European Union: Recent Activities in the Area of Counter-terrorism

On December 2nd, 2016, the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) at the European Police Office (Europol) released his report on changes in modus operandi of the so-called Islamic State (IS). The report provides an up-to date assessment of the threat this group poses to the EU, on which basis EU Member States can prepare for future attacks. Currently the EU is facing a range of terrorist threats and attacks: from networked groups to lone actors; attacks directed by IS and those inspired by IS; the use of explosives and automatic rifles as well as bladed weapons and vehicles; and carefully prepared attacks alongside those that seem to be carried out spontaneously. IS has proven to be very effective in inspiring people to commit terrorist acts and in setting attacks in motion themselves.