Image is in the public domain.
A recent bombing in Brussels killed at least 38 people and wounded hundreds. These terrorist attacks were the third major attack claimed by ISIS in Western Europe. There is now a clear link between the Paris attacks and the Brussels attacks. This has uncovered vulnerabilities in the way these countries are gathering and sharing intelligence. The country of Belgium is bitterly divided between French speaking and Dutch speaking citizens, who have different cultural, social and political agendas. There are two intelligence agencies and six police zones in this city of a million people. Listen to hear how these attacks revealed vulnerabilities in the security sharing system.
Story Length: 5:34
© 2016 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.
AIR DATE: 03/24/2016
November 18, 2015
4:21
In coordinated attacks at six sites across Paris, France, 129 people were killed and more than 200 people were injured. This large-scale terrorist attack is being claimed by the Islamic State, or ISIS. The terrorists used suicide belts and automatic weapons to attack people at a concert, a football game which the President of France attended, restaurants and cafes. Listen to hear what led to this attack and what is being done to prevent future attacks.
Read MoreOctober 5, 2015
2:08
Russia and the U.S. are conducting airstrikes in Syria, with the agreed target of ISIS. However, Russia has launched 20 airstrikes on other targets besides the terrorist group. The U.S. Defense Secretary said the strikes were expected, but to some, the targets may be a surprise. Russia is said to have targeted rebels who oppose Syrian President Assad, a Russian ally but no friend of the United States. The Defense Secretary said this development may prolong the civil war and drive Syrians toward ISIS. With both Russia and the U.S. conducting air operations in the same country, errors or mistakes are likely. This week, Russia and the U.S. will hold talks to make sure both sides’ pilots do not harm each other during the bombings. Listen to hear more about this developing conflict.
Read MoreJanuary 28, 2015
3:34
The attacks in Paris, on a satirical magazine and a kosher supermarket initially appeared coordinated but were far from it. Al-Qaida on the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the magazine attack, a response for offensive cartoons of the prophet Mohammed, while the supermarket terrorist suspect was affiliated with ISIS. Listen to learn more about the deep-seated division between these two Islamic militant groups.
Read More