‘Low-cost’ terror attack tops list of security concerns

The report stated that extreme left groups were a bigger threat than right-wing extremists Keystone

The Swiss cabinet has listed low-budget terror attacks carried out by radicalised lone wolves or small groups as the most serious security threat on Swiss soil. 

The government’s annual management report released on Wednesday, states that it is unlikely that terror groups like Islamic State would directly carry out attacks in Switzerland even though the country is among a group of western states declared “Islamophobic” by jihadists.

Instead, the real threat comes from those radicalised in Switzerland or Swiss jihadists returning from conflict zones. “Attacks requiring minimum logistical effort” present the greatest risk, stated the report. It also warned that Switzerland could serve as a transit country or a base for preparing terrorist attacks elsewhere. 

The authorities have not completely ruled out threats from outside Switzerland.

In 2016, the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) analysed 5,745 cases concerning foreigners for an internal security threat and flagged two.

Fourteen of the 5,202 asylum application assessed by the FIS were recommended for rejection as they presented a security risk. 

Turkish community

The report also flagged up the risk of clashes between Kurds and Turkish Islamists and nationalists residing in Switzerland as a major “ethno-nationalist” threat in the country.

Extreme left groups were seen as a bigger threat to security than rightwing extremists, as they committed far more violent acts and were not afraid to kill or injure their targets, stated the report.