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...fact that he was employed by CERN is not particularly significant compared to the more general fact he's an extremely well-educated scientist whose knowledge would have been useful to anyone planning terror strikes," a French counterterrorism official told TIME on condition of anonymity. "We've had several cases of highly educated, disciplined and focused people turning up in terror cases where you'd least expect them, but this is by far the boldest example of someone with so much training and talent reaching out to extremists and saying...
...There is conflicting information on just how far Hicheur's plans had progressed. The London Daily Mail reported on Tuesday that Hicheur had targeted an oil refinery owned by the French company Total and wanted to create an explosion capable of destroying a "city the size of London," according to unidentified sources. The French official would not comment on the Daily Mail report but did say that Hicheur "had some written projects and drawings concerning certain targets in France." The official added, however, that Hicheur "had not gotten close to defining a plot." (Read "French Terror Conviction: Lesson...
...online forums urging Muslims to join the jihad against the West. The network was broken up last December when Belgian police rounded up 14 suspected members ahead of what authorities feared was a planned suicide bombing of a Brussels meeting of European Union leaders. Then, in May, two French extremists from the group were arrested entering Italy with five Palestinian and Syrian aliens whom French authorities said were to be used as suicide bombers in European strikes. (Read "Europe Pieces Together Terrorism Puzzle...
...Afghanistan or just looking for other terrorist-group contacts. Either way, the busts in December and May left el Aroud's group weakened, apparently causing Hicheur to seek out other extremists in online forums. "[Hicheur] eventually found AQIM people ready to discuss and encourage his jihadist ambition," the French official said. "These forums allow extremists from different countries to strike up partnerships and even plan together ... But that gives police and intelligence services very useful places to keep under close watch." (See pictures of a jihadist's journey...
...remain active despite the raids that have sapped its membership. Hicheur's ability to move from that group directly into AQIM circles, meanwhile, is a reminder of how many places the terrorism threat now resides in Europe. Hicheur's case also marks the first instance of AQIM using a French recruit as an active terrorist operative in Europe, rather than solely for logistical assistance as the group has in the past. All the more reason for Europe's counterterrorism authorities to continue their online vigil - and check out even the seemingly least-likely candidates for jihadist activity...