More incidents like this, and the tourists will stay away from the Middle East which depends very much on tourism.
Analysis: Morocco – Stabbing of Dutch tourists in Casablanca highlights difficulty in securing public spaces
06th October 2016
Three Dutch tourists were injured in a stabbing incident in Casablanca on Tuesday 4 October. The victims have been identified as a 57-year-old woman from Vught, her 30-year-old son and 27-year-old daughter. They were on holiday together in Morocco. The incident occurred while the three were visiting the Hassan II Mosque, a popular tourist attraction and one of the largest mosques in the world.
The assailant, identified as a 28-year-old man, reportedly attacked out of nowhere. Police officers quickly overpowered the attacker. One officer was injured during the arrest. The perpetrator has been described as “confused and hysterical”. Presently the motive for attack is unknown. Initial media speculation suggests that mental health may have been a factor in the attack.
The incident comes amid growing concern over terrorism and the threat from the Islamic State (IS). In particular, there is concern over IS-aligned lone wolf attackers. Such individuals would not receive direction from the wider organisation based in Iraq and Syria (or would have very loose connections) and the attack would be without any outside command. The individual nature and unpredictability of such an attack makes it harder for security services to disrupt. IS has encouraged this type of attack, urging its followers outside of its so-called caliphate to strike where they can using whatever means available. This includes simple objects of daily life such as knives and vehicles which are sufficient for a low scale/high impact attack. This method has been achieved with success through IS-linked attacks in both Europe and the United States.
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Analysis: Morocco – Stabbing of Dutch tourists in Casablanca highlights difficulty in securing public spaces - Drum Cussac
Analysis: Morocco – Stabbing of Dutch tourists in Casablanca highlights difficulty in securing public spaces
06th October 2016
Three Dutch tourists were injured in a stabbing incident in Casablanca on Tuesday 4 October. The victims have been identified as a 57-year-old woman from Vught, her 30-year-old son and 27-year-old daughter. They were on holiday together in Morocco. The incident occurred while the three were visiting the Hassan II Mosque, a popular tourist attraction and one of the largest mosques in the world.
The assailant, identified as a 28-year-old man, reportedly attacked out of nowhere. Police officers quickly overpowered the attacker. One officer was injured during the arrest. The perpetrator has been described as “confused and hysterical”. Presently the motive for attack is unknown. Initial media speculation suggests that mental health may have been a factor in the attack.
The incident comes amid growing concern over terrorism and the threat from the Islamic State (IS). In particular, there is concern over IS-aligned lone wolf attackers. Such individuals would not receive direction from the wider organisation based in Iraq and Syria (or would have very loose connections) and the attack would be without any outside command. The individual nature and unpredictability of such an attack makes it harder for security services to disrupt. IS has encouraged this type of attack, urging its followers outside of its so-called caliphate to strike where they can using whatever means available. This includes simple objects of daily life such as knives and vehicles which are sufficient for a low scale/high impact attack. This method has been achieved with success through IS-linked attacks in both Europe and the United States.
Continue reading at:
Analysis: Morocco – Stabbing of Dutch tourists in Casablanca highlights difficulty in securing public spaces - Drum Cussac
