Top 5 Security Trends in 2007 for the U.S. Private Sector in EuropeBureau of Diplomatic SecurityWashington, DC December 27, 2007 OSAC Says Political Radicalism, Cyber Security, Right-Wing Extremism Among Growing Threats Domestic political radicalism, cyber threats, and right-wing extremism were among the top security concerns that U.S. businesses, nongovernmental organizations and academic institutions confronted in Europe in 2007, according to a year-end analysis by the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). “These growing threats are among the many consequences — some good, and some bad — of increased globalization,” said Todd Brown, a Special Agent with the Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Executive Director of OSAC. “As an increasing number of U.S. businesses, academic institutions, and nonprofits expand the scope of their international operations, they must learn to safeguard their facilities and personnel by incorporating security and risk management into their core business practices,” he said. Brown added, “Those U.S. entities that take proactive security postures, manage their risks, and develop an internal culture of resiliency often are better able to survive and even thrive in riskier environments or in the aftermath of disasters.” Citing disrupted terrorist plots in Denmark and Germany, an attack at the Glasgow Airport in Scotland, and the discovery of explosives in two vehicles in London, OSAC analysts said Europe experienced a steady increase in “home-grown” political radicalism. OSAC noted that most suspects in those cases were citizens of the countries in which they were plotting and came from diverse backgrounds and living conditions. Another significant security event in Europe with potential ramifications for the U.S. private sector was the massive cyber attack in late April that shut down Internet sites and computer networks of banks, newspapers, broadcast companies and government agencies throughout Estonia. The digital siege lasted for about a month, involved a variety of attacks, and included cyber assaults from computers around the world that had previously been infected with a virus and placed under the control of the attackers. “It is vital to recognize that these attacks can easily be replicated against a new target, including the U.S. private sector,” OSAC warned. Right-wing political groups made electoral gains in some European legislatures, while some countries continued to experience violence committed by right-wing activists, according to OSAC. “Attacks committed by members of far-right extremist groups were particularly noticeable in eastern Germany, where foreigners were often the victim of right-wing attacks,” according to the OSAC analysis. Victims of such right-wing violence included individuals suspected of belonging to left-wing groups, according to another State Department report. This year-end security review is based on security analyses and informational products developed by OSAC’s regional specialists and delivered to its private-sector members, explained Brown. “By working with our OSAC partners, sharing our analysis, and pushing out our information, we aim to help the U.S. private sector better prepare for, respond to, and recover from the security challenges that may arise in the coming year,” said Brown. The following is OSAC’s list of the past year’s top security challenges to the American private sector in Europe. Top 5 Private Sector Security Issues for Europe Radicalization Radicalization of “home-grown” elements in Europe continued in 2007, evidenced by terrorist plots disrupted in Germany and Denmark, the discovery of explosive devices in two cars in London, and a flaming SUV that extremists crashed into the Glasgow airport in Scotland. The radicalization process, influenced by international terror groups, appeals to people of varied backgrounds, living under diverse circumstances. These plots and incidents underscore the fact that extremist elements in Europe continue to pose an ongoing threat to the region. Cyber Attacks In the wake of a political controversy, Estonia was victimized by cyber attacks which plagued the Web sites of the government, media services, and banks. The attacks were carried out by flooding websites with digital debris, forcing them to become unusable, and by infecting computers around the world with viruses in order to remotely operate them against Estonian systems. It is vital to recognize that these attacks can easily be replicated against a new target, including the U.S. private sector. It is incumbent that crisis management plans now account for this type of cyber threat. Resurgence of Far-Right Severe beatings of foreigners committed by members of far-right extremist groups were particularly noticeable in eastern Germany in 2007, but attacks occurred throughout the country. Far-right attacks differ from racist attacks because they are transnational and organized, rather than committed against domestic minorities in a spontaneous fashion. The eastern states from Saxony northward to Mecklenburg-West Pomerania experienced more such violence per capita than did other regions. Moreover, a right-wing party has gained representation in the state parliament of those same two states. The far-right groups have also won seats in the governments of the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Austria. Until recently, there was also a far-right bloc of the European Parliament, formed for the first time in ten years, but this party recently disbanded due to infighting among its members. Domestic Terrorism Domestic terror groups continue to stage attacks in Europe. In May, the PKK in Turkey was thought to be responsible for suicide bombings in Ankara and Izmir, both causing fatalities and injuries. In June, the Basque separatist group ETA called off its ceasefire with the Spanish government. Although aggressively pursued by Spanish and French authorities, ETA says it remains committed to carrying out a large-scale attack. Domestic terror groups differ from homegrown radical cells because they seek to gain political representation or independent territory. They are not inspired by international terrorist groups and do not aim to establish a caliphate across Europe. Attacks Against Faith-Based Organizations Attacks on faith-based organizations in Eastern Europe continued in 2007. Notable attacks occurred in Serbia, Ukraine, and Romania. Several of OSAC’s faith-based organizations are present in Eastern Europe, and are often directly targeted as they conduct their outreach into communities. All incidents were physically violent in nature, ranging from minor injuries to severe beatings, and were met with varied responses from local law enforcement. About OSAC The Overseas Security Advisory Council was established in 1985 as a Federal Advisory Committee with a U.S. Government Charter to promote security cooperation between the U.S. Department of State and American business and private sector interests worldwide. With a constituency of more than 3,500 U.S. companies and other private-sector organizations with overseas interests, OSAC operates a Web site (www.osac.gov), which offers its members the latest in safety- and security-related information, public announcements, warden messages, travel advisories, significant anniversary dates, terrorist group profiles, country crime and safety reports, special topic reports, foreign press reports, and much more. The OSAC staff includes international security research specialists dedicated solely to serving the U.S. private sector. Additionally, OSAC has a network of 100 country councils around the world that brings together U.S. embassies and consulates with the local U.S. community to share security information. OSAC is co-chaired by the Director of the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and a selected representative of the private sector. The OSAC Executive Director is a Diplomatic Security Special Agent. About The Bureau of Diplomatic Security The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the U.S. Department of State’s law enforcement and security arm. The special agents, engineers, and security professionals of the Bureau are responsible for the security of 285 U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world. In the United States, Diplomatic Security personnel investigate passport and visa fraud, conduct personnel security investigations, and protect the Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States. More information about the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security may be obtained at www.state.gov/m/ds. Contact: |
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