Czech military intelligence: Extremism could grow into terrorism because of the economic crisis
A report released on Thursday by the Military Intelligence services of the Czech Republic (Vojenské zpravodajství – VZ) for 2012 claims that because of the protracted economic crisis, either left or right-wing extremism could grow into the threat of terrorism, especially if the economic and societal situation in Europe does not improve. The Czech Republic and its allies are also at risk of terrorist attack by fundamentalist groups.
"Given the possible outcomes of the ongoing economic and societal crisis, we cannot yet rule out the possibility of a rise in risks related to the threat of terrorism which, in the absence of positive developments in Europe, could growing into either left-wing or right-wing terrorism," the VZ report reads. Military intelligence analysts are reportedly doing their best to uncover radical attempts to infiltrate the soldiery.
Candidates who apply to join the Czech Army are being investigated for such ties. "The military profession is attractive to promoters of the ultra-right in particular because it gives them the opportunity to receive special training. The degree of risk is comparable to previous years," the VZ report says.
In 2012, right-wing extremists gradually suppressed their activities in different parts of the Czech Army and somewhat in public as well. However, they are gathering more and more in private and their manifestations are often intensifying.
Some extremists have also become members of active troop reserves. "These are usually former professional soldiers who have ended their service for various reasons, or people who unsuccessfully sought to be accepted by the Army," military intelligence reports.
The risk of either left-wing or religious extremism in the Czech Army was assessed by the VZ as marginal. Last year military intelligence discovered several Afghan nationals who wanted to work for Czech soldiers during ISAF operations abroad who might have been connected to armed enemy groups.
