ISIS Could Be Linked to Yet Another Act of Christmas Terror on German Soil
Christmas terror fears have once again swept through the German heartland. Only four days into the annual Christmas market held in Potsdam (adjacent to Berlin), terrorism has transpired. If it wasn’t for the headiness of a local employee, we might be talking full-scale tragedy rather than aversion.
Reports state that local police have cordoned off the market area due to the discovery of a suspicious package. Investigating officers subsequently found a package measuring 50 centimeters long and 40 centimeters wide lodged to a children’s carousel in the market. This was later confirmed to be an active explosive device, as determined by the bomb disposal squad. The news eventually filtered to the press via dissemination by German police. (Source: “Explosive device found at German Christmas market in Potsdam,” RT, December 1, 2017.)
Advertisement
Die Situation vor Ort: #potsdam #weihnachtsmarkt #brandenburger pic.twitter.com/FtGHSSwajv
— pnn.de (@PNN_de) December 1, 2017
This incident dashes any hope secular tensions would lessen this holiday season. If you recall, it was only last December that a tractor trailer barreled into a crowded Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 people and injuring 48 others. The perpetrator, Anis Amri, was eventually killed in Italy trying to evade arrest. A few days later, Amri was unmasked as being an ISIS operator, given full-fledged logistical support to carry out his mission. (Source: “Berlin Christmas market attacker ‘killed while trying to reach accomplices’,” The Independent, December 23, 2017.)
This incident rips the bandage off that old wound. The fact that it targeted children is another troubling revelation. Some might even call it an escalation. When the innocent of society are targeted, it shows the absolute ruthlessness of the enemy involved.
Most law-abiding citizens can’t even wrap their head around this type of ideology, let alone combat it. It also heightens insecurity, because if it could happen on a children’s carousel, it could happen anywhere.
Today, that “anywhere” is the Potsdam Christmas market.
ISIS Involvement?
Looking at basic evidence on hand, it certainly appears so. For one, we know ISIS has attempted this in Germany before. I’m referring to the case of Anis Amri, talked about earlier in this article. The motive and inspiration for the attack clearly traces back to ISIS, and has remained universally acknowledged since.
The second reason is more current. ISIS has recently called for lone wolf attacks on children–particularly in the U.S., Australia and Europe–according to SITE, a group monitoring Islamist propaganda activities. It confirms a similar call for attacks on Western minors sent earlier in November by an ISIS-linked group called Wafa’ Media Foundation. (Source: “Pro-ISIS group urges lone-wolf attacks on children in West as revenge,” RT, November 30, 2017.)
Pro-IS Group Calls Lone Wolves in West to Kill Children as Revenge for Child Victims of Airstrikes in Syria https://t.co/8DyQqu05Fa
— SITE Intel Group (@siteintelgroup) November 29, 2017
If true, it certainly didn’t take ISIS sympathizers long to heed the call. We’re barely into the first day of December, yet an attempted strike has already been tried. It will be exceedingly tough to stop those who wish to destroy. The government may dress up roadblocks as Christmas presents all they want, but the public senses the danger.
Let’s hope vigilance continues to dominate evil to the bitter end.
