Bill Gertz highlights for Washington Free Beacon readers an analysis of ISIS’ latest actions.
The suicide bombings in Brussels represent a shift in tactics for the Islamic State terrorist group toward direct, mass casualty attacks in Europe, according to a State Department security report.
“The March 22 bombings in Brussels and the November 13 attacks in Paris highlight a strategic shift by ISIL to direct operations in Europe versus relying on inspired and self-radicalized individuals,” said the report by the Overseas Security Advisory Council, a State Department security office that works with American corporations overseas.
“European authorities continue to warn of the risk of additional mass casualty attacks in the region,” the internal report based on open sources said.
Additionally, dozens of active Islamic State terrorists are now operating in Belgium and Europe. The Tuesday suicide bombings were carried out by Belgian extremists trained in Syria and Iraq who returned to the continent, the report said.
Three suicide blasts—two at Belgium’s international airport and one at a subway station— were set off between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. local time, killing 31 people and wounding 270.
The report warned that the threat of further terrorist attacks in Europe “remains high in the near future.”
“So far, ISIL has not targeted the U.S. private sector in Europe,” the report said. “However, the group is likely to continue coordinating attacks against soft targets to heighten the potential for collateral damage and maximize causalities.”
As a result, Americans in Europe should be vigilant for further terrorist bombings or shootings.
