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| European Police to Target Islamist Radicals on Social Media Accounts | |
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| LONDON — Europol, the European police agency based in The Hague, will create a new unit next month to discover and dismantle social media accounts used by Islamist radicals to spread their message and recruit foreigners, the agency announced on Wednesday. | |
| The unit will have about 15 officers of Europol and national police forces at first, and will be gradually enlarged over the next year, the agency said. The task is to scour the Internet for accounts set up by radicals, including those from the Islamic State, for propaganda and recruitment. | The unit will have about 15 officers of Europol and national police forces at first, and will be gradually enlarged over the next year, the agency said. The task is to scour the Internet for accounts set up by radicals, including those from the Islamic State, for propaganda and recruitment. |
| The number of Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts connected to the Islamic State is estimated to be in the tens of thousands, the agency said, and the Twitter accounts send out as many as 100,000 posts a day. | The number of Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts connected to the Islamic State is estimated to be in the tens of thousands, the agency said, and the Twitter accounts send out as many as 100,000 posts a day. |
| In March, the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union mandated that Europol establish such a unit to reduce the level and impact of terrorist and violent extremist propaganda on the Internet. | In March, the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union mandated that Europol establish such a unit to reduce the level and impact of terrorist and violent extremist propaganda on the Internet. |
| Rob Wainwright, director of Europol, said the agency would cooperate with member states, national intelligence and police agencies and social media and other private companies to “deliver a determined response” to the problem. | Rob Wainwright, director of Europol, said the agency would cooperate with member states, national intelligence and police agencies and social media and other private companies to “deliver a determined response” to the problem. |
| European nations like Britain, France, Belgium and Germany have been especially concerned by recruitment efforts that entice young Muslims to slip away from their families and travel to Syria or Iraq to join the Islamic State, as either fighters or wives. The news media in these countries have fastened on such cases, which tend to exaggerate the scale of recruitment. | European nations like Britain, France, Belgium and Germany have been especially concerned by recruitment efforts that entice young Muslims to slip away from their families and travel to Syria or Iraq to join the Islamic State, as either fighters or wives. The news media in these countries have fastened on such cases, which tend to exaggerate the scale of recruitment. |
| National governments have expressed concern that some of those Westerners who go to the Middle East to fight will return home to carry out violent attacks in the name of jihad. Just last week in both France and Tunisia, young men proclaiming allegiance to the Islamic State carried out terrorist attacks that attracted huge concern and publicity. | National governments have expressed concern that some of those Westerners who go to the Middle East to fight will return home to carry out violent attacks in the name of jihad. Just last week in both France and Tunisia, young men proclaiming allegiance to the Islamic State carried out terrorist attacks that attracted huge concern and publicity. |
| In Iraq, a 17-year-old Briton recently carried out a suicide bombing for the Islamic State, while three British sisters abandoned their husbands and took their nine children with them to join jihadists in Syria. On Wednesday, the police were investigating the possibility that a missing Muslim family of 12 from Luton, England, including a baby and two grandparents, traveled to Syria after stopping in Turkey on the way home from a monthlong visit to Bangladesh. | In Iraq, a 17-year-old Briton recently carried out a suicide bombing for the Islamic State, while three British sisters abandoned their husbands and took their nine children with them to join jihadists in Syria. On Wednesday, the police were investigating the possibility that a missing Muslim family of 12 from Luton, England, including a baby and two grandparents, traveled to Syria after stopping in Turkey on the way home from a monthlong visit to Bangladesh. |
| Some European countries, including Britain and France, are working with Muslim communities to try to create “countermessaging” to dissuade young people from heeding the siren song of the radicals, which tends to concentrate on the sense of purpose in helping to build a true Muslim caliphate. | Some European countries, including Britain and France, are working with Muslim communities to try to create “countermessaging” to dissuade young people from heeding the siren song of the radicals, which tends to concentrate on the sense of purpose in helping to build a true Muslim caliphate. |
| Mr. Wainwright has estimated that up to 5,000 people from Western Europe have traveled to Syria and Iraq, many to join the Islamic State. British officials believe that up to half of the 500 or so Britons who have done so have already returned home and represent potential threats, for violence and for the recruitment of others. | Mr. Wainwright has estimated that up to 5,000 people from Western Europe have traveled to Syria and Iraq, many to join the Islamic State. British officials believe that up to half of the 500 or so Britons who have done so have already returned home and represent potential threats, for violence and for the recruitment of others. |
| Gilles de Kerchove, the European Union’s counterterrorism coordinator, said the new police unit was an important part of Europe’s effort to end Islamic radicals’ exploitation of the Internet and social media “to promote their cause and to secure new recruits.” | Gilles de Kerchove, the European Union’s counterterrorism coordinator, said the new police unit was an important part of Europe’s effort to end Islamic radicals’ exploitation of the Internet and social media “to promote their cause and to secure new recruits.” |