Proceedings linked to terrorism handled by Swiss justice have reached a historic record, underlines Sunday the Attorney General of the Confederation Stefan Blättler. Switzerland must prepare for an increase in terrorist activities, he warns.
Currently, around 120 terrorism-related proceedings are underway with the Federal Prosecutor’s Office (MPC). This corresponds to a doubling of cases compared to 2022, specifies Mr. Blättler in an interview in Matin Dimanche and Sonntagszeitung.
The cases concern in particular terrorist propaganda on the Internet, money paid from Switzerland to terrorist organizations and people going to wage jihad. ‘There is a risk that these people will one day plan attacks themselves if they are not stopped by investigations,’ he warns.
Recent interventions by the MPC have made it possible to prevent planned attacks, however, believes the head of the MPC.
Isolated radicalized individuals
Although Switzerland has not experienced cases of the magnitude of those perpetrated in Germany – as recently in Magdeburg – or in France, Mr. Blättler recalls the three ‘terrorist attacks’ in Morges, Lugano and Zurich. They result from isolated individuals who were radicalized via the internet or through a preacher in a mosque.
But “it is precisely because they are isolated authors that it is difficult to identify them,” explains Mr. Blättler. ‘The attack in Magdeburg underlines that we must be vigilant,’ he continues.
Avoid the Belgian and Swedish examples
Regarding the threats that concretely weigh on Switzerland, Mr. Blättler cites gangs from organized crime. ‘We must ensure that we do not one day have conditions like those in the suburbs in Belgium or Sweden, where the traces of gang crime are now clearly visible – with shootings, dozens of deaths and racketeering ‘, he explains. ‘We must not have rival gangs from organized crime fighting in the street.’
On the fight against economic crime, he judges that Switzerland is doing enough to act against offending companies and their managers in the event of abuse. ‘It is simply false to say that Switzerland is not doing enough to combat economic crime,’ says the Attorney General.
Lack of staff at the MPC
In view of the increase in procedures, ‘the MPC has reached its limits in terms of personnel’, warns the head of the entity. The shortage is particularly glaring with regard to agents of the federal judicial police. Faced with this ‘tense’ situation on the human resources front, the OAG had to temporarily set aside certain files concerning ‘isolated cases of suspicion of organized crime and cybercrime’.
/ATS
