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1 [1] (July 18, 2016)

handle is hein.crs/crsmthabggv0001 and id is 1 raw text is: CRS INSIGHT European Security and Islamist Terrorism July 18, 2016 (IN10209) I Related Authors Kristin Archick Paul Belkin I Kristin Archick, Specialist in European Affairs (karchickahcraoc.gov, 7-2668) Paul Belkin, Analyst in European Affairs (,belkin(a)c 1 ,7-0220) The Evolving Terrorist Threat in Europe Over the last two years, European governments and the European Union (EU) have grown increasingly alarmed by the rise of the Islamic State terrorist organization, its ability to attract European citizens to join the fighting in the Syria-Iraq region, and its use of violent extremist propaganda to inspire others. Security experts view the Novmber 132015 ataksin Paris (which killed 130 people) and the March 22 2016 bmbings in Brussels (in which 32 people died) as indications that the Islamic State's capacity to direct large-scale, coordinated attacks elsewhere in the world, especially in Europe, has increased. Many of those identified as directly responsible for the Paris and Brussels attacks reportedly fought in Syria and were connected to a 'EuroDean brangh of the Islamic Stalt. Some observers suggest that there could be many potential European recruits among the timatd 5,000 Eurqpens who have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State and other extremist groups. At the same time, European officials remain concerned about the possibility of lone wolf' attacks carried out by individuals who have not traveled abroad to fight but have been inspired by Islamist propaganda to commit violence at home. Although the Islamic State has claimed that the perpetrator of the July 14, 20 16 ck attack in Nice_ France, was its soldier, authorities believe that the perpetrator was largely seLradiLalized. At least 84 people died in this incident, including two Amercarn. The uptick in terrorist activity has reinforced long-standing anxieties about the integration of Muslims in Europe and the potential for radicalization among some segments of Europe's Muslim populations. Trrrim in Eure i not new, but these incidents are the latest in a string of attacks linked to Islamist extremism and to the brand of extremism practiced by the Islamic State and its followers. Many of the recent attacks have exposed weaknesses in European domestic security, intelligence sharing, and border controls. Some perpetrators appear to have taken advantage of the Sche.gen system, which largely permits individuals to travel among most European countries without passport checks. For example, the suspected ringleader of the November attacks in Paris may have repeatedly traveled back and forth between Europe and Syria, despite being known to European security services. Europe's migration and refugee crisis has also heightened fears that terrorists could slip into Europe more easily. At least two of the November 2015 Paris assailants may have entered Europe through Greece in early October by posing as refugees

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