We’ve seen two more “Known Wolf” terror attacks in the West, and yet Western government authorities seem unwilling to acknowledge, let alone begin to address, the “Known Wolf” terror problem.
I first identified the “Known Wolf” terror trend and coined the term in October 2014 here at PJ Media, noting that many, possibly most, Islamic terrorists who actually committed terrorism in the West were already known to Western law enforcement, national security agencies, and intelligence services.
Yet sufficient action was not taken to prevent them from conducting terror attacks:
‘Lone Wolf,’ or ‘Known Wolf’? The Ongoing Counter-Terrorism Failure http://t.co/pV6wP3wE2Q #tcot
— PJ Media (@PJMedia_com) October 24, 2014
Since then, I’ve chronicled (in nearly two dozen articles) the continuation of the “Known Wolf” terrorism trend, including the Berlin Christmas market terrorist that killed 12 and wounded 56 others:
Suspect Sought for Deadly Berlin Terror Attack – Tunisian Anis Amri – Yet Another 'Known Wolf' https://t.co/pMcgsAN8yy #KnownWolf
— Patrick Poole (@pspoole) December 21, 2016
In September, I noted that 12 of the 14 Islamic terror attacks in the U.S. during the Obama administration were by suspects already known to authorities:
Known Wolf Terrorism: A Dozen Cases of FBI Failure on Obama's Watch https://t.co/4whNQdvac9 #homelandsecurity
— PJ Media (@PJMedia_com) September 29, 2016
Earlier today, British Prime Minister Theresa May told the House of Commons that yesterday’s still-unnamed Westminster terror killer had already been investigated by MI5 over his extremist views:
Suspected #Westminster attacker British-born and had once been investigated by MI5 over extremism fears – UK PM Mayhttps://t.co/VFlC1CtTqp pic.twitter.com/aNbVhgiNLT
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 23, 2017
The same is true for the Paris Orly airport attacker this past weekend, who was also already known to French authorities:
Paris airport attacker previously suspected of having radical Islamist views https://t.co/7VxmrWinJf
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 18, 2017
Paris prosecutor: 39-year-old suspected Orly attacker who was shot dead by police was known to authorities for suspected Islamic extremism
— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) March 18, 2017
Paris Orly airport attacker was on terror watch list, same man as suspect involved in earlier shooting – officials https://t.co/T4386p2hAo
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 18, 2017
What’s the use of having a “terror watch list” if all Western authorities are going to do is watch them kill the citizens they are paid to protect?
Even right now, British authorities are invoking the long-discredited “lone wolf” terrorism theory to explain yesterday’s Westminster attack, including British Defense Minister Michael Fallon:
Fallon says 'this is a lone wolf' attack
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) March 23, 2017
Meanwhile, in a series of raids, British authorities are arresting a number of people in connection with yesterday’s attack:
Naturally, many have had enough of the “lone wolf” myth and would prefer to hear the truth:
https://twitter.com/SurryKnight/status/844882904148656128
8 arrests in connection with the Westminster Bridge massacre … but the terrorist was a "lone wolf," nothing to see here, folks, move along
— Paul Sperry (@paulsperry_) March 23, 2017
If Western authorities continue to ignore the “Known Wolf” terror problem, they will continue to lose legitimacy with the citizens they serve. And some will consider taking matters into their own hands. That’s dangerous for everyone.
Has any Western politician been forced to resign? Has any law enforcement or intelligence official ever been fired for failing to prevent a “Known Wolf” terror attack? How many more citizens need to be killed before Western authorities acknowledge and take action in response to the growing “Known Wolf” terror problem?
If the reaction to the Orly and Westminster attacks in the past week are any indication, the answer to that last question is apparently “more.”
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Below, find Poole’s prior coverage of the “Known Wolf” scandal:
Oct. 24, 2014: ‘Lone Wolf’ or ‘Known Wolf’: The Ongoing Counter-Terrorism Failure
Dec. 15, 2014: Sydney Hostage Taker Another Case of ‘Known Wolf’ Syndrome
Jan. 7, 2015: Paris Terror Attack Yet Another Case of ‘Known Wolf’ Syndrome
Feb. 3, 2015: French Police Terror Attacker Yesterday Another Case of ‘Known Wolf’ Syndrome
Feb. 15, 2015: Copenhagen Killer Was yet Another Case of ‘Known Wolf’ Terrorism
Feb. 26, 2015: Islamic State Beheader ‘Jihadi John’ Yet Another Case of ‘Known Wolf’ Terrorism
Apr. 22, 2015: Botched Attack on Paris Churches Another Case of “Known Wolf” Terrorism
May 4, 2015: Texas Attack Is Yet Another Case of ‘Known Wolf’ Terrorism
June 26, 2015: France’s Beheading Terrorist Was Well-Known By Authorities
July 16, 2015: Report: Chattanooga Jihadist Was Yet Another ‘Known Wolf’ Terrorist, Anonymous Feds Dispute
Aug. 22, 2015: European Train Attacker Another Case of ‘Known Wolf’ Terrorism
Oct 14, 2015: Yet Again: Turkey, Israel Terror Attacks Committed by “Known Wolves”
Nov 14, 2015: One Paris Attacker Was Previously Known to Authorities, Marks Fifth ‘Known Wolf” Attack in France This Year
Feb 16, 2016: Machete Attack in Ohio Yet Another Case of ‘Known Wolf’ Terrorism
May 16, 2016: News Reports Yet Another Case of ‘Known Wolf’ U.S. Terrorists
June 12, 2016: Orlando Night Club Attack by “Known Wolf” Terrorist Previously Investigated by FBI
July 14, 2016: Senate Intelligence Committee to Investigate “Known Wolf” Terrorism Problem
July 26, 2016: ISIS Suspect in Normandy Priest’s Killing Already Known to French Authorities
August 10, 2016: Canadian ‘Known Wolf’ Terrorist Planned Suicide Bombing of Major City, Killed in Overnight Police Operation
August 19, 2016: Man Who Stabbed Rabbi Thursday in Strasbourg, France Involved in Prior Attack
Sept. 20, 2016: NY-NJ Bomber Ahmad Khan Rahami Already Known to Law Enforcement Authorities
Sept. 28, 2016: “Known Wolf” SCANDAL: In at Least 12 of the 14 Terror Attacks Under Obama, FBI Already Knew Attackers
Dec. 21, 2016: Suspect Sought for Deadly Berlin Terror Attack, Anis Amri, Yet Another Known Wolf
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