New Phase of the global IS-terror

The Islamic state (IS) has claimed the series of attacks in Sri Lanka with more than 320 dead. Even before the IS-Propaganda-mouthpiece for Amaq the Confessor news spread, had named the in Asia renowned terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna in the first assessments of the jihadi militants as the Mastermind of the terrorist attacks. Gunaratna is Professor of security studies at the Nanyang Technology University in Singapore. In addition, he is regarded as a proven Sri-Lanka-connoisseur.

A local offshoot of the IS had carried out the attacks in Sri Lanka, writes Gunaratna in an opinion article that appeared on the news portal of the "South China Morning Post". The meticulously planned and coordinated terrorist attacks showed that "the IS has entered a new Phase of global Expansion."

pictures: attacks in Sri Lanka

The evaluation Gunaratnas is in contrast to the pronouncements of leading politicians in the West, such as, for example, U.S. President Donald Trump, who had claimed recently that the IS is defeated. Last month, the IS lost in the Syrian Baghuz his last territory. If you have not done it for a long time. Quite the contrary, as Gunaratna to keep in mind is: "What is happening in Sri Lanka, indicates a return of the IS. The IS will fight with all our might against the world."

The government of Sri Lanka has the previously little-known Islamist group, the National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ) for the suicide attacks on Sunday. The NTJ have been able to perpetrate the attacks, but only with the support of an international network, it was the government, it has been announced. An opinion that is shared by Gunaratna and other experts. In the recent attacks, Gunaratna sees "the handwriting of militant groups with Links to international networks like al-Qaeda or the IS".

retribution for Christchurch

Several of the approximately 40 people who had been arrested by the sri Lankan authorities have now admitted their proximity to the IS, writes Gunaratna. A trigger of the terrorist attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels, so the symbols of the Western world, is definitely the desire for revenge for Christchurch. There are over 50 Muslims at the mosque were killed in the March attack of right-wing extremists. In the claim of responsibility of the IS the targets of the attacks are named clearly: Christians and nationals of the countries in the coalition that fought in Syria and Iraq the IS.

attacks by Islamists on symbolic, Christian institutions are not new for Asia. In the Indonesian city of Surubaya last year came in an attack on a Church 28 people were killed. And the beginning of 2019 22 people died in a terrorist attack on a Cathedral in Jolo in the southern Philippines. In both cases, the bombers ties to the jihadis should have had a militia.

Multiple IS-offshoot in the South Asia

According to Gunaratna, the IS has established in the South of Asia to a larger network. Offshoot of the jihadists, there are, especially in South India, the Maldives, and in Sri Lanka. A well-known Exponent of the sri Lankan Islamists Abu Shuraih Sailani, the moved to the IS in the war and in July 2015 in Syria before he was killed. About 40 IS-men from Sri Lanka are supposed to have fought in the Middle East, most of them were killed.

According to Gunaratna has underestimated the political leadership of Sri Lanka the rise of the IS in their own country may be, although the security and intelligence services had supplied the relevant information. After the end of the fighting against the Tamil Tigers by the security forces of Sri Lanka had been reduced. Ten years of peace, the vigilance of the authorities reduced obviously. The IS Sri Lanka, a new terrorist threat. (Editorial Tamedia)

Created: 23.04.2019, 20:33 PM