Dr. Bahaa Helmy Writes: New Forms of International Terrorism

Terrorist operations are undergoing a serious and rapid qualitative evolution in the variety of methods and the multiplicity of means used to carry them out, with the aim of claiming the largest number of victims of different nationalities by targeting gatherings and crowds. Terrorism roams the countries of the world now that terrorists have put the ideology, background, groundwork, planning and execution on the internet, in the virtual world, for anyone who wishes to carry out a terrorist operation at any time – which shows how efficiently they use technologies, communication tools, concealment and camouflage, in a professional manner that may exceed the expectations of governments and agencies in the targeted countries. The variety of methods and means of carrying out terrorist operations is not limited to how targets are monitored, planned and attacked, but extends to choosing the place and the precise time of the crime in order to inflict the greatest possible human, economic, moral and political losses. Only recently, Nice, the jewel of the French Riviera, suffered a brutal attack on the French national day that killed more than 84 people and injured a hundred, 50 of them seriously, of various nationalities, as they prepared to take part in the scheduled celebrations, when a truck driver plowed into the crowds, entering the widest street the truck could pass through at high speed and over a long distance, causing the disaster. Before that came the terrorist attack at Istanbul airport in Turkey and the Brussels bombings, incidents that drew attention to the importance of securing airports, as they house the most important means of transport and have a profound impact on national economies; indeed the impact is severe on security, the economy, insurance companies, tourism, the aviation industry and air transport, which is not very different from the repercussions of the latest terrorist attack in France. It is clear from the above that the tactics of terrorism rely on three main methods. The first: organized collective action to carry out terrorist operations. The second is individual acts (lone wolves) coordinated with terrorist organizations through the virtual world, or by those who returned to their home countries after taking part in Syria or Iraq and whom those countries did not notice despite President Sisi's earlier warnings. The third is individual acts by those influenced by, or believing in, the ideology of jihad on the internet whenever they wish – which shows the extent of the challenges facing intelligence and security services in the various countries of the world. As for analyzing the targeted sites in light of the lessons learned, we find that terrorist operations focus on airports, train and metro stations, passenger transport hubs, shopping centers, celebrations, matches and places where crowds gather or that the public frequents. Nor can the aims of terrorism be limited to human losses alone; it also targets stability and the economy and seeks to shake confidence in the ability of the security and intelligence services and governments of the targeted countries. This points to the importance of taking certain key measures, such as: coordination and integration between the national intelligence services to analyze all information and events and to draw up response plans and follow up their implementation, together with the importance of cooperation with intelligence services at the regional and international levels; establishing a new international system to monitor everything broadcast in cyberspace and on the internet in the way of incitement or any means of manufacturing or using explosives, while preventing the appearance of any means that incite hatred of humanity; the media taking on the task of educating and raising citizens' awareness of terrorist methods and how to act in times of crisis, stressing the need for unity and solidarity between citizens, the security forces and the armed forces as one of the strongest means of confronting terrorism; in addition to focusing on training to achieve professional security performance, and drawing on past lessons to remedy any shortcomings or gaps.