German intel warns of homegrown jihadists

WASHINGTON – The German intelligence agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst, or BND, is expressing increasing worry over the prospect of terrorist attacks by homegrown Islamic extremists, given the significant rise in native Germans converting to Islam, according to a report in Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.

Experts say that some 100,000 Germans have converted to Islam. A number of them are known to have traveled to war zones in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere for terror training.

German Intelligence Chief Gerhard Schindler is sounding the alarm, suggesting that homegrown Islamist radicals could become domestic terrorists.

In an interview with the German newspaper Die Welt, Schindler said that threats come wherever al-Qaida has set up training facilities.

"A particular threat stems from al-Qaida structures in Yemen,” Schindler said. "They want to bring jihad to Europe. Among other tactics, this involves the ‘lone wolf’ model, which involves individuals who are citizens of the targeted country and who go abroad for training. We know that this strategy is currently high on al-Qaida’s agenda, and we are accordingly attentive.” (...)