The July 2005 London bombings are yet another example of how Europe has emerged as one of the key battlegrounds in the global War on Terror. The region has become a critical 'ground zero' for Islamist terrorists, not only as a target but as a base of operations. The implications for the United States are tremendous: under existing law, for example, terrorists carrying European passports could easily enter the country. It is not a coincidence, in fact, that every attack planned or executed against the United States, including 9/11, has had strong European ties. This is the first book in English that dissects Islamic terrorism in Europe. The book fills a critical gap in the understanding of the new threats posed by Islamist terrorism. Vidino analyses the causes of this dangerous situation while providing an extensive historical overview of Islamic terrorist activities in Europe. The book shows how terrorists - most of them native to the Continent - raise money, communicate, and hide in plain sight in the suburbs of London, Paris, and Amsterdam. It presents with painful clarity the difficulties that law enforcement agencies world-wide have had in shutting terror cells down. Finally, the book describes three of the most important networks operating in Europe. Vidino analyses events such as the Madrid train bombings, the thwarted plot to attack various European capitals with chemical weapons, and the movements of hundreds of European Muslims who are joining terrorist groups in Iraq to fight U.S. forces. Vidino includes fascinating information taken from a dozen countries' original documentation (intelligence reports, indictments, court transcripts), plus transcripts of conversations among al Qaeda operatives that have been intercepted by intelligence agencies. "Al Qaeda in Europe" is authoritative, informative and written in a lively narrative that will captivate general readers, and become a valuable new resource for scholars and government officials.
Lorenzo Vidino is widely recognized as an expert on terrorism in Europe. In March and April 2005, he testified before Congress on the subject, and he frequently consults for the U.S. government on terror-related issues. He regularly appears on television, including The NBC Nightly News, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, and European and Middle Eastern channels. He holds a law degree and speaks five languages.
""Given last month's riots in France [Al Qaeda in Europe] could not have arrived in the bookstores in a more timely fashion. This is the first book to examine Islamic terrorism in Europe...This book is yet another wake up call to anyone who does not yet grasp how widespread the Islamic jihad is as it describes three of the most important terrorist networks in Europe and analyses events there." Foreword by Steven Emerson Director of the Investigative Project "Although the book was completed prior to the July 2005 London bombings, it nevertheless succeeds in explaining the magnitude of the jihadi threat in Europe." Book Reviews "Mr. Vidino offers valuable insights on the workings and organization of Al Qaeda in Europe and the threat this terrorist group poses not only to European countries, but also to the United States." Congressman Elton Gallegly Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Europe & Emerging Threats "Vidino peels back the layers of the al Qaeda networks in Europe and shows how lax immigration and asylum laws, coupled with the availability of false documents and financing, have allowed terrorists to operate in Europe with relative ease. Thoroughly researched." Representative Ed Royce, Chairman Subcommittee on International Terrorism & Nonproliferation House International Relations Committee
