Threat Situation Statement (as of April, 2021)
The unclassified threat statement informs DOD elements and personnel under USAREUR-AF Force Protection responsibility on the current threat situation.
- TRANSNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUPS, STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISTS, AND THOSE INSPIRED BY THEIR PROPAGANDA THREATEN EUROPE, AFRICA, AND U.S. INTERESTS WORLDWIDE. TERRORISTS OFTEN TARGET MASS TRANSIT, TOURIST VENUES, SPORTING EVENTS, PLACES OF WORSHIP, POLICE, AND MILITARY FORCES (INCLUDING THE U.S. MILITARY). STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISTS PLOT AGAINST MANY OF THE SAME TYPES OF TARGETS, BUT ALSO SEEK TO ATTACK PERSONS AND ORGANIZATIONS PERCEIVED AS HOSTILE TO THE TERRORISTS' STATE SPONSORS. IN RECENT YEARS, ALLIED COUNTERTERRORISM FORCES HAVE NEUTRALIZED SPECIFIC THREATS FROM TRANSNATIONAL AND STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISTS IN EUROPE. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, HOWEVER, BOTH KINDS OF TERRORISTS CONDUCTED SIMPLE, LETHAL ATTACKS IN EUROPE. IN ADDITION TO TERRORISTS WHO ARE DIRECTED BY GROUPS AND/OR STATES, LONE WOLVES CONTINUE TO ACT ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE AND TIMELINES, INSPIRED TO ATTACK LOCALLY IN RESPONSE TO EVENTS TAKING PLACE OUTSIDE EUROPE OR AFRICA.
- TERROR ACTIVITY IN EUROPE STARKLY INCREASED FROM 2019 TO 2020. TERROR ATTACKS IN 2020 REFLECT FAVORED USE OF VEHICLES, EDGED WEAPONS, AND SMALL ARMS. LONE WOLF TERRORISTS AND ORGANIZED TERROR GROUPS EMPLOYING THESE WEAPONS ARE DIFFICULT TO DETECT AND ATTACKS CAN OCCUR WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING.
- SEP 2020 COURT PROCEEDINGS OF TERRORISTS WHO ATTACKED THE FRENCH SATIRE MAGAZINE "CHARLIE HEBDO" IN 2015 LED TO MEDIA RECIRCULATION OF THE CARTOONS THAT OFFENDED MANY AND LED ISIS TO TARGET THE MAGAZINE. LONE WOLF TERRORISTS RESPONDED WITH THREE VIOLENT TERRORIST ATTACKS IN FRANCE, LEAVING FOUR DEAD AND MULTIPLE WOUNDED. FRANCE'S RESOLVE TO CHAMPION ITS PROTECTED FREEDOM OF SPEECH, DESPITE OPPOSITION BY CONSERVATIVE ISLAMISTS, IS EXPECTED TO INCITE FURTHER VIOLENCE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
- TERROR ACTIVITY AND CIVIL UNREST IS HIGH ACROSS THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA. THE REGION HAD THE SECOND HIGHEST RATE OF IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE USE IN THE WORLD IN 2019, AND THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PRESSURES OF COVID- 19, DROUGHTS AND LOCUSTS EXACERBATED THE VIOLENCE IN 2020. TRAVELERS ALSO MUST BE AWARE OF HIGH CRIME RATES, ABDUCTION, DISEASE, AND UNDEVELOPED HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE REGION. PERSONNEL SHOULD OBTAIN UPDATED THREAT INFORMATION FOR SPECIFIC AREAS PRIOR TO TRAVEL.
- POLITICAL ISSUES, NATIONAL ELECTIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS, COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, AND OTHER GLOBAL ISSUES REMAIN AS INFLUENCERS AND ARE DRIVING PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS AND PROTESTS. DESPITE INTENTIONS, THESE EVENTS CAN TURN VIOLENT WITHOUT WARNING AND PLACE BYSTANDERS AND OTHER PERSONS IN THE AREA AT GREATER RISK.
Download the Antiterrorism Travel Awareness Trifold (As of 31 March 2021) This guide will assist in your travel planning.