Identity document security is playing a key role in the authorities' efforts to combat terrorist attacks in Europe, after 2015 saw a "record" year of terror strikes, Europol has noted in a new report.In the European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2016, Europol writes that evidence of terrorist travellers using the flow of refugees to enter Europe has included a number of suspected cases including terrorist use of fraudulent travelling documents.In 2015, 151 people died and over 360 were injured as a result of terrorist attacks in the EU. Six EU Member States faced 211 failed, foiled and completed terrorist attacks, found the body – the highest since records began in 2006.However, the group adds that there is no concrete evidence to date that terrorist travellers systematically use the flow of refugees to enter Europe.The overall threat to the security of the European Union has increased over recent years and remains on an upward trajectory."In previous years it had been reported that the majority of FTFs [foreign terrorist fighters] use their own genuine documents to travel. However, use of false documentation clearly does occur, as was the case with a number of individuals involved in the November Paris attacks. Furthermore, the Czech Republic, sometimes used as a transit country, reported the arrest of a Bosnian jihadist attempting to travel from Prague to Istanbul using a counterfeit passport, and a jihadist from Germany was arrested in similar circumstances".Not only that, but Europol also writes that the sale of false identity documents are playing a role in terms of fundraising terror attacks. Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol said: "In 2015 the European Union experienced a massive number of casualties caused by terrorist attacks. In this context, Europol made use of its unique capabilities to focus on supporting operational investigations to prevent terrorist attacks and identify and disrupt terrorists. The increased cooperation resulted in a much richer strategic intelligence picture, strengthening the 2016 TE-SAT report and Europol's ability to advise political leaders and legislators and inform national authorities in the setting of threat levels."The TE-SAT 2016 outlines two worrying developments: the overall threat is reinforced by the substantial numbers of returned foreign terrorist fighters that many Member States now have on their soil, and the significant rise in nationalist (xenophobic), racist and anti-Semitic sentiments across the EU, each resulting in acts of right-wing extremism.The report also outlines steps that authorities are considering related to identity documents such as invalidating the passport and ID of a person who is the subject of a preliminary investigation (Luxembourg), and the blocking or withdrawal of passports (Italy).
Document security playing key role amid ‘record’ European terror attacks
