“Fundamentalist terrorism is spreading to a worrying degree in other areas, such as Southeast Asia, Afghanistan and Sub-Saharan Africa as well as the Balkans.” DIS — Annual Report 2016

The 2016 annual report by the Italian Department of Intelligence and Security (DIS) emphasized that the risk of fundamentalists who want to conduct the jihad directly on Italian territory is becoming “increasingly acute”. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today

So far, Italy has escaped from being targeted by the sort of terrorist attacks experienced in other European countries. But Italy’s Intel Agencies fear that a major attack is only a question of time.

According to the DIS 2016 Report,

ISIS appears to be experiencing difficulties in a few scenarios like the Syrian-Iraqi theater. But fundamentalist terrorism is spreading to a worrying degree in other areas, such as Southeast Asia, Afghanistan and Sub-Saharan Africa as well as the Balkans.

Like other European Intel Agencies, the DIS warns that

“European-born mujahideen will return to the respective countries of origin with their families….children included.”

The report highlights the role of children in ISIS propaganda as a guarantee of continuity for the caliphate.

The DIS report points out the increasing collaborations — especially in Sahel and southern Libya — between criminal and terrorism networks.

Intelligence System for the Security of the Republic

Italy’s Intelligence System for the Security of the Republic is the collective name given to the authorities and organizations responsible for intelligence policies, intelligence coordination and intelligence operations. The Security Intelligence System includes:

the President of the Council of Ministers the Delegated Authority the CISR – Comitato Interministeriale per la Sicurezza della Repubblica [Interministerial Committee for the Security of the Republic] the DIS – Dipartimento Informazioni per la Sicurezza [Security Intelligence Department] the AISE – Agenzia informazioni e sicurezza esterna [External Intelligence and Security Agency] the AISI – Agenzia informazioni e sicurezza interna [Internal Intelligence and Security Agency]

REFERENCES

Italian Intelligence Agency alerts the country to higher risks of Islamic terrorism — ItalyEurope24

Italian intelligence agencies — Wikipedia

Intelligence System for the Security of the Republic — Official Website

DIS: Relazione al Parlamento 2016