Posted on Nov 28, 2015
Intel officials believe risk of terrorists using refugee crisis to carry out attacks low in US, but high in Western Europe. Do you agree?
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No... I do not believe this at all...
U.S. intelligence officials believe the risk of Islamic terrorists using the refugee crisis to infiltrate the U.S. and carry out a terrorist attack is low, but the chance of it happening in Western Europe is high.
The problem lies in the scale of the European migration and gaps in biometric technology in Mediterranean border areas. Few of those points are equipped with real-time fingerprint scanners, causing delays in identification of possible terrorists through prints, according to intelligence briefings reviewed by NBC News.
Mobile fingerprint technology linked to central databases — used by the Coast Guard to identify illegal migrants at sea since 2006 — is now being sold or given to Mediterranean countries coping with the crush of refugees.
The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have hardware and software — such as the PISCES system — to help foreign countries screen and target terrorists and foreign fighters.
Intelligence officials are using a system called the Forced Migration Analysis Tool to track the movements of refugees and identify security concerns. They are particularly worried about the flow into four countries: Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece and Italy.
Some 380,000 migrants have arrived in Europe this year, double the number in 2014; Germany alone will see its population of 80 million increase by 1 percent because of the influx.
Of the Syrians pouring into Europe, 70 percent are young men ages 15 to 30, an added challenge for officials looking at that demographic for possible terrorists who might try to exploit the migrant flow.
Intelligence briefings note that the threat in Europe was known well before the attacks in Paris last week.
In February, the European Union's border control agency, Frontex, reported that extremists were being smuggled in on those routes and In April, ISIS boasted it was loading migrant boats with its operatives.
In May, a Moroccan man who traveled to Italy in a migrant boat was arrested for helping mount the deadly ISIS-linked attack on Tunisia's Bardo Museum. Months later, Bulgaria detained five men who posed as refugees in an attempt to cross the border and had ISIS propaganda, including decapitation videos, on their phones.
Not cited in the briefings was a newer incident in which five Syrians holding bogus Greek passports were nabbed in Honduras, allegedly on their way to the United States. Honduran authorities said they don't believe the men had any connection to terrorism and were just seeking to emigrate.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/intel-officials-migrant-risk-high-europe-low-u-s-n465846
U.S. intelligence officials believe the risk of Islamic terrorists using the refugee crisis to infiltrate the U.S. and carry out a terrorist attack is low, but the chance of it happening in Western Europe is high.
The problem lies in the scale of the European migration and gaps in biometric technology in Mediterranean border areas. Few of those points are equipped with real-time fingerprint scanners, causing delays in identification of possible terrorists through prints, according to intelligence briefings reviewed by NBC News.
Mobile fingerprint technology linked to central databases — used by the Coast Guard to identify illegal migrants at sea since 2006 — is now being sold or given to Mediterranean countries coping with the crush of refugees.
The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have hardware and software — such as the PISCES system — to help foreign countries screen and target terrorists and foreign fighters.
Intelligence officials are using a system called the Forced Migration Analysis Tool to track the movements of refugees and identify security concerns. They are particularly worried about the flow into four countries: Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece and Italy.
Some 380,000 migrants have arrived in Europe this year, double the number in 2014; Germany alone will see its population of 80 million increase by 1 percent because of the influx.
Of the Syrians pouring into Europe, 70 percent are young men ages 15 to 30, an added challenge for officials looking at that demographic for possible terrorists who might try to exploit the migrant flow.
Intelligence briefings note that the threat in Europe was known well before the attacks in Paris last week.
In February, the European Union's border control agency, Frontex, reported that extremists were being smuggled in on those routes and In April, ISIS boasted it was loading migrant boats with its operatives.
In May, a Moroccan man who traveled to Italy in a migrant boat was arrested for helping mount the deadly ISIS-linked attack on Tunisia's Bardo Museum. Months later, Bulgaria detained five men who posed as refugees in an attempt to cross the border and had ISIS propaganda, including decapitation videos, on their phones.
Not cited in the briefings was a newer incident in which five Syrians holding bogus Greek passports were nabbed in Honduras, allegedly on their way to the United States. Honduran authorities said they don't believe the men had any connection to terrorism and were just seeking to emigrate.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/intel-officials-migrant-risk-high-europe-low-u-s-n465846
Intelligence
Terrorism
Technology
US Department of Homeland Security
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 8
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This flood of refugees is to good an opertunity for the terrorist to pass up. Who knows how many have flooded into Europe, then eventually to the US.
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Real refugees don't act like this. Throwing rocks and such at trucks, walking down the middle of freeways. This is what we in Europe have to put up with: http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/udland/2015-11-29-lastbilchauffoer-forsoeger-at-koere-flygtninge-af-vejen-maa-springe-for-livet
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Historically the Atlantic Ocean has made a difference for us. When we eliminate that barrier we will be at greater risk. How much greater, hard to tell. ISIS and others view us as their greatest target. Europe is easier (softer) and has more porous borders so it is easier to hit. We've seen the Charlie Hebdo attack, the thwarted train attack that could have had a very large death toll too and the more recent attack in Paris with 130 dead, hundreds wounded. I have traveled in Europe a lot on business and the train stations and ability to move from country to country with little or no real check is a real security risk. Madrid is a good reminder of that.
It does not take more than a handful of radicals here or there with the intent/motivation/desire to kill a lot of people to wreak havoc. It is unrealistic to think, in light of what has happened and what ISIS has stated their goals to be, to think they will not use any mechanism they can to their advantage. These are people that torture and murder innocents with extreme prejudice. They have a death cult mentality and have no real shortage of people willing to do their bidding right now.
The threat is looming and growing and is not "contained" as the head of our government seems to think. Until and unless they are being decimated and put on the defensive we should assume they are on the offensive which attacks of late seem to indicate. Acting as though they will not come here given any chance it folly.
It does not take more than a handful of radicals here or there with the intent/motivation/desire to kill a lot of people to wreak havoc. It is unrealistic to think, in light of what has happened and what ISIS has stated their goals to be, to think they will not use any mechanism they can to their advantage. These are people that torture and murder innocents with extreme prejudice. They have a death cult mentality and have no real shortage of people willing to do their bidding right now.
The threat is looming and growing and is not "contained" as the head of our government seems to think. Until and unless they are being decimated and put on the defensive we should assume they are on the offensive which attacks of late seem to indicate. Acting as though they will not come here given any chance it folly.
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