Sophie Mangal |
Despite major defeats in Syria and Iraq, ISIS still remains the greatest threat to security and stability in the world. The terrorists have switched recently to single hostile activities and heinous acts of terror in the EU and throughout Asia.
Social media became quite a good platform for ISIS recruiters to disseminate and spread information on the guidelines for ‘lone wolves’. Brainwashers urge them to organize and commit terrorist attacks in cities, social gathering places during public events and Christian holidays.
People should realize that the trip to Pyeongchang is quite dangerous as for someone it will be a festival of sport, but for the terrorists it would be a festival of violence.
Major sporting events facilities have also been a prior target for the jihadists. According to the Sun, ISIS radicals were planning to carry out attacks during the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games. The masterminds posted the step-by-step guide, which includes 17 different attack methods, on social network Telegram.
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The terrorists awaited the hostile activities to be implemented by the experienced militants as well as common people willing to swear their allegiance to ISIS. According to Mustaqila Press Agency, some interesting information has appeared recently on ISIS-supporters discussing via Telegram channels how to organize attacks on Olympic sites in South Korea. For its part, a year ago Seoul claimed the terror threat in South Korea would rise.
On June 19th, 2016, the Yonhap news agency with the reference to the national intelligence service of South Korea reported on a series of attacks aimed at various military and government facilities. The intelligence sources said, not only would the Koreans be in danger but also the people of other states.
On June 19th, 2016, the Yonhap news agency with the reference to the national intelligence service of South Korea reported on a series of attacks aimed at various military and government facilities.
Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games venues seem to be the main ISIS targets in the near future. While losing control over territories and energy resources in Syria and Iraq with every passing day, the radicals are trying to increase their credibility by organizing attacks, which could lead to numerous human casualties.
Read more: ISIS uses Love Jihad to recruit Indian women to their cause
At the same time, the level of 2018 sports events’ attendance is in question. Currently, just only one-third of tickets have been sold. Most likely, the main reasons are the threat of terrorist attacks and of course provocations from North Korea.
A number of European countries are considering the security measures at the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. France’s Winter Olympics team will not go to the 2018 Games in South Korea if its security cannot be guaranteed, France’s sports minister, Laura Flessel said on September 21st, 2017. Moreover, British Olympic leaders have plans in place to evacuate athletes from the 2018 Pyeongchang Games amid terrorist and nuclear threats.
The 2018 Olympic Games will be attended by sports fans from more than 80 countries. Ensuring the security of such a large number of people will become a serious challenge for the special security services and interior ministry of South Korea. People should realize that the trip to Pyeongchang is quite dangerous as for someone it will be a festival of sport, but for the terrorists it would be a festival of violence.
Sophie Mangal is a freelance writer and a member of the Inside Syria Media Center. After attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a media and journalism major, Mangal monitored the refugee crisis in Europe, drawing parallels between the Syrian conflict and the Balkan problem, and has visited Syria on several occasions. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Global Village Space’s editorial policy.