U.K. terror chief warns IS planning 'spectacular' attacks on West
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 8 March 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, U.K. terror chief warns IS planning 'spectacular' attacks on West, 8 March 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/570cdfc24.html [accessed 3 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
March 08, 2016
Britain's counterterrorism chief has warned that the Islamic State (IS) militant group wants to launch "enormous and spectacular attacks" targeting Western lifestyles, not just military targets.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley told reporters in London on March 7 that while IS once struck primarily at symbols of the state, such the military and police, the group is now planning broader attacks like last November's string of attacks in Paris on a concert hall, stadium, and bars, which killed 130 people.
"You see a terrorist group which has big ambitions for enormous and spectacular attacks, not just the types that we've seen foiled to date," he said.
Rowley stressed that police have no information about such an attack at present, but said authorities should plan for all possibilities.
Rowley said IS is no longer content to simply radicalize so-called "lone wolf" attackers through propaganda on the Internet, but is "trying to build bigger attacks."
He added that the group is also trying to bring extremists trained in Syria into northern Europe to launch strikes.
Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
