MESSAGE
| DATE | 2015-11-26 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Re: [Hangout-NYLXS] [conspire] CIA chief Brennan hints new gov't
|
> Paris attacks: Is Belgium Europe's favourite gun shop?
>
> By Nils Duquet Flemish Peace Institute
>
> *
> 19 November 2015
> * From the section Europe
>
> Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Belgium has traditionally
> had a strong arms industry
>
>
> Paris attacks
>
> *
> Brussels lockdown: How is city affected by terror threat?
>
> *
> Fury over 'Paris was inevitable' claims
>
> *
> Who were the Paris attackers?
>
> *
> Paris attacks: The unanswered questions
>
>
> Recent attacks in Europe indicate that perpetrators are increasingly
> using firearms.
>
> While previously explosives were the weapon of choice - for instance
> in the Madrid and London bombings in 2004 and 2005 - attackers seem to
> have changed their tactics and found their way to the illegal gun market.
>
> In several recent attacks, including the attacks in Paris, there was a
> connection between the guns used and Belgium.
>
> Is Belgium the dream destination for terrorists who want to get their
> hands on illegal guns?
>
>
> Hotspot
>
> Of course, Belgium - like other European countries - has a black
> market for guns.
>
> Image copyright AFP Image caption A jihadist was charged over the
> murder of four people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels in May 2014
>
> The presence of illegal weapons is closely connected to serious crime
> and vice-versa. This means that there is a black market for firearms
> in all major European cities.
>
> However, Belgium is an important player because of its geographical
> location and history.
>
> For centuries the country has been a major producer and exporter of
> firearms. Moreover, until 2006 it had quite liberal domestic gun
> legislation, making the country a European hot spot for the arms
> trade, including for people with bad intentions.
>
> Even though Belgian legislation is now stricter and more solid, the
> country has retained this reputation.
>
>
> Smuggling from Balkans
>
> It is not a coincidence that some of the people carrying out these
> attacks have a personal history of criminal violence. Since the black
> market in guns is closely linked to serious crime networks, previous
> connections - based on trust - enable them to secretly acquire firearms.
>
> Image copyright Belgian police Image caption The gunman who attacked
> the Jewish Museum in Brussels used a Kalashnikov
>
> Most of the firearms on the black market are handguns. A handgun is
> the preferred type of firearm for most criminals since these are easy
> to hide.
>
> However, in recent years, Belgian police have noticed an increase in
> the possession and use of military-style weapons such as Kalashnikovs
> among criminals.
>
> Depending on the type and condition of the weapon and how quickly one
> wants to get it, prices on the Belgian black market are generally
> between 1,000 and 2,000 euro (£700-£1,400).
>
> This increase of heavy firearms on the illegal market is mainly linked
> to smuggling from the Balkans.
>
> After the Balkan wars of the 1990s, hundreds of thousands of military
> weapons stayed in the hands of citizens.
>
> These weapons have found their way to Western Europe by being smuggled
> in small quantities, for instance in the boots of cars. Once they
> cross the EU's external borders, these weapons can easily be
> transferred from one European country to another within the Schengen zone.
>
> Image copyright AFP Image caption Some weapons used in the Balkan wars
> were put out of service, but many have remained in circulation
>
> To tackle this illegal market in firearms, we need an integrated
> approach, not only in Belgium but certainly also at the European level.
>
> Such an approach would consist of three elements.
>
> Firstly, we need strong and harmonised legislative frameworks for
> legal gun possession at the national level across the EU.
>
> The clearer the rules on legal possession, the more efficient the
> fight against the illegal market.
>
> Secondly, we need more knowledge of the problem. This means better
> data management at the national level and more efforts to exchange and
> analyse these data at the European level.
>
> Thirdly, we need more operational strength on the ground and more
> co-operation between national authorities, for example joint
> investigative teams.
>
> */Nils Duquet is a researcher at the Flemish Peace Institute, based in
> Brussels/*
>
>
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>
>
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