Czech Republic steps up security amidst fears of terrorist attacks in Europe

The Czech Republic has stepped up security in the wake of US warnings of a possible terrorist attack in Europe. Tightened security measures are in place at airports, railway stations and bus terminals as well as around foreign embassies and high-risk facilities. Although the Czech Interior Ministry has said it has no evidence to suggest that the perceived threat of an attack by Al Qaeda terrorists relates specifically to the Czech Republic. Radio Prague asked security expert and former head of the country’s military intelligence service Andor Šándor what could make the Czech Republic a potential target.

Photo: CTK

“There are several reasons why it might be targeted. First of all there is our participation in the operation in Afghanistan, particularly when we have a special unit there hunting down the Taliban. Moreover, we boast about this activity, which I do not think is wise of our politicians. And the second thing is our pro-Israeli policy which is considered to be one of the most pro-Israeli policies in the European Union. Certainly you would find possible targets for a terrorist attack in Prague – the Jewish town or some American targets. But, having said that, I do not see any real threat to this country because this country hasn’t done anything so important in the field of foreign policy that would encourage terrorists to come here and commit atrocities against our people.”

Do you feel that Czech security forces are prepared to deal with a security threat of this kind – because might it not be chosen on the grounds that Czechs are less vigilant that other, more obvious, targets?

“Yes, you are right. On the one hand you have the Americans and the British stepping up their security constantly since 9/11 and in our country we have done some stupid things in terms of reducing that security. But no country, including the Czech Republic, is ready to deal successfully with a terrorist operation on the scale of what happened two years ago in Mumbai, India. So it is hard to say that any country’s security forces are 100 percent prepared to deal with such an attack.”

What is the likelihood of such an attack now taking place in Europe – are we looking at a serious threat here?

Photo: CTK

“I believe the threat is serious and real, because we can no longer speak only about Al Qaeda. We just simplify the problem by talking about Al Qaida as the main threat, but countries like the UK face problems from Sudan where their citizens are trained in training camps – also in Yemen, Pakistan and elsewhere. So we are not just talking about Al Qaeda itself, but also about home grown-terrorists. Osama bin Laden was successful in calling the cosmic struggle between good and evil and he turned millions of Islam youths into Jihadists devoted to sacrificing their lives in the name of Islam. So I think the threat is serious.”