Weaknesses and Inaccuracies of Security Agencies in Preventing the Paris Attacks

Reuters reports in a detailed piece, citing evidence and statements from security agencies of various countries, that numerous opportunities to stop the perpetrators of the Paris incidents were missed. A Turkish government security source told the agency that in January, Ibrahim Abdeslam, one of the Paris suicide bombers, was detained at the Turkish border and sent back to Belgium. At that time, Turkey informed the Belgian police that this individual had jihadist inclinations and intended to join the 'Islamic State' in Syria. The Belgian police released Ibrahim Abdeslam and his brother Salah after a brief detention, citing insufficient evidence to prove their terrorist intentions. On November 13, during multiple terrorist attacks in Paris, Ibrahim detonated himself at the 'Le Comptoir Voltaire' café, killing himself and injuring another person. His brother Salah, who was also involved in the attacks that day, is now a fugitive. Ismail Omar Mostefai, the third attacker who detonated his explosive vest at the Bataclan concert hall, is an Algerian-French citizen and had been on France's national security watchlist since 2010. Turkish security forces also considered him a suspect linked to the 'Islamic State'. A senior Turkish official stated that they warned the French police in writing about this individual in December 2014 and June 2015. However, these warnings seemingly went unheeded, and the responsible agencies in France only responded to Turkey's letters after the attacks. The fourth attacker, also a suspect, failed to report to the police for his weekly check-in at least four times in 2013. The police issued a detention order for him after he had left France. In each of these cases, police and security agencies could have at least detained some of the Paris attack perpetrators. Their failure to do so illustrates how individuals linked to the 'Islamic State' have been able to travel easily within European countries and even beyond. Security agencies claim that each of these mistakes has its own specific reasons and justifications. The reasons they provide include weak communication between security and law enforcement agencies, inability to track and pursue suspects in a timely manner, lack of security resources in some countries, and a significant increase in the number of individuals wishing to join jihadist and terrorist groups. Reuters continues its report by examining the security weaknesses across Europe through the voices of experts and officials. Nathalie Goulet, head of the Senate inquiry commission on combating jihadist networks, states: 'We are in a situation where law enforcement and security agencies are under severe work pressure. They knew an attack was likely, but they did not know where or by whom.' Many say Belgium is the weak link in European security. Louis Caprioli, former head of the French anti-terrorism office, states: 'Belgium does not have the capabilities and resources of the security agencies in Britain or France.' Europol, the EU police agency, claims it always shares information related to combating terrorist suspects with all member countries but admits that some European countries are better than others in terms of information sharing. In recent years, security agencies have focused on individuals born in Europe and holding European passports who return to their countries after going to Syria for military training. Given the increasing number of these individuals, it has become difficult for security agencies to monitor all of them. The French government estimates that 500 of its citizens have gone to Syria, of which 300 have returned. However, the French government has only one-tenth of the personnel necessary for 24-hour monitoring of these individuals. Belgium has the highest percentage of jihadist fighters relative to its population among European countries, with about 350 of its citizens having gone to Syria, and another 400 to 500 on the security agencies' watchlist as being influenced by jihadist groups. However, it is believed that the number of personnel designated to monitor these individuals is less than the number of suspects. In security operations following the Paris terrorist attacks, more than 10 people have been arrested, and several weapons and explosives have been discovered. Abaaoud, who is said to be the mastermind behind the Paris attacks, was killed along with two others in a police raid days after the attacks. However, French security agencies had recognized him as a significant suspect for years. After an attack earlier this year in Belgium, police suspected he was involved in an operation aimed at hostage-taking and killing a Belgian police officer. Following this incident, he fled to Syria and confessed in an interview with an Islamic State magazine to participating in that operation, knowing he was being pursued. If this is true, he would have returned to Europe after January. However, French security agencies were unaware of this until after the Paris attacks when the Moroccan government informed them. The French Foreign Minister stated: 'If Abaaoud was able to return from Syria to Europe, it indicates significant weaknesses in the entire European security system.' Warnings Ibrahim Mostefai, another perpetrator of the Paris attacks, also apparently traveled abroad several times. He had a history of minor crimes but was never imprisoned. French security agencies typically monitor prisons to identify individuals who join jihadist groups. French police state that he was in Syria between 2013 and early 2014 and returned to France without police noticing. Turkey had warned French security agencies about him last year and this summer. There was no response from France. A Turkish security official says: 'It seemed this individual had connections with ISIS, and we informed France according to international regulations, but they did not show the same sensitivity as we did.' French officials are unwilling to comment on this issue but say cooperation between their country and Turkey has improved in combating individuals suspected of ties to jihadist groups. Experts say assessing the level of danger posed by a suspect and whether they might participate in an attack is the most significant challenge for security agencies. Bilal Hadfi, who detonated himself outside the 'Stade de France', was another individual who was reportedly under police surveillance. This 20-year-old French citizen living in Belgium returned to the country in February through a route unknown to the police. The Belgian Ministry of Justice states that even in the house believed to be his residence, a microphone was installed. The next case is Sami Amimour. The French judiciary opened a case against him in October 2012, suspecting he intended to join jihadist groups in Yemen. Due to these suspicions, the police ordered him to report weekly. In 2013, he failed to show up for four of his weekly summons. However, the French government issued a detention order for him a month later. In the meantime, Sami Amimour had gone to Syria. A year later, however, he was traced. Sami's father stated in an interview in December 2014 that he had gone to Syria but could not change his son's views. The police are still searching for Salah Abdeslam, one of the fugitives from the Paris attacks. Up to six weeks before the attacks, Salah and his brother Ibrahim owned a café in Molenbeek, a poor neighborhood in central Brussels. His role in the Paris attacks and how he remained safe is still unclear. Authorities believe he returned to Belgium hours after the attacks. Two individuals recently arrested claim they brought Salah from Paris to Belgium. Their car had been stopped by the police several times, but in none of these instances did they realize his identity. However, these security weaknesses are not limited to France and Belgium. A fake Syrian passport found near one of the suicide bombers outside the Paris stadium belonged to an individual who had introduced himself as a refugee at the Greek border on October 3. Security agencies say this individual entered Serbia through Macedonia and applied for asylum there. According to the French prosecution, fingerprints taken in Greece indicate that this individual was traveling with another suicide bomber at the stadium, and given the large influx of migrants in recent months, it is likely that these two individuals easily made their way to Paris. In the months and weeks leading up to their arrival in Paris, French security agencies gathered more evidence indicating an attack was imminent. A judge responsible for terrorism suspect cases in France states: 'Shortly before the Paris attacks, one of the arrested individuals confessed to having been asked by ISIS to attack a rock concert venue. We could not precisely guess which concert hall they would target.' Ibrahim Jaafari, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, also recently stated that his country’s security agencies provided information regarding the likelihood of terrorist attacks in France, the United States, and Iran to these countries. He did not disclose further details on this matter. The German Attorney General is also investigating an Algerian man who was recently arrested and told Syrian refugees in a German asylum camp that attacks would occur in Paris in the near future. In this context, Belgium extended its state of emergency for one week, with a heavy military presence in Brussels following the heightened alert level. The security alert in Brussels reached its highest level. Abaaoud; a terrorist from a 'phantom community'. The mastermind of the Paris terrorist attacks confirmed dead. The French Prime Minister warned of the risk of a chemical attack. The Washington Post quoted two European officials: the designer of the Paris attacks was killed. The death of at least two suspects in extensive security operations in Paris. Shooting in northern Paris in 'operation to find suspects of Friday's attacks'. CNN: Emergency landing of two Air France planes from US origins. The second internal operation of French security forces following the Paris attacks.