In early September three men were arrested in Germany on suspicion of planning a “massive” attack on US facilities in the country. Federal prosecutor Monika Harms said the three had trained at camps in Pakistan and procured some 700 kg of chemicals for explosives. She said the accused had sought to target facilities visited by Americans, such as nightclubs, pubs or airports. German government sources have said they believe at least seven members of the cell are still at large. The suspects, aged 22, 28 and 29, were alleged to be members of the German cell of a group she named as Islamic Jihad Union. Two of the men were German nationals who had converted to Islam, while the third was a Turkish man.
While it is plain that terrorist threats continue to manifest even in our protected neighbourhoods, the profile of the arrested suspects raises questions about our approach. Firstly, those arrested are not the “al-qaeda” profile, but more closely fit the profile of disgruntled youth that might apply to terrorists of previous eras (eg Baader Meinhoff). Secondly, the motivation is anti-American, not socialist or anti-capitalist, not pro-Islam; it is angry at a stereotype America portrayed by US administration in Iraq, big companies and Hollywood. So while “vigilance” is always appropriate, this is another sign that we too must change our ways and make for a more natural world and a less feudal geopolitical landscape. For example, it is appropriate to be more welcoming of Islam (though no fundamentalist ideal, even Christianity!, is appropriate).
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