It should, in some ways, have come as no surprise that there would have been some reaction from the group in response to the capture of Salah Abdeslam.

This was no doubt a warning strike to European leaders and there may be more to come. The group has time and time again issued statements that it will have no mercy in targeting those who are supporting the US and who are fighting against the group.

The likelihood of further attacks in Europe is now in very little doubt.

The promotion of fear is one of the strongest assets that Islamic State possesses and it is sadly doing an excellent job in spreading this message across Europe.