Latest

ICCT Senior Project Leader Tanya Mehra was interviewed by The New York Times on the issue FTFs repatriation. She argued on the need for governments to repatriate their citizens as an effort to mitigate the risk that they may cause. Read the full article here.

ICCT Director Renske van der Veer was interviewed by Aljazeera Balkans on the topic of returning foreign terrorist fighters. She argued about the need for a case to case approach in dealing with the issue of repatriation, reintegration and rehabilitation of foreign terrorist fighters. Watch the interview here.

In an article in Foreign Policy, ICCT Senior Research Fellow Liesbeth van der Heide discusses the current situation in Mali following the massacre on Fulani villagers. She argued that the massacre exposed the lack of progress since the country’s peace accords and the much needed political and security reforms. Read the article here.

ICCT Senior Research Fellow Liesebeth van der Heide was interviewed by Radio National Breakfast program in ABC Radio on the plight of children who are born into or brought into the ISIS caliphate. 

ICCT Director Renske van der Veer appeared in the Dutch news show RTL Boulevard to discuss the shooting in Utrecht. The police and the AIVD will be carrying out an investigation on the possible motive of the attack, and there is possibility that the investigation will proceed where terrorism is concerned. Watch the show here (in Dutch).

ICCT Director Renske van der Veer was interviewed by BNR Radio regarding the possible terrorism motive behind the Utrecht shooting. She argued that since the motive has yet to be confirmed by authorities, people have to be careful when making speculations. Ms. van der Veer stated that not ruling out terrorist motive is different from […]

ICCT Research Fellow Jeanine de Roy van Zuidewijn was invited by several media including NPO Radio 1, BNR Ask Me Anything and NOS to discuss about the possible terrorism motive in the Utrech shooting. She argued that as the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, stakeholders should be careful in using the word “terrorism’. […]

Several ICCT publications on ideology and radicalisation are referred to in news articles regarding the Christchurch shooting. Read the articles from the Washington Post, Sri Lanka Guardian, and Albawaba News, including from ICCT Senior Programme Coordinator Liesbeth van der Heide and Associate Fellow JM Berger. 

ICCT Associate Fellow Peter Knoope was quoted by Dutch newspaper, Trouw, on the incident in Utrecht. In the newspaper, he was cited talking about the limited political motive of the attacker who was considered unstable and has prior criminal convictions. Read the article here (in Dutch).

In the article by Radio Canada on how to deal with returning foreign terrorist fighters, Research Fellow Christophe Paulussen and Rumayana van Ark are referred to in the article. They argued about how states should assume their responsibilities in handling these cases. Read it here (article in French).

In an interview with TRT World,  ICCT Research Fellow Christophe Paulussen gives his thoughts on the Shamima Begum case, the UK girl who had joined IS in Syria in 2015 and now wishes to return to the UK with her recently born son. He also discussed the right to return more generally for those who had […]

In the Dutch talkshow Jinek, ICCT director Renske van der Veer discussed the trial of two Dutch men who returned to the Netherlands after having travelled to Syria to join IS. The difficulties associated with the foreign fighter phenomenon were discussed in more depth. Watch the video here.

After the attack in Strasbourg on the 11th of December 2018, Renske van der Veer appeared in the Dutch news show EenVandaag, discussing the attack, the use of watchlists and the possibility of an attack in the Netherlands. It is clear that you can’t fully rule out the possibility, Renske said, but intelligence services and […]

In the Dutch radio show Argos, a show on investigative journalism, Research Fellow Bibi van Ginkel was invited to elaborate on the military evidence-project of ICCT: how can the military gather evidence from the battlefield and what procedures are needed to make this evidence admissible in court? Listen to the item here. (in Dutch)

The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UN CTED) Research Digest offers short summaries of all relevant research conducted by its Global Research Network on a certain topic. The November issue focuses on recent trends in terrorists’ use of technology. The Research Digest also includes a Reading List of recent counter-terrorism research, in which our policy […]

In light of the Pittsburgh attack, Pressfrom published an article on how to de-radicalize white supremacists. Associate Fellow J.M. Berger explains how the processes of radicalisation and extremism are the same in ideological groups. “The in-group (the ideological group, say, neo-Nazis or ISIS members) is afflicted with a crisis that is blamed on the out-group [people […]

A report on 25 October by ISS connects recent incidents to possibility of arising violent extremism in South Africa. Associate Fellow Peter Knoope is refered to in the article, as he has previously warned that many of the recent incidents had ‘the fingerprints of ISIS’, and were to purposely create tensions between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims. […]

On 16 October 2018, The Atlantic published an article on America’s endgame and Iran’s role in Syria, written by Associate Fellow Collin P. Clarke and Ariane Tabatabai. The US administration made an important change in its foreign policy regarding Syria, according to the authors; America will remain active in Syria as long as Iran is operating in the […]

On the 17 October, Director Renske van der Veer commented on the recent developments concerning the Arnhem jihad case on Dutch news NOS. In the article, she argues that infiltration by the police is complicated, but there are occasions in which risks must be taken. Read the article here (in Dutch).

In an article in Foreign Policy, ICCT Associate Fellow Collin P. Clarke elaborates on the new tactics of ISIS to survive economically. Although the terrorist organisation has lost 98% of its territory, it is still able to continue its operations using money they have smuggled out of Iraq and Syria. Furthermore, new tactics are developed […]

Following the recent arrests of seven terror suspects by the Dutch Police, several ICCT staff have discussed this ‘terrorist plot’ on Dutch National television. ICCT Director Renske van der Veer appeared in the news show Nieuwsuur, discussing radicalisation and deradicalisation of terror suspects. ICCT Research Fellow Edwin Bakker was in Buitenhof to comment on the arrests […]

As part of the Geostrategy Platform, an article of the World Economic Forum discusses the use of the internet by ISIS, and what can be learned from this: how can this be used to counter radicalisation and terrorism? The article mentions the work of two of our Associate Fellows, Haroro J. Ingram and Charlie Winter, […]

In September, ICCT was featured in USAID’s  ‘Featured Organizations’ for the month, for the USAID Peace Exchange initiative. The feature provided an overview of ICCT’s experience in countering violent extremism, detailing projects ICCT has conducted in the field in the last several years. Read about it here.  

On the 11 September, GLOBSEC published its latest Project Midterm Report “Who Are the European Jihadis?” with a focus on the crime-terror nexus in Europe. Multiple publications by ICCT were cited and Research Fellow Bart Schuurman was one of the consulting experts for the report. For more information and to read the report, follow this link.

On the 11th of September, ICCT Research Fellow Daan Weggemans was quoted in an article in the Volkskrant on the new security dangers of convicted jihadists who are set to be released in 2023. the article is based on a report by Globsec, which studied 197 convicted jihadists in 11 different countries, including the Netherlands. […]

ICCT Research Fellow Liesbeth van der Heide comments on the stabbing attack at Amsterdam Central last Friday in the talk show M on Dutch national television. In the talkshow, the response to the attack, threat levels and the attackers’ motives are discussed in detail. (in Dutch) To watch the item, follow the link

In an article in NRC on the stabbing attack in Amsterdam Central which occurred on Friday the 31st of August, ICCT;s June 2017 report ‘Fear They Neighbor‘ was quoted. The report analyses 51 attacks in Europe and North America and its perpetrators. Read the article here Peter Knoope, Associate Fellow at ICCT, commented in AD (Algemeen […]

In the seventh report of the Secretary-General to the UN Security Council on the threat posed by ISIL, a project of ICCT is mentioned. The report discusses, among other things, international judicial cooperation. On this subject, it requires the Member States to strengthen their collection, handling and sharing of information and evidence. In cooperation with working […]

In an article in Foreign Affairs, ICCT Fellow Collin P. Clarke discusses the transformation of ISIS. Predictions about how the group will be defeated are premature, claims the author. The group has been affected by the attacks of government forces and coalition airstrikes, but it has been preparing to shift from being an insurgent organization to a terrorist […]

Renske van der Veer, director of ICCT, was interviewed by BNR about the terrorist attack in Tajikistan claimed by IS. In the radioshow De Wereld, she discussed the development of terror organisations, returning foreign fighters and the difficulties of prosecuting returned foreign fighters.  Listen to the interview here.

In this article for AT5 Nieuws on radicalisation policy in Amsterdam, ICCT Director Renske van der Veer was quoted discussing what the newly appointed Mayor of Amsterdam should focus her efforts on concerning radicalisation in Amsterdam. Renske argues that the policy debate surrounding radicalisation has become politicized, and emphasized that research must be undertaken to […]

In this article for the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence journal, Dr Alastair Reed and Jennifer Dowling examine the role of historical narratives in extremist propaganda. Read the article here. 

In this opinion piece for de Volkstrant, Research Fellows Bibi van Ginkel and Christophe Paulussen make a powerful case for the repatriation of Dutch children born into Syrian and Iraqi camps. Read the full article here.  

On Nieuwsuur, ICCT Director Renske van der Veer discussed the ways in which government could approach the critical issues relating to foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). On a case by case basis, van der Veer argued that FTFs should be brought back to the Netherlands to face prosecution at home. Read more. For more on this issue, read ICCT […]

In this op-ed for Canada’s Globe and Mail, Associate Fellow Dr. Colin P. Clarke reflects on the recent vehicle attack in Toronto.

The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) – The Hague, in collaboration with the Netherlands embassy in Qatar, the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre (ROLACC) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), yesterday held a workshop titled, ‘Investigating and Prosecuting Cases of the Nexus between Organised Crime and Terrorism: Best Practices and Lessons Learned for Practitioners’.

In the second part of this series on IS propaganda, ICCT Fellows Alastair Reed and Haroro Ingram highlight two key trends and their implications for practitioners.

In their VoxPol blog series, Haroro Ingram and Alastair Reed analyse the propaganda strategies used in ISIS’s English-language magazines. Based on Dr. Ingram’s ICCT Research Paper, part one of the series looks at the implications of these strategies for CT-CVE practitioners.

In this RAND blog, ICCT Fellow Colin P. Clarke explains how Ankara’s actions contradict its claims of opposing Islamic State. Read the piece here.

What does taking ideology seriously in counter-terrorism strategies mean? In this expert blog for Penal Reform International, Senior Research Fellow Liesbeth van der Heide looks at the role ideology plays in the passage to violent extremism. Read the blog here

ICCT is delighted to announce that Renske van der Veer has been appointed as director of the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) – The Hague with effect from 1 April 2018.

In this op-ed on PVE in the Philippines, Acting Director Dr. Alastair Reed argues that a successful post-siege PVE strategy relies on grassroots engagement alongside state-led investment to meet civil society’s critical needs.

In August 2017, ICCT Research Fellow Liesbeth van der Heide authored a Research Paper on the ‘Children of the Caliphate’. This paper focused on young or juvenile Islamic State (IS) returnees, assessing what sets juvenile returnees apart from adult returnees or the broader population of young criminals. In this week’s New York Times, Andrew E. Kramer […]

In this episode of BBC Radio4’s Briefing Room, ICCT Fellow Charlie Winter is joined by experts including Richard Barrett (former head of counter-terrorism at MI6) to discuss the threat currently posed by IS. Listen to the discussion here  

In his most recent RAND blog, ICCT Fellow Colin P. Clarke discusses the spill-over of IS militants from Syria and Iraq into Turkey. In this context, Erdogan’s tolerance of IS in order to focus on fighting Kurdish militants is a “dangerous and myopic policy”. Read the full piece here    

The U.S military campaign in Afghanistan has expanded to target Uighur jihadists. Who are the Uighur separatists? What is the scope and scale of Uighur foreign fighter activity? ICCT Associate Fellow Dr. Colin P. Clarke and Dr. Paul Rexton Kan looked at the challenges posed by this under-examined militant group in a November 2017 ICCT Policy […]

In his TRT World op-ed, C.J Werleman uses ICCT Fellow J.M Berger‘s analysis of in/out group binaries to make sense of violent anti-Muslim extremism. In the same way ISIS propaganda constructs an ‘us vs them’ binary, recent anti-Muslim attacks can be understood as acts of in-group violence against an out-group Other. “Anti-Muslim extremists are radicalizing in […]

ICCT Associate Fellow, Colin P. Clarke, has a new blog post on the US-Russia CT relationship. Clarke’s piece, ‘Russia is Not a Viable Counter-Terrorism Partner for the United States’, points to the obstacles for US-Russian cooperation and argues that they are incompatible as partners in countering terrorism. Dr. Clarke’s op-ed was originally published as part […]

Fellow J.M Berger has contributed a chapter to an Aspen Institute Report titled “Pluralism in Peril: Challenges to an American Ideal.” Berger’s chapter, “Out of Many, One: Defining the Opposite of Extremism”, looks at countering extremism in the context of the debate on American pluralism. Read the full report here.

Research Fellow Bibi van Ginkel‘s important contribution to a recent Egmont Paper is featured in Dutch newspaper, NRC. Read the full article here. Read the Egmont Paper here. “Returnees: Who are they, why are they (not) coming back, and how should we deal with them? Assessing Policies on Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.”

Once again, the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism has been named in the Global Go To Think Tank Index (University of Pennsylvania). In an improvement on 2016’s rankings, ICCT has moved up four places in the global rankings for defense and national security think-tanks. On these rankings, ICCT Director Dr. Alastair Reed said “this is a testament […]

In an informative interview, ICCT Research Fellow Bart Schuurman spoke to the Investigative Project on Terrorism about his research on the Hofstadgroep. Dr. Schuurman’s in-depth study on the Dutch Hofstadgroep asks: How and why do people become involved in European homegrown jihadism? Using interviews and extensive police files, Schuurman’s research is an important contribution to existing primary […]

ICCT Research Fellow, Bibi van Ginkel, is featured as a contributor in the latest issue of the Egmont Papers (Paper 101). The Egmont Papers are published by Egmont – The Royal Institute of International Relations in Brussels. This publication maintains a focus on the issue of returning foreign fighters: “Returnees: Who are they, why are they (not) coming […]

The Economist looked at the issue of returning foreign fighters in December 2017. The article addresses how Islamic State’s fighters are “coming home to places that do not want them.” ICCT Research Fellow Edwin Bakker is quoted on the question of recording the whereabouts of European foreign fighters. Read the full article here.

On 2 January 2018 ICCT Associate Fellow Dr. Colin P. Clarke co-wrote an article with Philip Smyth titled “Where is Assad Getting His Fighters From? (It’s not just Lebanon and Iraq)”. The article, published in The National Interest, explores the origin of foreign fighters that have joined Bashar al-Assad’s defense against insurgents. Read the full article here.

On 7 January 2018 ICCT Associate Fellow Charlie Winter published an article titled “Virtual Caliphate Rebooted: The Islamic State’s Evolving Online Strategy” in Lawfare. Winter discusses Islamic State’s strategic evolution in the context of a “full-fledged collapse” of their media and propaganda activities since 2015. Through examining four spheres of their online activity, the article maps […]

On the 21 December 2017 Associate Fellow Seran de Leede co-write a study with Renate Haupfleisch, Katja Korolkova and Monika Natter titled “Radicalisation and violent extremism – focus on women: How women become radicalised, and how to empower them to prevent radicalisation.” The study was commissioned by the European Parliament Policy Department for Citizen’s Rights and […]

On the 27 November 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow Dr. Colin P. Clarke wrote an article with Patrick B. Johnston for Foreign Policy about the rise of the Islamic State in the Philippines.  The break down of IS’s caliphate in Mosul and Raqqa has led to western leaders declaring victory over the region. However, in May 2017 militants […]

On 25 November, Dr. Colin P. Clarke published an article in the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs on the possibility of a coordinated EU approach to the threat of returning foreign fighters. In response to major terrorist attacks and threats across European capital cities, European nations have improved border security and increased the surveillance of potential suspects. Nonetheless, distrust between […]

After years of strong resistance, the development sector has recently made a pivot to engage on the agenda of countering and preventing violent extremism. What has caused this development and what are the consequences for policy planning?

On 13 November 2017, ICCT Research Fellow Liesbeth van der Heide appeared in the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness‘s podcast, ‘Intelligence. Unclassified’. It was the podcast’s 46th episode titled, ‘Children of the Caliphate – Young ISIS Returnees and the Reintegration Challenge’. The host, Dean Baratta, discussed Liesbeth’s recent research paper she co-authored with Jip Geenen, ‘Children […]

In September, 2017 ICCT Associate Fellow Phil Gurski published his third book called, ‘The Lesser Jihads: Bringing the Islamist Extremist Fight to the World‘. The book examines conflict through the lens of Islamist terrorist groups. It outlines how terrorists see war, as well as what historical and current events and ideas they use not only to […]

On 5 November, 2017 ICCT Associate Fellow J.M. Berger featured in an article in Mother Jones on online chat logs where Right-wing White extremists discuss bomb-making recipes. Berger claims that social media websites often “downplay the dangers posed by racial extremists”. It is important to focus on these activities and find suitable strategies to curb them. Read the […]

On 2 November, 2017 Dr. Bibi van Ginkel had an Opinion published in Trouw on the role of military in collecting evidence and arresting terrorist suspects. As soldiers are often on the spot of where an attack takes place, they possess better and direct access to the crime site. Bibi argues that a better relationship between […]

On 3 November, 2017 Dr. Colin P. Clarke wrote an article for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on the future of counterterrorism efforts. The article asserts that although the Islamic State has been ousted from its Raqqa headquarters, it remains a dangerous criminal network. In addition, who will provide security and governance in Raqqa […]

On 1 November 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow Dr. Colin P. Clarke published an article on the recent New York vehicle terror attack in The Globe and Mail. In the article, Clarke discusses whether vehicle attacks can be prevented. He reasons that “it is nearly impossible to guard against such an attack” but argues “with increased […]

On 1 November 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow Dr. Colin P. Clarke and Amarnath Amarasingam published an article in Slate titled “Terrorism Fatigue“. The article argues that terrorist attacks claimed by ISIS are desensitizing the public to violence. According to Clarke and Amarasingam, ISIS makes “terrorism seem a part of everyday life, making it fail to achieve its intended […]

On 31 October 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow J.M. Berger co-wrote an article in The Washington Post with Amarnath Amarasingam titled, ‘With the destruction of the caliphate, the Islamic State has lost far more than territory.’ They discuss IS’s future in terms of how it has characterised itself as a social movement. Such nature constitutes of […]

On 24 October 2017, ICCT Research Fellow Liesbeth van der Heide attended a forum held by the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (Pips), Reintegration of Militant: Process and Practices in Islamabad, Pakistan. The event sought to discuss a Pakistan-specific model for reintegrating militants by engaging multiple actors and focusing on dialogue and peace. Liesbeth highlighted how there is no single […]

On 23 October the Journal of Forensic Sciences published a research paper co-written by Bart Schuurman, Edwin Bakker, Paul Gill and Noemie Bouhana. The paper, titled ‘Lone Actor Terrorist Attack Planning and Preparation: A Data-Driven Analysis’ analyses a sample of 55 lone actor terrorists using 198 variables related to pre-attack behavior. The paper questions the […]

On 24 October 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow Dr. Colin P. Clarke wrote an article in Foreign Affairs on Al Qaeda’s attempt to rebrand itself. The article is titled, “The Moderate Face of Al-Qaeda: How the Group has Rebranded itself” and discusses how the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda underwent a series of rebrandings with the aim to appear as a relatively more […]

On 11 October 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow Dr. Colin P. Clarke wrote an article in Foreign Affairs on the rise of Salafism in Gaza. The article, titled ‘How Salafism’s Rise Threatens Gaza’ argues that Salafi groups challenge Hamas’ claim to being the most truly Islamic group in Palestine. Worrying to both the Israeli government and Hamas’, this […]

On 17 October 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow Charlie Winter featured in an article in Just Security on IS’s claim to responsibility of the recent Las Vegas shooting. Alongside Amarnath Amarasingam and Jade Parker, Winter discussed to what extent this claim is valid. More importantly, whether the claim is true or not, how does it benefit IS’s self- […]

On 17 October 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow Craig Whiteside appeared on ABC‘s programme, The World Today, in a ten-minute audio interview on the virtual existence of the Islamic State’s (IS) caliphate. The interview questions revolved around how ISIS will continue to exist in the future, as more territory loses take place. Whiteside argues that ISIS will […]

On 9 October 2017, ICCT Research Fellow Berenice Boutin featured in an article by Jamie Dettmer in VOA News. The article discusses familial aspects of terrorism where relatives of terrorists come under inspection and scrutiny. It refers to Boutin’s latest work on parents of terrorists financing their livelihoods, “Has Countering the Financing of Terrorism Gone Wrong? […]

On 4 October 2017, ICCT Acting Director Alastair Reed and Research Fellow Christophe Paulussen featured in the latest edition of De Groene Amsterdammer. The piece was on (returning) foreign fighters and what to do about this phenomenon. Reed and Paulussen discussed topics such as push and pull factors of radicalisation, administrative measures such as deprivation of nationality and (international) prosecution. Read the article.

On 3 October 2017, ICCT Research Fellow Liesbeth van der Heide and Associate Fellow Charlie Winter were featured in an article by NOS op 3 about the recent Las Vegas mass shooting. They discuss how there could potentially be a link between IS and this incident. However, since there is no evidence to prove so, this assumption […]

On 4 October 2017, Eurojust News featured an interview with ICCT Acting Director Dr. Alastair Reed. The interview questions ranged from: the added value of think tanks for EU agencies in a counter-terrorism context, to the Foreign Terrorist Fighter threat and the implication of recent attacks committed by ‘lone wolves’. On the most important counter-terrorism challenge […]

On 29 September 2017, ICCT Acting Director Alastair Reed was interviewed by Charles Kriel from the Corsham Institute in a podcast on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE). Reed explained the significance of de-radicalisation within civil society dealing with violent extremism. He emphasised shifting focus from traditional CVE strategies aiming to change extremist belief systems to creating disengagement between the actor and […]

On 27 September 2017, ICCT Associate Fellows Dr. Haroro J. Ingram and Dr Craig Whiteside wrote an article for War on the Rocks titled ‘In Search of the Virtual Caliphate: Convenient Fallacy, Dangerous Distraction’. In their article, Ingram and Whiteside question the notion that the Islamic State is facing defeat and retreating to a ‘virtual caliphate’. They argue that the […]

On 25 September 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow Dr. Colin P. Clarke wrote an article in Foreign Affairs on ISIS’s transition from an insurgency organization to a terrorist group. The article, titled ‘How ISIS is transforming’ warned that in light of recent loses, predictions of ISIS’s demise are premature. Clarke argues that ‘governments must respond with a comprehensive counterterrorism […]

On 24 September 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow Dr. Colin P. Clarke wrote an article for Lawfare about foreign fighters returnees. As the Islamic State’s caliphate continues to collapse in Iraq and Syria, foreign fighters will return to home countries. Using data from the ICCT’s 2016 report on foreign fighters, Clarke constructs a profile for returning foreign […]

In September 2017, Diego Muro (ed.) published the edited volume, Resilient Cities: Violent Extremism at Local Level. It highlights the importance of building resilience to violent extremism in European cities that are facing an accelerating threat with past terrorist attacks that have taken place in the last few years. It features one chapter by ICCT Research Fellow, […]

On the 19 September 2017 Associate Fellows Charlie Winter and Dr. Haroro J. Ingram published an article in The Atlantic analyzing how ISIS was able to turn the ‘failed’ bomb at the Parsons Green London Underground Station on September 15 2017, into a strategic success. The article, titled “Why ISIS Is So Good at Branding Its Failures […]

On the 19th September ICCT Associate Fellow J.M. Berger was cited in a Foreign Policy article about twitter’s suspension of terrorist-associated twitter accounts in the first half of 2017. The article stated that 300,000 twitter accounts were suspended between January and June of 2017, after social media companies received pressure to ‘crack down on terrorist use […]

On 17 September 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow Colin P. Clarke wrote an article in The Jerusalem Post about Hezbollah’s traditional and effective manipulation of information warfare. Their mantra follows, “If you haven’t captured it on film you haven’t fought”. The organisation uses all forms of media ranging from newspapers, magazines, websites to television programmes all in […]

On 17 September 2017, The Herald Scotland published a news article about the diffusion of foreign fighters now returning to their countries of origin. It puts forth possible reasons for such return – be it disengagement with a terrorist organisation they once believed in which has now failed them, or to open a gateway of “violence to […]

On 15 September 2017, The Australian published a news article about how ISIS is strategising to create a “virtual caliphate” to keep their dream alive for the future. Featuring Haroro Ingram, it analyses various propaganda techniques used by ISIS in maintaining a particular narrative characterized by terror and exceptionalism. The article discusses the content of the latest ISIS […]

On 30 August 2017, BBC News published a news article that analysed who was responsible for the 63 jihadist attacks that have taken place in Europe and North America over the past three years. The article drew upon a report titled “Fear Thy Neighbor: Radicalization and Jihadist Attacks in the West“, which was published jointly by ICCT, […]

On 16 August 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow J.M. Berger was cited in an article in The Atlantic about the similarities between jihadist and white supremacist violent extremism. According to Berger, “[t]he process and structure of radicalization and extremism […] are the same in different kinds of movements, even when the content of the extremist belief is different (such as with neo-Nazis and jihadists)”. […]

On 17 August 2017, ICCT Associate Fellows Colin P. Clarke and Charlie Winter published an article in War on the Rocks about Islamic State’s (IS) strategic communications legacy. According to the authors, what made IS a successful movement was its understanding of the need to give its media apparatus a central role in order to attain its propaganda goals, and it has […]

On 14 August 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow J.M. Berger published an article in The Atlantic discussing possible scenarios for the Alt-Right movement following the ramming attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, which killed Heather Heyer and injured 19 others. This weekend, the Alt-Right is scheduled to hold protests across at least nine U.S. cities. J.M. Berger argues that “these events will provide an important barometer for […]

On 1 August 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow Colin Clarke was cited in The Independent, in an article discussing what implications the fall of so-called Islamic State (IS) is having for al-Qaeda. Discussing Hamza Bin Laden’s recent accusation of Abdul-Aziz bin Rahman Al Saud of being a British agent, Clarke argues that Bin Laden’s comments are al-Qaeda’s way of saying that Saudi […]

On 31 July 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow Haroro Ingram published an article in The National Interest arguing that despite the defeat of so-called ‘Islamic State’ (IS) in Mosul, continuing to devise effective ways to combat IS propaganda remains critical. Because IS has been weakened, it will seek new ways to disseminate its propaganda. The article gives a comprehensive overview of Ingram’s […]

On 6 July 2017, ICCT Research Fellow Liesbeth van der Heide was cited in Newsweek. In the context of so-called ‘Islamic State’ (IS) indoctrinating and using children in their campaigns, IS poses a much greater challenge than other extremist groups that try to radicalise communities. Van der Heide argues that because IS “was literally running a state-like operation, providing […]

On 3 July 2017, ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Bibi van Ginkel joined the Dutch Radio talk-show NOS Het Oog, discussing general dilemmas of dealing with foreign fighters wanting to return to their countries of origin. Now that so-called ‘Islamic State’ (IS) is on the brink of losing Raqqa and Mosul, governments in Europe and the United States, for […]

On 4 July 2017, the  French newspaper Le Figaro reported on the report “Fear Thy Neighbor: Radicalization and Jihadist Attacks in the West”, which was published jointly by George Washington University’s Program on Extremism, the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) and the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – The Hague (ICCT) in June 2017. Le Figaro […]

On 3 July 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow Charlie Winter published an article in The Atlantic discussing how so called Islamic State’s (IS) recent loss of Mosul is not as detrimental to the group as one may initially think. The fall of Mosul, argues Winter, was a foreseeable development for IS, as it was more a question of when the city […]

On 19 June 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow J.M. Berger published an article in The Atlantic discussing the emerging pattern of reciprocal and escalating violence between various extremist groups. Berger argues that while Jihadist extremism is a mature extremist movement, anti-Muslim extremism is currently more diffuse. However, the symbiotic relationship between warring extremist groups sets a dangerous precedent. […]

On 5 June 2017, ICCT Associate Fellows Colin P. Clarke and Daveed Gartenstein-Ross were cited in the Boston Herald. Gartenstein-Ross argues that the attacks that occurred the United Kingdom over the past three weeks should no longer be considered as “lone-wolf” attacks, given their rapidity and the way in which they tie into a group strategy. Similarly, Clarke argues that anticipating […]

On 5 June 2017, ICCT Research Fellow J.M. Berger was featured in an article by The New Yorker about how terrorism is changing. As so-called “Islamic State” (IS) is rapidly losing ground, this does not mean that the group will be any less dangerous. “The West can do things on the margins to be safer,” Berger said, but it still […]

On 3 May 2017, ICCT Associate Fellows Colin P. Clarke and Craig Whiteside published an article  titled “Charting the Future of the Modern Caliphate” in War on the Rocks. The article explores the future of so called ‘Islamic State’ (IS) and what will be most likely future scenarios for the jihadi group. According to Clarke and Whiteside, IS’ future survival […]

On 5 May 2017, ICCT Research Fellow J.M. Berger was interviewed by The Loopcast to discuss his ICCT Research Paper ‘Extremist Construction of Identity: How Escalating Demands for Legitimacy Shape and Define In-Group and Out-Group Dynamics’. Berger explains how the idea for his paper came to be, and why he examines the white supremacist movement Christian Identity in […]

On 11 April 2017, ICCT Research Fellow Bibi van Ginkel commented in an article by the Dutch news broadcaster NOS about radicalisation in Central Asian countries.

On 12 April 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow J.M. Berger was interviewed by ABC News, discussing the Russian influence campaign behind the ‘#SyriaHoax’ hashtag on Twitter.

J.M. Berger argues that Islamic State is losing its appeal, reflected in its decreased ability to recruit new followers.

On 29 March 2017, ICCT Research Fellow Prof. Dr. Edwin Bakker joined the Dutch talk-show Pauw, discussing his and Mr. Peter Grol’s latest book publication.

On 27 March 2017, ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Bibi van Ginkel was cited in the Dutch NRC newspaper with regards to the EU’s policy on counter-terrorism.

ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Alex P. Schmid was interviewed by the Club de Madrid’s platform Stop Violent Extremism where experts on PVE/CVE can express and disseminate their ideas on how to tackle violent extremism. Dr. Schmid’s contribution centred on what is needed to build an effective new narrative to counter violent extremism. Read the full interview.

On 26 February 2017, ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Alex P. Schmid was featured in article for PBS Newshour on defining ‘terrorism’.

On 7 February 2017, ICCT Research Fellow Prof. Edwin Bakker was featured in the article “A file on Islamic State’s ‘problem’ foreign fighters shows some are refusing to fight”, published in The Washington Post.

On 9 February 2017, ICCT Associate Fellows Dr. Haroro Ingram and Dr. Craig Whiteside published an article in The Atlantic discussing the enduring propaganda value of Anwar al-Awlaki in connection with the recent US-led ground action targeting AQAP in Yemen. Ingram and Whiteside argue that even unintended actions, such as the death of Awlaki’s daughter […]

On 25 January 2017, ICCT Associate Fellows J.M. Berger and Charlie Winter were featured in an article published by The Huffington Post. The article “Trump’s Talk On Terror And Iraq Has Experts Worried About A Coming Backlash” examines the rhetoric of the US President in relation to the current battle against the so-called Islamic State (IS). J.M. […]

On 3 February 2017, ICCT Associate Fellow J.M. Berger comments in The Washington Post on the current US administration’s re-branding of the countering violent extremism programme to countering Islamic extremism only. J.M. Berger argues that this allows the US government to specifically target “radical Islamic terror”, symbolically ignoring or even accepting the increasing presence of white nationalism […]

On 31 January 2017, ICCT Associate Fellows Charlie Winter and Dr. Colin P. Clarke discussed the future of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in an article published in Foreign Affairs by providing an analysis of IS’ media coordination and productivity over the past years. The Associate Fellows conclude that the amount of propaganda outlets is decreasing as the centre of the […]

On 2 February 2017, ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Haroro J. Ingram published an article in The Strategist. “Obama’s foreign policy legacy in three quotes” examines the rhetoric used by the Obama administration in the context of the Syrian war, the perceived threat from Russia and the rise of so-called Islamic State (IS). To maintain credibility and legitimacy, Dr. Haroro […]

On 30 December 2016, ICCT Research Fellow Bart Schuurman was featured in the Middle East Eye. In the article ‘The terror forecast for 2017’, Bart Schuurman and other terrorism scholars were invited to comment on terrorism prospects in 2017. Besides discussing current and expected developments of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the scholars also commented […]

On 20 November 2016, the Spanish newspaper El País published an article that examines the preparedness within Europe for a potential increasing influx of returning foreign fighters when the so-called Islamic State looses its power in Syria and Iraq. In the article, ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Christophe Paulussen states that prosecution and detention of returning foreign […]

On 30 December, the Italian news broadcaster Rai News published an article referring to the latest ICCT Policy Brief by ICCT Research Fellow Tanya Mehra. The article casts a look back at the death of Saddam Hussein ten years ago and the political situation today in Iraq, characterised by sectarian strife and the atrocities committed by the […]

On 20 December 2016, ICCT Associate Fellow J.M. Berger was featured in The Washington Post article: “Tech companies ‘profit from ISIS,’ allege families of Orlando shooting victims in federal lawsuit”. The article examines the role that social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter play in the recruitment process of so-called Islamic State and the revenue they […]

On 28 December 2016, ICCT Associate Fellow J.M. Berger was interviewed by David Greene of NPR. In the Morning Edition, J.M. Berger explored how counter-terrorism policy may change under the new US president-elect. During the interview, J.M. Berger comments on the dangers of the public narratives with its focus on ISIS and their claimed attacks in recent months, […]

On 20 December 2016, ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Alex P. Schmid was featured on the WJLA news website. The article “Linking terrorism to immigration after Berlin attack may not align with facts, experts say”, explores the often perceived link between migration and terrorism. Based on his previous ICCT Research Paper Links between Terrorism and Migration: an Exploration, Dr. Schmid argues that […]

On 25 November 2016, ICCT Associate Fellow J. M. Berger was featured in an article by The Boston Globe. The article “Should Twitter ban the alt-right? The case for online censorship” explores the role of social media platforms with regard to free speech and radicalisation. J. M. Berger argues that “social media give extremists some powerful tools for growth: […]

On 12 December 2016, ICCT Associate Fellow Dr. Craig Whiteside was featured in War on the Rocks. His article shares six findings based on his research on the so-called Islamic State (IS) and its media enterprise. Dr. Craig Whiteside is part of ICCT’s Counter-Terrorism Strategic Communications project and has recently authored the Research Paper: Lighting the Path: the Evolution of the […]

On 25 November 2016, ICCT Associate Fellow Seran de Leede commented in an article by the Dutch news broadcaster NOS. The article examines ‘Layla M.’, a new fictional movie that captures the radicalisation process of a young Dutch girl. The creators aimed to decrease the taboo and encourage dialogue within society. Thus far, the movie has received positive reviews. […]

On 9 November,  ICCT Research Fellow Wietse van den Berge‘s interview with the Habilian Association was published by Mehr News Agency. The article “Jihadist groups fragmented, but sharing common goal” explores different types of radicalisation: Wietse van den Berge believes that ‘neither ideology nor religion is actually a cause for radicalisation’. Additionally, he comments on […]

In an article for The Strategist from 7 November 2016, ICCT Director Dr. Alastair Reed explores the possibilities of using strategic communications in countering the activities of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Bangladesh.

An October article in Politico Magazine by ICCT Associate Fellow J.M. Berger explores the relationship between American white nationalists and the current Republican nominee for the U.S. presidency, Donald Trump. Presenting that at first the two parties were at odds, Berger elaborates on how many white nationalists have come to not only accept, but love Trump. The […]

On October 23, ICCT Associate Fellow Charlie Winter featured in the Toronto Star newspaper on the use of counter-Islamic State (IS) propaganda by the American and Canadian governments. The article “Countering Daesh propaganda, and skeptics at home” critically explores the propaganda battleground and previously applied counter-terrorism narrative strategies. Charlie Winter argues for the need to remain innovative […]

On 13 October 2016, ICCT Research Fellow Liesbeth van der Heide was featured in the Dutch newspaper Trouw. The article examines the case of a Dutch foreign fighter who fled from territory controlled by the so-called Islamic State (IS) and is currently in interned in an IS defector camp in Syria. Van der Heide comments on the role of the government […]

On 14 October 2016, the Washington, D.C. based U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes published a piece that examines the notable absence of terrorist attacks in Italy since the establishment of ISIS – a fact that has not been shared by a number of its European neighbours. Drawing from the findings detailed in the ICCT Foreign Fighters Report, the […]

On 18 October 2016, ICCT Research Fellow Prof. Dr. Edwin Bakker joined the Dutch talkshow Pauw, discussing the battle of Mosul and the wider ramifications of the fight against the so-called Islamic State.

In a recent interview with Bob Garfield on WNYC’s show On the Media, ICCT Associate Fellow Charlie Winter discusses newly published figures concerning IS propaganda and recruitment reductions. Attributing these changes to significant losses in territory, the cyber war, and the killing of key IS figures through targeted strikes, Winter also anticipates increased retaliation from the group. Touching on the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the […]

A New York Times article presents newly published figures that indicate significant drops in the media output of so-called Islamic State (IS) and in the number of foreign fighters either joining or part of IS forces. Recognising this trend, ICCT Associate Fellow J.M. Berger comments that the group’s move away from selling itself as a utopia […]

Writing in The Atlantic, ICCT Associate Fellow J.M. Berger presents the historical context of white nationalism before focusing on an analysis of the famous racist novel The Turner Diaries.

A Time Magazine article of 15 September 2016 examines the position of mothers and their unique role as actors who can help prevent the radicalisation of children and young adults, relying on data from ICCT’s Foreign Fighters Report.

Today, ICCT Associate Fellow Seran de Leede appeared in an article on Western Women drawn to ISIS in the Dutch news broadcaster NOS

In an article published by the Business Insider, ICCT Associate Fellow Charlie Winter commented on the approach taken by some technology companies to counter extremism. In particular, incubator Jigsaw’s development of a Redirect Method allows them to target individuals on a path to extremism with ads that debunk the mythology of ISIS. However, Winter stresses that while the Redirect […]

19.9.2016: In the StarTribune, ICCT Associate Fellow J. M. Berger comments on the effects of educational and mental health programmes on communities at risk of home-grown terrorism. Berger argues that while these programmes are beneficial to the communities involved, they do not necessarily lead to a reduction in violent extremism. Read the article. 

18.7.2016: in an article for the Spanish newspaper El Periodico, ICCT Fellows Edwin Bakker and Alex P. Schmid commented on the latest terrorist attack in Nice. While Alex Schmid focused on France’s historical role in the division of the Middle East, the secular character of its society and its involvement in the coalition against the so-called Islamic State […]

Both last week and this week, ICCT Research Fellow Bibi van Ginkel was interviewed by two Dutch newspapers as well as by Radio 1 to share her expertise: In an interview with NRC and Radio 1, she spoke on new legislation being discussed by the Dutch Parliament concerning the introduction of administrative measures against terrorists. These measures, argued […]

ICCT launched its Report ‘The Foreign Fighters Phenomenon in the European Union: Profiles, Threats & Policies’ in the presence of (inter)national policymakers, counter-terrorism experts, ambassadors, academics and media representatives. The event took place at the international press centre Nieuwspoort in The Hague, where the first copy was handed to the Netherlands National Coordinator for Security and […]

ICCT Director Mark Singleton and Research Fellow Dr. Christophe Paulussen commented on the efforts of the Netherlands to prevent radicalisation and counter-terrorism in several Dutch newspapers.

The analysis in the media by ICCT experts related to the Brussels attacks that took place on Tuesday 22 March 2016 can be found on this page.

Today, ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Bibi van Ginkel appeared in an article on the capture of Salah Abdeslam in the Dutch national newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.

On 17 March, ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Bibi van Ginkel was interviewed by the Dutch daily newspaper Trouw for an article on the threat of new attacks of the so-called “Islamic State” in Europe.

On 10 March 2016, ICCT Director Mark Singleton and Research Fellow Bibi van Ginkel commented on the leaked identities of Islamist State recruits in an article by the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant.

ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Bibi van Ginkel called the revealed identities of IS recruits a “smoking gun”, that can make the conviction of jihadists in the Netherlands more likely.

ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Alex P. Schmid is interviewed by Global Affairs Mexico about the relationship between terrorism and the media and the current state of the art in terrorism research.

ICCT Research Fellow Liesbeth van der Heide underlined the need for de-radicalisation programmes in an interview by Dutch public broadcaster Omroep WNL.

On 16 January 2016, ICCT Director Mark Singleton was interviewed by Peter de Bie and Meike van der Weij of the Dutch news broadcast Nieuwsshow on NPO Radio 1.
In the interview, Mark Singleton comments on the recent attacks in Istanbul and Jakarta, and gives a broader assessment of current Western counter-terrorism policies.

On 17 January 2016, ICCT Research Fellow Bibi van Ginkel was interviewed by the Dutch news radio channel NPO Radio 1 on policy measures in the fight against terrorism. Specifically, van Ginkel differentiates between threat levels and states of emergency and explains the ramifications of each measure.

Following the terrorist attacks in Jakarta on 14 January 2016, ICCT Director Mark Singleton was invited by the Dutch news agency RTL Nieuws to discuss the background of this attack.

On 13 January 2016, Dr. Bibi van Ginkel was interviewed by RTL Nieuws on the new report of the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service on life under the so-called “Islamic State”.

ICCT Senior Portfolio Manager Marco de Swart was interviewed by the Dutch radio station Den Haag FM about the uniqueness of the joint meeting of the GCTF and the Global Coalition Against ISIL.

ICCT Director Mark Singleton was interviewed by the Dutch news radio station BNR on account of the joint meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum and the Global Coalition Against ISIL/Da’esh.

Mark Singleton was interviewed by the Belgian daily newspaper De Standaard on the document of the so-called “Islamic State” that outlined principles for governing territory and a strategy for becoming a viable state.

On 19 November 2015, a day after a female terrorist that was linked to the Paris attacks bombed herself in Saint-Denis, Seran de Leede elaborated on the phenomenon of female suicide bombers.

On 9 November 2015, Mark Singleton was interviewed by Dutch TV. He elaborated on the bombing of the Russian Metrojet 9268 flight and the situational circumstances and history of the Sinai region.

On 17 November 2015, ICCT Director Mark Singleton joined the NPO Radio 1 evening programme Met Het Oog Op Morgen, giving his impression of the state of affairs in Hannover regarding the cancellation of the friendly match between Germany and The Netherlands.

On 13 November, IS militant Mohammed Emwazi, also known as “Jihadi John”, was confirmed dead after being hit in a US drone strike. Mark Singleton and Dr. Bibi van Ginkel commented on his killing in the media.

In an article published by the Belgian newsmagazine Knack on 10 November 2015, ICCT Associate Fellow and former Director Peter Knoope discussed the potential motivations of terrorists and the anti-Western sentiment.

All media appearances of ICCT experts on the Paris attacks that took place during the night from Friday 13 to Saturday 14 November 2015 can be found on this page.

On 20 October 2015, Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn was interviewed on the large “Jihad court case” in the Netherlands in the news programme De Nieuws BV of Dutch radio channel NPO Radio 1.

  ICCT Research Fellow Bibi van Ginkel was interviewed for the Dutch national newspaper de Volkskrant as well as on the news of NOS Radio 1 Journaal at radio channel NPO Radio 1. The interviews concerned the debate about the  risk of Islamic State fighters using the migrant routes as refugees to enter Europe. In her comment, Dr. […]

ICCT Associate Fellow Peter Knoope was interviewed on Al Monitor about the IS recruitment tools in Central Asia.

On 17 August 2015, Peter Knoope joined the programme “No Place is Far” (Italian: Nessun Luogo è Lontano) on the Italian all-news radio station Radio 24 to speak about the leadership of terrorist organisations.

  At the occasion of a UN Counter Terrorism Committee‘s special meeting held in Madrid, state representatives, representatives of other UN organisations and agencies, and regional organisations, as well as researchers, implementing parties and civil society representatives, participated in three technical meetings that were held to discuss the challenges and threats posed by foreign terrorist […]

ICCT Director Mark Singleton and Research Fellow Dr. Bibi van Ginkel attended the Counter-Terrorism Expert Conference of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Vienna.

Research Fellow and Leiden University Researcher Daan Weggemans and Beatrice de Graaf conducted one of the first scientific studies on the societal reintegration of former jihadist detainees.

On Sunday 17 May, Tom Keatinge provided an analysis to BBC about banks helping to identify possible jihadi fighters.

Research Fellow Dr. Bibi van Ginkel on the GCTF Administrative Unit in newspaper “Trouw” (in Dutch).   Find the whole article here.

On Friday 1 May, Christophe Paulussen was quoted by Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad in an article about new counter-terrorism legislative proposals in the Netherlands.

Associate Fellow Dr. Daveed Gartenstein-Ross provided analysis about the Islamic State and Boko Haram in Africa in Foreign Policy.   Read the full article here.

Associate Fellow Peter Knoope was interviewed about the situation in Yemen in the International Business Times.   Find the article here.

On 19-20 March 2015, ICCT together with ASC organised a two-day event on ‘Governance and Connections in Africa’s Contemporary Conflicts’ that explored the multi-dimensional connections between conflict zones ranging from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa and from Central Africa to the Great Lakes Region. On the second day, a public lecture ‘Globalised Conflict Situations – Nigeria’s […]

On 16 March 2015, ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Christophe Paulussen was invited by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy to participate in a hearing at the French Senate in Paris on the issue of foreign fighters in Syria.

On Syria and Counternarratives, interview with ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Bibi van Ginkel: “Schakel ex-Syriestrijders in contrapropaganda“, in De Morgen (in Dutch).

ICCT welcomes three new Fellows including Dr. Elaine Pressman, Ms. Seran de Leede and Mr. Daan Weggemans, and Ms. Naziha Laribi as Communications Intern.

On 27 January, the Court of Appeal in The Hague sentenced 23-year old Omar H. from Amsterdam to 18 months unconditional imprisonment for, amongst others, participation in training for terrorism. It is the first decision in which a Dutch court has issued a judgement on the participation in and assistance to terrorism.

ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Christophe Paulussen provided an interview on returning jihadists in NOW Media. Read the article here.

ICCT Associate Fellow Peter Knoope in the IBTimes on the possible impact of the Paris Attacks. Read the article here.

ICCT Director Mark Singleton on Storify on the future of EU counter-terrorism policies. Listen to the interview here.

Jason W, a convicted member of the Dutch home-grown Hofstad Network, has sent an open letter to a newspaper in the Netherlands renouncing his Jihadi beliefs, in the wake of a trial which reopens today. In this case, the court will explore if the Hofstad Network should be classified as a terrorist organisation.