Two-year anniversary of Paris terrorist attacks

Paris, France—President Macron attended a memorial to the victims of the 2015 terrorist attacks.

This last November 13th marked the second-year anniversary of the coordinated attacks that killed 130 people and injured hundreds more.  That night, Jihadist suicide bombers struck at six locations in downtown Paris: four cafeterias, a soccer stadium and a packed nightclub.

Following the attacks, an official state of emergency ensued that saw thousands of law enforcement and military personnel being deployed across France.

This, however, didn’t prevent further Jihadist attacks.  Repeated strikes have happened since, most notably in Nice on July 14, 2016, when a truck wreaked havoc on a pedestrian street killing 86 and injuring hundreds.

The State of Emergency only ended recently; a new counter-terrorism law replaced it.  The law allows police to search and monitor suspects and properties without a warrant.  It also makes Mosques that preach Jihadist propaganda liable to closure.

France has a large Muslim population, reminiscent of her imperial past.   More than 15 million Muslims call Europe home. Of those, 5 million live in France.  Germany follows with 3.3 million, the UK with 1.6 million, and the Netherlands and Italy with 1 million each.

Attending the memorial alongside Macron was former President Francois Hollande who was instrumental in imposing the State of Emergency.

The primary suspect in the investigation is Salah Abdeslam.  The Brussels-born jihadist participated in the attacks by transporting and facilitating the suicide-bombers. Last month, he was extradited to his native Belgium to face separate terrorism charges.  His silence and uncooperativeness frustrate the official investigation of possible dormant terrorist cells operating in Europe.

Law enforcement officers have been the unspoken casualty of the ISIS-inspired attacks.  Sixty officers have committed suicide in 2017; last week alone six police officers took their own lives.

Featured image courtesy of AP Images.