Peci: Increased risk of terrorist attacks in Kosovo, but also in Western Europe

Expert on radical Islamism from Germany, Irfan Peci, warned that during this period of Christmas and New Year holidays in Western Europe, there was an increased risk of terrorist attacks, but also emphasized that such a danger also existed in Kosovo, where a significant number of radical Muslims, who had participated in ISIS battles in Syria, resided.

On Saturday, several individuals were arrested in Austria and Germany on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks in Cologne, Vienna, and Madrid, targeting Christmas services in churches.

Peci says for Kosovo Online that there is an elevated risk of terrorist attacks in the lead-up to the holidays in Western Europe, similar to past incidents such as the one in Berlin where the perpetrator was a radical Muslim who arrived in Germany as a refugee.

There, he adds, he sees a danger for Serbia as well.

"There are migrants here too, and we don't really know who they are, whether they are genuine refugees or terrorists... Therefore, attention should be paid because due to everything happening in the Middle East, there is a significant risk that something like this might happen again this year", Peci believes.

In response to the question of whether there is a risk of terrorist attacks in Kosovo, Peci also warns that the danger is indeed significant.

"We know that radical Albanian Muslims from Kosovo went to Syria, became members of ISIS... Some of these jihadists have returned, and they harbor strong hatred towards the Serbs. For Islamists, Orthodox Serbs are infidels, and, of course, for nationalist motives, they are in Kosovo. Therefore, the situation is dangerous concerning Kosovo", Peci said, who was radicalized in his early youth but later abandoned that ideology.

When asked whether the institutions in Kosovo saw this danger and chose not to react, or perhaps even encourage it, Peci notes that Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti made many promises to these radical Albanians during the elections, so now he has to turn a blind eye to them.

He adds that there are certainly several thousand radical Muslims in Kosovo, not all of whom are ready for terrorism, but many are.

"The problem is that Kurti, during the elections, tried to get votes from these Muslims and promised them a lot. That's why it's a problem, and he has to let them be; he doesn't take any action against them since he received a lot of votes from them. Except when there is pressure from the West on him, but without that, there is no reaction", Peci stated.

The US State Department noted in its annual report on terrorism worldwide that Kosovo's judicial institutions had continued to impose low sentences last year for terrorism-related charges and had prematurely released those convicted for such acts.

Peci specifically mentions this, stating that many radical Muslims who were in the war in Syria and returned were initially arrested but were released after a year or less.

"I know of several cases where radical extremists are free, not monitored by anyone, and haven't received harsh sentences. That is very dangerous. If they were to attack, they wouldn't target someone in the West but rather Serbia, and that could be dangerous for this country", Peci said.