Sweden suffered it's First Suicide Bombing in the form of a terrorist attack on Saturday December 11th in Stockholm, killing the bomber “Taimur Abdulwahab al-Abdaly” and injuring two bystanders. It was predicted (in a sense) by an alert released two days earlier on Thursday December 9th by the
Institute on Terrorism Research and Response. The warning came in the form of what is called a “TAM-C Alert”; TAM-C meaning “Targeted Actionable Monitoring Center”, which is ITRR's intelligence unit. The alert was classified as "Moderate (level 3)".
TAM-C alerts are released by the Institute whenever they obtain intelligence that, after analyzed, warns of the possibility of a potential or pending terrorist attack or other event where the alerts assist in placing law enforcement agencies, first responders, the intelligence community and others in becoming extra vigilant. At times the alerts have proven to be paramount in helping to avert terrorist attacks.
The incident ( in Stockholm) began when a car burst into flames near a busy street in the city's shopping center, followed by explosions inside the car, which police said were caused by gas canisters. The second explosion, about a thousand feet away and around ten minutes later, killed the bomber and wounded two people who were in the area.
A warning was given (likely by the bomber) a short time before the attacks in the form of an e-mail to the Swedish news agency TT promising attacks because of Sweden's presence in Afghanistan, where it has 500 troops with the U.S. led NATO force, and caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad drawn three years ago by Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks.
ITRR analysts noted that prior jihadist communications that they had intercepted and identified by the TAM-C on November 23, 2010, included a video statement from a Swedish mujahid in Somalia, indicating the intent to carry out operations in Sweden as a result of the Vilks cartoon. The jihadist statements included the threat, "No matter where you are. If not today then tomorrow. We have not forgotten you and we will reach you and slaughter you."
Prior to the Stockholm attack, the Arabic Language analysts at ITRR noted that previously intercepted jihadist communications indicated that jihadists have "already planned a series of operations against the Swedish enemy" and "the main targets for the future attack have already been selected”. The communique stated that "there is no other option for Al-Qaeda but to speak through blood and by doing so they will be understood." This was information the TAM-C alert had released prior to the attacks, which means their source (the intercept) was impeccable which is usually the case with intelligence received or collected by ITRR. The TAM-C is continuing to identify information from its on-the-ground resources (Ground Truth Network) and monitored communications and have extended the potential threat of additional attacks in Sweden into early 2011 by lone wolf or small cell actions unless jihadists demands are met by punishing Vilks and removing Swedish troops from Afghanistan.
Terrorist attacks and attempts have increased globally with numerous potential attacks averted in the U.S. this year alone thanks to good investigative work by federal and other law enforcement agencies and departments. But from all indications according to activity on jihadists forums and websites, that numbers likely won't decrease as long as Al Qaeda and jihadists are adamant on destroying the Western way of democracy with emphasis on Israel and the United States, and continue to try and force their brand of Islamic (sharia) ideology on the rest of the world. The only barrier at this point in time is continued cooperation between International law enforcement, increased investigations by U.S. federal law enforcement and other agencies and the continued flow of pertinent intelligence from those like ITRR and others within the intelligence community, through communications intercepts and other means. And the continued support and vigilance by the civilian sector. Also of great importance is education of civilians along with monitoring and stopping stealth jihad and creeping sharia within the U.S. in order to avoid the infiltration of law enforcement agencies and political offices by jihadists who are willing to give their lives to “one day see the Islamic flag flying over the White House” ( radical Islamist's words, not mine)
Barry Zell is an intelligence analyst from New England and the National Director of the United American Civil Taskforce, Anti-Terrorism Division.
