Written by Tolulope Ola-David, DCPL Senior Analyst

1. Counter insurgency beyond mere declarations
Tuesday’s attacks on Brussels airport and downtown metro stop in Brussels follow the arrest of Salah
Abdeslam, an accused suspect in the November terror attacks in Paris that targeted a concert hall, a
stadium, cafes as well as restaurants, killing 130 people and injuring at least 350 others.
Heightenedsecuritymeasureshave beenimposedaroundthe world,withthe UnitedStates, the United
Kingdom,Spainand the Czech Republic deploying more forces in transportation centres and potential
soft targets. Security will remain heightened in Belgium and other European nations.
Terror Attacks in Belgium
For fifteen years, Belgium has witnessed many terror attacks. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
(ISIL) claimedresponsibility for the attacks on Tuesday. Belgium is not just the capital of the European
Unionit representsthe ‘logistical centre’ forISIL. Molenbeek,aninner-city district in Brussels depicts a
breeding ground for jihadi.
The suspectin a shooting thatkilledfourpeople atthe JewishMuseuminBrussels in 2014 had stayed in
Molenbeek andsoare otherattackers,includingmembersof asuspected ISIL terror cell in Verviers and
a member of the group responsible for the 2004 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191. Belgian
Interior Minister Jan Jambon has vowed to rid the community of Jihadi after the Paris attacks in
November.
In October2004, a BelgiancourtsentencedtoprisontermseightIslamicmilitants linked to Al Qaeda for
plottingterrorattacks.On November14,2015 Belgianpolice arrested somepeople aftersearcheslinked
them to Paris Terror attacks.
While there is a growing proof of small jihadist cells operating in Europe, especially in places like
Molenbeek, Belgiumremainsacountrywiththe highestpercapitanumbersof nationals and/ residents
whohave traveledto Syriaand Iraq to take up arms. According to the United Nations working group on
the use of mercenaries,an estimated500 Belgianshave left Belgium to fight in places such as Syria and
Iraq. Brussels-based Egmont think-tank also estimated that at least 300 Belgians have to Syria and Iraq
to join ISIL.
High Level of Trust and Intelligence
Unitingagainstterrormust go beyond mere declarations,EuropeanUnionmemberStatesmustunite to
share and coordinate intelligence in the fight against terrorist originations. While Intelligence sharing
requires ahighlevel of trust,itpresentsaunique opportunityforthe EuropeanUnionmember states to
jointly fight terrorism.
Written by Tolulope Ola-David, DCPL Senior Analyst.