A joint operation last week closed in on a group believed to have close ties to Algeria?s radical Islamist group, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) . According to Italian news agency Ansa, French and Italian police and judicial members have been engaged in a far-reaching investigation that led to the arrests. The charges were based on evidence gathered from over 12 months of closely scrutinizing the network suspected of financing Islamic terror groups. In July 2005, the head of French police said that his organization had retrieved compelling evidence that the GSPC had been in contact with al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi among others and that arrangements included operations in North Africa and possibly France. Whether these arrests were part of that investigation could not be confirmed.
While France has strongly opposed the war in Iraq , this has by no means granted them immunity against an attack from any of the many European-based Islamic radical networks. Their cooperation with the US and UK on the war on terror and the presence of French troops in Afghanistan are factors that keep France in the crosshairs of many Islamic radicals. Very specific threats have been directed toward them, especially after the Madrid and London bombings. This has led to enhanced security measures and intensified anti-terrorism precautions. In addition, France struggles with immigration and integration problems relating specifically to a large number of Muslim immigrants. Algerian Muslims remains one of the largest minority groups in France due to the relative ease with which many North Africans can immigrate to the country that once colonized them. As TRC has reported , a large percentage of France?s Muslim youth experience unemployment, racism, and a deep-seated sense of socio-economic disparity. This fact is particularly true to the second and third generations of Muslims who struggle with the hardship of being seen as outcasts in both their native country and their country of origin (see this WAR Report) whether it is Algeria, Morocco , or Senegal .
Italy has also suffered repeated verbal blows from al-Qaeda due to their unfaltering support of US President George Bush and the war in Iraq. If the threats are to be taken seriously, an attack on Italian soil could be imminent. The Italian government has also stepped up their anti-terrorism safeguards with a series of preventative measures. Groups with links to al-Qaeda such as GSPC have proven to have a well-established presence in Italy that the intelligence service is striving to keep a close eye on. The new direction Italy?s foreign policy will take with the newly elected Romano Prodi will be telling vis-?-vis terrorist targeting. Prodi has strongly come out against the war in Iraq and is likely to move away from Silvio Berlusconi?s pro-US agenda. Prodi has also articulated a more sympathetic approach to the Palestinians and might seek to smooth tensions between the members of the European Union who have refused relations with Hamas and the new Palestinian leadership. Whether this will gain Italy some leeway in the Islamic radical entities eyes remain to be seen.
The attacks in Madrid and London have led Europe to remain on highest alert; however, the regrettable events have also led to a enhanced collaboration between the EU countries? law enforcement, a quite positive side effect. As this past week?s arrests have proven, the new-found firm commitment is accomplishing successes.