Belgium: The Terror Nest of Europe?
Belgium: The Terror Nest of Europe?
TERROR IN BELGIUM: FROM BAD TO WORSE
- January 2014 to may 2014: shooting at Jewish museum at Brussels
- May 2014-January 2015: Weapons used in charlie Hebdo attack and Group in Verviers opened fire during counter terrorism operation
- January 2015 to August 2015: attempted Thalys shooting
- August 2015 to November 2015: Paris attacks To December 2015
ROOT CAUSES:
1. Unemployment among non-western immigrants
- 22.6% Flanders
- 34.3% Brussels
- 36.8% Wallonia
90% of those unemployed do not speak Dutch
only 44% of second generation immigrants in Flanders are employed
More westerners under the age of 25 are three times more likely to be unemployed than native Belgians
2. Joining a militant group is an alternative to drugs, petty crime and street violence
- More than 500 Belgian Muslims are estimated to have joined ISIS since 2011 – one in 1260
3. Permissiveness of authorities who have allowed groups like Sharia4Belgium to operate
4. Fragmented administration hinders counter – radicalization initiatives. The Brussels region alone has 19 MUNICIPALITIES and 6 POLICE FORCES
5. Government has not cracked down on illegal arms trade until recently
- 90% of weapons circulating in Belgium estimated to come from Balkans
- Until 2006, Only a (fake) Belgian ID was required to buy a gun
- 5700 instances of ilegal firearms confiscated every year
- 1,600-2100 weapons reported stolen every year
