Bi-Weekly Update 1: Terrorism & Counterterrorism

Syria: 6 Killed and 20 Wounded in Motorcycle Bomb Attack Outside Shia Shrine in Damascus (27/07/2023)

At least 6 people have been killed and 20 wounded following a bomb attack on the Sayeda Zeinab mausoleum, the most visited Shia Muslim pilgrimage site in Syria. This occurred one day before Ashura, a day of mourning observed by Shia Muslims. Whilst it is still unclear what the motivations were behind the attack as well as who carried it out, Syrian officials have designated the incident a “terrorist bombing.” Shia Muslims have frequently come under attack in Syria, during the Syrian civil war the mausoleum was at the centre of several deadly bombings and as recently as 2016, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a bombing 400 metres away from the site that killed 134 people.

Israel: Palestinians Should be Treated as “Protected Persons, Not Enemies or Terrorists” Says UN expert (26/07/2023)

A recently published Protection of Civilians report unveiled that 2023 has been the deadliest year since monitoring  began in 2005 for Palestinians in the West Bank. The publication highlights 112 Palestinians were killed there in the first half of 2023 compared to 150 in the whole of 2022. In light of this, the UN released a press statement in which they stated that “pending the dismantlement of its unlawful occupation, Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory must be treated as protected persons, not enemies or terrorists.” This comes off the back of heightened tensions in the region with an increasingly pro-occupationist government conducting regular incursions into Palestinian territory and holy sites alongside far-right groups.

Sahel: Fears that the Niger Coup Will Cripple Counter-Terrorism Efforts in the Region (27/07/2023)

Over the last week, President Bazoum of Niger has been ousted in a military coup by generals citing deteriorating security in the country. This comes at a time when the Sahel region is facing a severe terrorist threat from both Islamic and tribal militants. Between January and June 30, there were 2,725 attacks in Burkina Faso, 844 in Mali, 77 in Niger and 70 attacks in Nigeria that all led to 4,593 deaths. The response to this violence has so far been a move away from democracy towards a resurgence of military power. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea all operate under military regimes, Burkina Faso experiencing a Russian backed coup also citing deteriorating security earlier this year, and it seems that Niger will join this group. This trend makes it much more difficult to coordinate joint campaigns against terrorist groups both between West African nations and alongside Western military forces. Whilst such operations have not always been successful, the French-led European operation in Mali struggling both militarily and in terms of fostering local support, the future remains uncertain for counter-terrorism in West Africa.

Belgium: 6 Men Found Guilty of 2016 Brussels Terrorist Attack that Left 32 Dead and 300 Injured (25/07/2023)

6 men have been found guilty of involvement in the 2016 bombings that took place in Brussels Airport as well as in a Brussels metro station by the European Parliament. These bombings were part of a series of coordinated attacks by Islamic State cells in Europe in 2015 and 2016. One defendant from the Brussel’s bombing, Salah Abdeslam, has also been found guilty of his involvement in the well-known Bataclan bombing in Paris. In total, 8 of 10 defendants were charged with 32 counts of terrorist murder, attempted terrorist murder of 695 people, and participation in the activities of a terrorist group. 

UK: “There is a Lack of Evidence that… the Bill will have any Effect on Reducing Terrorist Threats.” New Anti-Terrorism Laws Introduced in the Wake of Manchester Arena Bombing Criticised as Not Relevant

New anti-terrorism regulations in the UK, known as Martyn’s law after Martyn Hett, a victim of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, have been criticised as being unlikely to “have any effect on reducing terrorist threats.” The bill would impose a “standard duty” upon venues with a capacity of 100-800 people which would include terrorism protection training for employees and drawing up procedures for a terror attack whilst larger venues would have to appoint a designated senior officer, create a security plan, complete a terrorism risk assessment and apply “reasonably practicable” such as physical security to reduce any threat. Criticism is centred around the focus of the bill on “brick and mortar” venues as opposed to actual targets such as groupings of individuals or buildings used by frequently targeted groups. Furthermore, the Home Affairs Committee suggested that the measures would “place a significant and disproportionate burden on smaller venues while failing to ensure adequate safety measures at all public events at risk of terror attacks.” Further criticism has been levied in regards to the fact that compulsory first aid training is not included in the bill despite this being identified as key to responding to terrorist attacks.