Since 2022, State Security investigations concerning individuals ready to commit acts of violence concern minors in a proportion of a third, we read Friday in L’Echo and De Morgen.
A third of the investigations by State Security, a Belgian intelligence service, into individuals ready to commit acts of violence concern minors. “And the number of investigations is increasing. In 2024, we arrested a 13 year old child“, says Francisca Bostyn, CEO of the VSSE.
Three quarters of the cases involving these young people were cases relating to jihadism, according to the annual State Security report.
Sharp increase in the number of files
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“There has been a sharp increase in the number of cases and arrests of jihadists in Europe since 2022“, comments the general administrator of the intelligence and security service.
“These are mainly young people who produce and distribute propaganda materials themselves.“, analyzes Francisca Bostyn.
“We see them less at the execution stage, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that they can be very dangerous. They glorify violence.”
Sometimes, some people still plan an attack. Last year, for example, a terrorist cell of Muslim extremists – which included three minors and an 18-year-old – was arrested while preparing an attack against the Botanique concert hall in Brussels.
intelligence jihadism violence terrorism
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