Algerian insurgents, most of whom linked to Al Qaida,
have established a major presence in Germany.
A new report said Germany has served as a magnet for a range of Islamic
insurgency groups, particularly those from Algeria. The report by the
Washington Institute cited the Salafist Brigade for Combat and Call as well
as the Armed Islamic Group.
In all, the report said, about 400 Algerian insurgents are based in
Germany. They are part of 3,500 people classified as "violence prone radical
Islamists."
"In recent years, Germany has become a base for radical Islamists
associated with a variety of groups besides Al Qaida," the report said.
"Algerian Islamist groups ø the Islamic Salvation Front, the Armed Islamic
Group, and the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat ø with an estimated
400 members in Germany."
The Washington Institute bases its findings on a 2002 report by
Germany's domestic intelligence service, the Office for the Protection of
the Constitution. The intelligence service listed the Algerian groups as
among 69 foreign organizations that endanger state security.
Authored by senior fellow Matthew Levitt and senior research analyst
Assaf Moghadam, the report cited the largest Islamic insurgency groups in
Germany as the Muslim Brotherhood, with 1,200 members. The Lebanese-based
Hizbullah has an estimated 800 members in Germany and published a weekly
newsletter. The report said Hizbullah reduced its profile after the Al Qaida
attacks on New York and Washington in September 2001.
"Perhaps the most well-known German member of Hizbullah is Steven
Smyrek, who was arrested at Israel's Ben Gurion airport upon entering the
country in November 1997 and released as part of a recent prisoner swap with
the organization," the report said.
The report said the Palestinian Hamas group has 300 members in Germany.
In August 2002, Germany banned the Al Aqsa International Foundation, a
charity that financed Hamas.
"The growing presence of global jihadist groups operating from Germany
is symptomatic of recent radical Islamist advances throughout Europe," the
report said.
