The most well-known ISIS terrorist atrocities in Europe, including the 2015 Paris and 2016 Brussels attacks, saw individuals who in the past had been involved in organized crime and illegal trade graduate into the ranks of the world’s most successful terrorist organisation. It is now widely assumed that Europe’s terrorists are no longer radicals first and foremost but criminals who turned to political violence at some stage throughout their ordinary crime careers. Thus a threat emanating from the “crime-terror nexus” hangs over Europe.
GLOBSEC, an independent, non-partisan, non-governmental organisation which aims to shape the global debate on foreign and security policy, responded to this threat by developing a research and advocacy project aimed at addressing the “crime-terror nexus” in Europe. Our project titled From Criminals to Terrorists and Back? will:
- collect, collate and analyse data on terrorism convicts from 11 EU countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK) with the highest number of arrests for terrorism offences. We will investigate whether these individuals had prior criminal connections, and if so, whether a specific connection to illegal trade is a precursor to terrorism, and to what extent this trade funds terrorism. In short, we will check whether crime-terror nexus exists and how strong it truly is.
- disseminate project findings at high profile GLOBSEC Strategic Forums (GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum, TATRA Summit, Chateau Bela conferences) and other internationally acclaimed gatherings which attract decision makers, experts, private sector and law enforcement representatives, while also incorporating their expert level feedback into our work.
- help shape and strengthen the European counter-terrorism efforts by providing tailor made solutions on combating crime-terror nexus and terrorist financing via education and awareness, and advocacy efforts involving decision makers and security stakeholders in the 11 targeted countries. This line of activity directly links the project to the widely acclaimed work of the GLOBSEC Intelligence Reform Initiative (GIRI), led by Sec. Michael Chertoff, which is involved in developing and promoting more effective transatlantic counter-terrorism solutions.
Kick off family picture:
Judging by the kickoff, our #crimeterror project looks very promising. Big thanks to all our partners for your inputs and positive attitude! pic.twitter.com/RFHYFvZO5T
— GLOBSEC (@GLOBSEC) September 29, 2017
Video explainer:
The more we know about terrorists, the bigger is the chance we can hamper their activities. The kickoff of our #crimeterror project today! pic.twitter.com/P9OxanlZFn
— GLOBSEC (@GLOBSEC) September 28, 2017
Kacper Rekawek, leader of the project:
Our @KacperRekawek on the contribution of the #crimeterror research to #European #security. #PMIIMPACT pic.twitter.com/dZ9VwnKIXC
— GLOBSEC (@GLOBSEC) September 23, 2017
Presentation of the project by Alena Kudzko in London:
@AlenaKudzko From Criminals to Terrorists and Back? How @GLOBSEC Researches #CRIMETERROR https://t.co/990K20JFVr #CombatIllicitTrade #Ftlive pic.twitter.com/bDXNiA8Wop
— Brand Enforcement (@Brand_Enforce) September 27, 2017
RTVS interview on the inception report:
.@GLOBSEC‘s #crimeterror report is already making waves. Here’s @StanleyMat
talking to @rtvshttps://t.co/evSefJ3zqs pic.twitter.com/gcTWe8T9WW— GLOBSEC (@GLOBSEC) December 15, 2017
Media coverage:
- https://www.fairobserver.com/region/europe/europe-jihad-crime-terrorism-security-world-news-today-00198/
- https://dennikn.sk/891332/naozaj-sa-stavaju-z-malych-zlocincov-teroristi-slovaci-spustaju-velky-vyskum-v-jedenastich-krajinach/
- https://dennikn.sk/977177/volaju-to-gangster-dzihad-velka-cast-teroristov-v-europe-predtym-spachala-iny-zlocin-zistila-slovenska-studia/
- https://svet.sme.sk/c/20720165/hlavne-centrum-dzihadistov-je-hned-za-hranicou.html
- the New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/12/world/middleeast/isis-attacks.html
- buzzfeed https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mitchprothero/european-terrorism-isis-prisons
- HLN Daily https://www.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/helft-belgische-terroristen-begint-als-crimineel~a8b9c141/https://www.demorgen.be/binnenland/eerst-crimineel-dan-terrorist-is-een-belgisch-fenomeen-b8b9c141/?referer=
- Express Business https://nl.express.live/2018/09/12/meer-dan-de-helft-van-de-europese-rekruten-hadden-een-crimineel-verleden
- Czech national radio https://www.rozhlas.cz/zaznamy/portal/#/2018-09-11/20
- Le Parisien Aujourd’hui en France, http://m.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/djihadisme-le-portrait-robot-de-200-radicalises-europeens-11-09-2018-7884060.php
- RTL FR, https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/terrorisme-4-informations-a-retenir-sur-le-profil-des-jihadistes-europeens-7794747693
- BILD, https://www.bild.de/bild-plus/politik/ausland/politik-ausland/neue-studie-untersucht-verbindung-zwischen-kriminalitaet-und-dschihadismus-wie-d-57176982,view=conversionToLogin.bild.html
- 444.hu,https://444.hu/2018/09/11/igy-nez-ki-ma-az-europai-dzsihad
- La Verita, https://www.laverita.info/community/marcolombardi
- Gazeta Wyborcza, http://wyborcza.pl/7,75399,23902201,ekspert-ostrzega-przed-nowymi-animatorami-dzihadu-w-europie.htmlhttp://wyborcza.pl/7,75399,23902145,dzihad-po-europejsku-eksperci-zbadali-losy-200-terrorystow.htmlhttp://wyborcza.pl/7,75399,23910894,brytyjczycy-musza-wypuscic-z-wiezienia-znanego-piewce-dzihadu.html
- Tvn24, https://www.tvn24.pl/polska-i-swiat,33,m/17-rocznica-atakow-na-wtc-polska-i-swiat,867809.html
- Tok FM Radio, http://audycje.tokfm.pl/szukaj/globsec
- RTL Nieuws, https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/nederland/artikel/4415156/ex-lid-hofstadgroep-jason-walters-terroristen-komen-slimmer-de
- de Volkskrant, https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/veroordeelde-jihadisten-in-2023-nieuw-veiligheidsgevaar-voor-europa-vreest-denktank~b03bb174/
- SME, https://domov.sme.sk/c/20910532/analytik-rekawek-k-teroristom-sa-pridavaju-aj-ludia-v-strednej-europe.htmlhttps://svet.sme.sk/c/20910670/dzihadizmus-a-europa.html
- Sky News Arabia, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQNrzqKwgAA&feature=youtu.be
- Euronews, https://www.euronews.com/2019/01/06/report-nearly-all-terror-attacks-france-carried-out-radicals-already-n955276?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1546815822
- NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/report-nearly-all-terror-attacks-france-carried-out-radicals-already-n955276?fbclid=IwAR3VxTE91QQO0Y_volQIm8TegV75OVktmmI1uMfs0PN8Ok3UH-_RrNUgcPE
- https://www.globsec.org/news/frances-crime-terror-nexus-whats-changed/
Project team
- Kacper Rekawek
- Stanislav Matějka
- Martina Babíková