“The big question is this: What will we do with the 2000 ISIS returnees?”

Gilles de Kerkhove

Gilles de Kerchove d’Ousselghem (born 3 October 1956 in Uccle/Ukkel, Belgium) is a Belgian senior European Union official. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

In a speech delivered today [20/10/2016] in Brussels, Gilles de Kerchove discussed some issues related to Terrorism and ISIS.

TERRORISM in Europe: The risk of an attack remains very high but the Police Forces and the Intelligence Agencies are working together much better than ever before. Many people have been arrested. Many cells have been dismantled.

ISIS: The Caliphate is about to be destroyed. The battle for Mosul has begun. They will be few prisoners. The Iraqi army will kill most of them.

RETURNEES: Still, a few thousands will escape and return to Europe. They have acquired skill with explosive devices and possibly chemical weapons.

JUSTICE: It may be impossible to file criminal charge against many of these people because the evidence is lacking. Yet, it is not possible to watch these individuals 24/7 because the resources are simply not available. What shall we do?

PRISONS: Belgium has no infrastructure to reeducate these people and try to convince them to renounce violence. Besides, prisons have become incubators of terrorists.

Al-QAEDA: Let us not forget that al Qaeda is still around…

About Gilles de Kerchove d’Ousselghem

Director of Justice and Home Affairs (HJA) in the Council Secretariat of the European Union from 1995 – 2007, he has since been appointed as EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator, succeeding Gijs de Vries. [WIKIPEDIA]

REFERENCES

Alain Grignard sur la menace terroriste: «Je ne crois pas à la déradicalisation»

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EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator: “The Caliphate Is Imploding.”