Summary: The Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at West Point published its “Sentinel” magazine for May 2025. This latest issue examines the Islamist terrorist threat landscape in Germany since 2020, as well as ongoing U.S. counterterrorism efforts.
Analyst Note: One notable article outlines the evolution of the Islamist terror threat landscape in Germany since 2020 by taking an in-depth look at all nine executed Islamist terrorist attacks and the 20 publicly reported thwarted attack plots during that time. The analysis offers five key trends based on past attacks and thwarted plots:
- Attack Vectors: Most attacks are low-tech, involving knives and vehicles, but these are not the only threat.
- Profiles: Most attackers carried out their attacks alone and did not have direct links to terror groups. A significant number of plotters are teenagers. Mental health challenges are a feature of some cases.
- Propaganda and Recruitment: YouTube preachers and TikTok algorithms are fueling the threat.
- The Impact of October 7: There has been a rise in threat activity and especially against Jewish institutions and Israelis.
- Foreign Intelligence: Recent cases have underscored the importance of foreign intelligence and Germany’s dependence on it.
The issue’s monthly interview is with Christine Abizaid, the former director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center. She emphasizes that: “The CT business is still a needles-in-the-haystack business; it’s still one piece of information that can open up a whole new threat network. You have to be digging into and accessing multiple sources of information, collaborating with multiple partners who see things in different ways.”
Original Source: https://ctc.westpoint.edu/may-2025/
Additional Reading:
- Five-Eyes Insights – Young people and violent extremism: a call for collective action
- Accelerating Hate: The Impact of October 7 on Terrorism and Political Violence
- Calibrated Counterterrorism: Actively Suppressing International Terrorism
Related WaterISAC PIRs: 1, 2, & 4
