...Two General Intelligence reports (RG) on "the profile and detection of jihadist cells" set out the response that the intelligence services are putting in place. This method is called "early detection." Under the section on "enhancing awareness and partnership," the RG explains that "activities to enhance awareness of the Islamist phenomenon have been conducted out vis-a-vis other domestic security services," such as the Border Police and Public Security, but also "in the administrations, prisons and public hospitals."
The service envisages "a minimum level of knowledge about the detection of clear pointers (activities, attitudes, rhetoric) within the context of common crime" and of "characteristic cultural, and linguistic" factors "that could alert the specialized services." Last, a "partnership with the business world" has been launched.
"Tiny minority"
According to RG, the identification of "simple signs" such as unauthorized prayer at the workplace or "changes of behaviour with women" sometimes permit "the identification of individuals who could lapse into radicalization." This approach is considered all the more necessary inasmuch as "the profile of recruits (is) changing," the newcomers "increasingly lacking any significant religious or political engagement, usually unknown, and in any case not listed as jihadists." The intelligence services therefore fear the development of "a phenomenon of spontaneous generation of radical Islamists, a potential pool for terrorists."
Of course, this "early detection" faces a number of dangers - that of stigmatizing individuals and thus accelerating, rather than curbing, their radicalization; and that of the police services' becoming overwhelmed by huge numbers of reports. DST Director Pierre de Bousquet de Florian, who does not believe in the danger of any "blanket" attitude or of any avalanche of reports from informants, said that "the individuals concerned constitute a tiny minority." "The important thing is to adopt a new approach, facilitating the identification, by observing factors of radicalization, of vulnerable individuals or small groups, who could become the prey or targets of terrorist networks, before themselves becoming active." According to the DST chief, "families, teachers, social workers, and sports coaches must be made more aware in order to identify youngsters who become introverted, develop an aggressive rhetoric on religion, or criticize their parents for frequenting cafes... The aim of the operation is not to include these youngsters on any file, but to engage in dialogue and to help them before it is too late."
Osama: don-do-dat!