Jihadism in Belgium

In 2020, it became clear that the danger emanating from terror organizations like the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda has not been eliminated. Instead, there is talk of a new outbreak of jihadist terrorism. This paper is part of the “Jihadist Terrorism in Europe” series, in which renowned experts analyze the current state of the jihadist threat in various countries, as well as the related counter-terrorism strategies and the political debates. › In this paper, the authors, Guy Van Vlierden and Pieter Van Ostaeyen, look at Belgium as one of Europe’s hardest hit countries in the current wave of jihadist terrorism. › In 2014, Belgium suffered the first-ever attack by the so-called Islamic State on Western soil, and in 2016 one of the deadliest, with the bombings at the Brussels Airport and one of its metro stations. › Comparing the recent events with Belgium’s terrorist history, and looking at the extent of Belgium’s foreign terrorist fighters phenomenon, the authors demonstrate how the Syrian war has placed Belgium in its toughest chapter ever. › A detailed overview of all jihadist attacks and thwarted plots since 2017, when the Islamic State’s caliphate began to crumble, seems to indicate that the jihadist threat in Belgium has passed its peak. › However, the authors argue that this threat is by no means over. Looking at the whole of Western Europe, there was again a slight increase in 2020, both in the number of incidents and in the number of casualties. › With 645 jihadists in the official Common Database of Belgian security services, the number of potential terrorists remains high for a country with less than twelve million inhabitants. › It is important to bear in mind that small-scale attacks with a relatively low number of victims can contribute disproportionately to a further polarization after the terror that Belgium has experienced. › The authors believe that Belgium is reasonably well armed against future terrorism in terms of competence within its security services and its legal framework. However, the trial of terror suspects is often still a weak link.

ISBN:978-3-95721-944-2

Publication year:2021

Accessibility:Open