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Clara Broekaert is a Research Analyst at The Soufan Center focused on terrorism, violent extremism, and foreign interference. A certified OSINT analyst, Clara has conducted various investigations into terrorist groups, analysing their organisational structures, online ecosystems, and operational tradecraft.
Prior to joining the Soufan Center, she was an intelligence analyst leading investigations at The Soufan Group and a research fellow at Diverting Hate, where she supported the organisation’s targeted redirection method through open-source research in violent online communities.
She earned her International Master's in Security, Intelligence, and Strategic Studies (IMSISS) with distinction and holds a B.A. in Government and International Relations from Smith College, magna cum laude. She speaks Dutch, English, French, and reads Arabic.
Recent publications:
- Broekaert, Clara, and Colin P. Clarke. "The Pandemonium Narrative and Its Limits: Artificial Intelligence and the Islamic State’s Innovation Pattern." Hudson Institute Commentary, May 11, 2026.
- Smith, Peter, Cat Cadenhead, and Clara Broekaert. "True Crime Community: Understanding the Depths of Digital Fandom and Performative Violence." CTC Sentinel 19, no. 2 (February 2026): 25–34.
- Clarke, Colin, and Clara Broekaert. "The Global State of al-Qa`ida 24 Years After 9/11." CTC Sentinel 18, no. 8 (September 2025): 11–18.