and elsewhere, Muslim, concealed a small explosive
Conclusion and Outlook and attempted to bomb U.S.-bound device in his underwear and boarded
The presence of radicalizing forces on airliners. Ongoing radicalization at a flight departing from Lagos, Nigeria,
British university campuses is clear. UK universities is not just a British connecting in Amsterdam to Detroit,
What is less clear is whether any action problem, but a global one. Michigan. The young terrorist was on a
will be taken to combat it. Although “divine” mission to blow up the aircraft
the British prime minister has recently James Brandon is Head of Research at the along with more than 200 passengers
spoken of the need to “de-radicalize our Quilliam Foundation, a counter-extremism and crew over Detroit. His intention
universities,” the barriers government think-tank based in London. was to kill as many people as possible,
must overcome are formidable.24 For including the unsuspecting Detroit
a start, even the most radical students suburban inhabitants on the ground.
rarely break the law, meaning that the Luckily, due to his poor skills (rather
police and security services are largely than any security measures implemented
powerless to take action against such at the airport) he failed his mission and
radicalization, even if it might ultimately ended up in a federal jail.
lead to terrorism. Simultaneously, the
left-leaning nature of British academia This incident has special significance
means that a right-leaning government for two reasons. First, Abdulmutallab’s
has few natural allies on campus. At the attempt revealed security failures at
same time, however, moderate students every layer—intelligence analysis,
opposed to extremism, including many airport security, and the handling of the
Muslims, have not yet found a way to incident by the on-board crew as well
as the handling of the plane by ground
authorities.2 Second, the attempted
20 Sean O’Neill, “Senior Member of Extreme Islamist
Group Hizb ut-Tahrir Teaches at LSE,” The Times, Janu-
ary 15, 2010. 1 The alternative to body scanning, however, is arguably
21 “Statement on Mr Reza Pankhurst,” London worse, as it involves intensive manual “pat downs” that
School of Economics, undated, available at www2.lse. under other circumstances would be considered a form
ac.uk/intranet/news/internalNews/internalNews- of harassment.
Archive/2010/01/RPankhurst.aspx. 2 For example, despite the grave situation on board, the
22 “Statement from the Students’ Union Regarding captain reported to the ground that there was no need
Recent Media Attention,” February 15, 2010, available for any emergency procedures. As a result, the airport
at www.lse.oncampus.net/pages/representation/state- 25 Although ISocs feature heavily in accounts of campus called off any emergency measures and the aircraft (car-
ment_on_mr_reza_pankhurst_.html. radicalization, this is not necessarily because of any in- rying a detained terrorist and an unexploded device) was
23 Personal interviews, anonymous students, London, trinsic problem with ISocs. Rather, it is likely because directed to a normal gate linked to the terminal (full of
March-April 2010. radical groups often focus on taking over these societies passengers and employees) with other aircraft close by.
24 William Maclean, “Britain Admits Security Lapses and making them into vehicles for their own ideology; in Passengers were allowed to disembark and mix with
After Sweden Blast,” Reuters, December 15, 2010. effect, making them hubs of campus radicalization. people present in the gate area without any screening
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JAnUARY 2011 . VoL 4 . IssUE 1
attack was almost a carbon copy of an In both cases, there were clear “red flags” Current Security Practices Inadequate
incident that took place eight years in the way their journey was prepared. Reviewing all attempted attacks against
earlier when another poorly skilled Both Reid and Abdulmutallab had one- U.S. aviation—starting with 9/11,
terrorist carried a similar explosive way tickets, both paid the travel fare in including Richard Reid’s shoe bomb
device (concealed in his shoe) on an cash, and both did not check any bags attempt, the liquid explosives plot
American Airlines flight from Paris to (for a transatlantic flight). Richard Reid and Abdulmutallab’s Christmas Day
Miami, earning his place in history as twice failed a short interview conducted attack—a clear common denominator
the “shoe bomber.” What is alarming by a private security firm (hired by is identified. It is the failure of
is that Abdulmutallab’s attempted American Airlines as part of a procedure aviation security technology to detect
terrorist attack in 2009 represents a implemented on inbound flights to the and prevent terrorists from carrying
level of security failure worse than the out their missions successfully. In
one eight years earlier. “Reviewing all attempted all of these attacks, the weapon or
the explosive devices were smuggled
Similarities to the Shoe Bomber attacks against U.S. through security checkpoints to the
The similarities between the two aviation, a clear common aircraft, or, as in the case of the liquid
attacks are astounding. Both devices explosives plot, was luckily stopped by
used pentaerythritol tetranitrate denominator is identified. early intelligence as there was nothing
(PETN) as the main explosive material. It is the failure of aviation at the airport that could have detected
Both contained no metal parts to avoid explosives in liquid form.
airport metal detection technology. security technology
Both used improvised detonators. Both to detect and prevent The problem started shortly after 9/11
were carried on the terrorist’s body to when the TSA was created with the
avoid x-ray screening. Both explosives terrorists from carrying conviction that the terrorist threat
required some basic skill to detonate, could be met by improving the quality
out their missions
which is why both terrorists failed. of the airport screening operation. Yet
successfully.” the notion that the terrorists’ success
On the human side, both Richard Reid on the morning of 9/11 was the result
(the “shoe bomber”) and Abdulmutallab of a “screening failure” is misleading.
were inexperienced and were not able At that time, box cutters and other
to avoid suspicion from people around United States). Abdulmutallab was sharp items were practically allowed on
them prior to the attack. Richard Reid, not subjected to this procedure as it board. Even if such items were banned,
for example, drew suspicion from the had since been changed to address however, there was still the open
security guard that interviewed him immigration concerns. Security aspects cockpit door and the FAA guideline
prior to checking in to his flight, to the of his limited human encounter were for pilots to cooperate with hijackers;
point that French police were called in minimized to checking his name against indeed, this would have led to the same
to interrogate him for more than two the “No Fly” and suspected terrorist tragic result.
hours only to release him as a legitimate watch lists. There is good reason to
passenger. Missing the original flight assume, based on his behavior after his Moreover, nine of the 19 terrorists on
as a result, he showed up the next day arrest, that had Abdulmutallab been 9/11 were identified by a computerized
and once again the French police were subjected to a professional security (non-racial) profiling system called
summoned, although this time they interview, he would have been flagged CAPPS, which was developed by the
cleared him to fly. Reid still drew further as “suspicious.” FAA and used by the airlines as a
suspicion from the flight attendant at mandatory requirement. The response
the aircraft door who described him The TSA’s conclusion from the protocol to CAPPS selection of “high
as having a threatening appearance, “shoe bomber” attack in 2001 was risk” passengers was an additional
as well as by the cabin attendant who disappointing and off the mark. It shallow “pat down,” which was less
reported to the senior flight attendant a was characterized by a minimalist than adequate to stop Muhammad `Atta
“suspicious passenger” prior to takeoff. approach, defining the terrorist modus and his team since they did not carry
operandi (MO) as “carrying a bomb in banned items.
shoes” rather than “carrying a bomb on
the body.” This reactive approach led to In the aftermath of 9/11, the policy
forcing passengers to take off their shoes that was created and implemented to
and submitting them to x-ray screening. avoid another terrorist attack could
As a result, it left the door open to an al- be summarized as using screening
Qa`ida operative and bombmaker based technology to detect forbidden items
in Yemen to take advantage of it eight prior to boarding the aircraft. The
or questioning (ignoring the risk of a second terrorist on
years later, sending Abdulmutallab emphasis was on the use of technology
board). The wounded terrorist was detained by two law
with an explosive device concealed to mitigate the threat. The other aspect
enforcement officers and was taken without any special
in his underwear. The only surprise, of that policy was to avoid any form of
security measures by ambulance to the nearest hospital.
perhaps, is that it took al-Qa`ida eight discrimination; as a result, the search
This chain of events is characterized by a lack of under-
years to repeat the attack. for banned items had to be carried
standing of the situation and resulted in putting the pub-
out in a uniform manner. This policy,
lic at risk of a potential disaster at the airport.
9