(NewsInsights.org) – Hamas launched a devastating terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, beginning a war between the two factions that has propagated violence and protests in cities worldwide. Now, as the holidays of Christmas and Hannukkah approach, Ylva Johansson, the European Union (EU) Home Affairs Commissioner, warned interior ministers across Europe to guard against terrorist attacks by polarized factions.
As an example, Johansson cited an incident that occurred near Paris’ Eiffel Tower on Saturday, December 2. Claiming retribution for the global persecution of Muslims, a 26-year-old French man of Iranian descent stabbed a German-Filipino tourist to death and injured two more tourists with a hammer. Per Le Figaro, Paris police alleged that Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab described his motives for the attacks in “cold and clinical” terms, including France’s “complicity” in the Hamas conflict.
The EU Home Affairs Commissioner’s remarks also followed on the heels of German police foiling two teens’ attack on a Christmas Market attack in Cologne. Police claim the 15-year-old Afghan-German and a 16-year-old Russian Chechen had become Islamic State (IS) sympathizers. The two also discussed plans to attack a Synagogue. Chechens, especially, have come under greater scrutiny concerning terrorist activity in recent years,
Germany’s federal political police warned they are seeing a significant uptick in antisemitic rhetoric and violent crimes coupled with anti-Western sentiments. Director Thomas Haldenwang warned that groups, including IS, al-Qaeda, Hamas, and others along different points along “the jihadist spectrum,” are working together to call for assassinations and terror events.
Additionally, the German Department for Research and Information on Antisemitism (RIAS) reported it found acts of antisemitism up by more than 320% year-on-year. The increase has caused some Jewish people to hide their faith and work to become invisible to avoid persecution. Ruth Hatlapa of RIAS advised people in Berlin to come to the aid of those suffering antisemitic attacks by standing with them and safeguarding them.
Authorities in the US have also been cautioned by the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice to be on the lookout for an increase in activity around the holidays.
Copyright 2023, NewsInsights.org
