Britain, France and Germany: high alert for fear of terrorism

Following the war in the Middle East, which led, among other things, to the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, the world’s security agencies are on high alert, fearing a possible reaction from Iran. Experts warn that dormant cells and supporters of the Iranian regime, scattered throughout Europe and North America, may wake up and carry out acts of revenge in the West.

The fear of the rise of Iranian sleeper cells throughout Europe is increasing, with Germany, France and the UK at the center of the risk. Mark Henrichmann, a senior German member of parliament, says that “retaliatory actions cannot be ruled out, including by Iranian sleeper cells in Europe after Khamenei’s death.” His words came against the background of increased security throughout Europe, especially around diplomatic facilities and Jewish institutions, which were previously the target of Iranian operations.

In Britain, the secret service MI5 has already warned of an increased risk, pointing to previous attempts by Iran-backed groups to carry out sabotage plots. The security officials are concerned that following the death of Khamenei, it is possible that the threat from Iran’s agents, whether inside or outside the country, will increase. British Defense Minister John Haley noted the possibility of “indiscriminate” attacks from Iran, and demanded increased vigilance and a re-review of the threat level, which now stands at “reasonable”.

France is also taking preventive measures, with the French Ministry of the Interior ordering an increase in the level of alertness among the local security forces. In a document delivered to the local officials, the Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nunes, emphasized the need to observe increased vigilance in light of any action aimed at undermining public order, especially in light of the political and religious dialogue of the Iranian community in France, which continued to express support for the regime in Tehran through public demonstrations.

While the United States is focusing its attention on the Middle East, there is a growing concern that retaliatory actions by Iran may also occur on the country’s territory. Experts in the fight against terrorism express concern about the awakening of dormant cells and agents in America, noting that groups supported by Iran, including Hezbollah, have maintained a presence on US territory for decades. After Khamenei’s death, US security agencies, including the FBI, increased surveillance efforts, especially towards potential sites that may be vulnerable.

The increased vigilance also comes after a series of events that aroused suspicion. A fatal shooting at a bar in the city of Austin, Texas, and another shooting at a gym in Canada, run by an Iranian-Canadian diplomat, led the security agencies to see this as the possibility of retaliatory actions by dormant Iranian cells. Canadian security agencies are monitoring the threats and the response of the Iranian regime.

In addition to physical threats, there is also growing concern about Iran’s use of cyber warfare. Iran’s cyber capabilities are many and varied, and it is known for its use in cyber attacks against Western targets. Various sources estimate that Iran may use its capabilities to lead to chaos, disrupt infrastructure or attack political figures who oppose the regime.

Britain’s National Cyber ​​Security Center, part of GCHQ, has issued warnings about Iran’s intentions to attack online, particularly against high-profile figures, including politicians, journalists and activists. At the same time, the Western security systems are also required to deal with the ever-increasing threats in the digital arena.

Security officials are particularly concerned about the possibility that Iranian responses will focus on Jewish and Israeli targets. After the attack on Khamenei, Camille Klein, who is in charge of anti-Semitism in Germany, warned of an increased risk to Jewish institutions. In France, the Jewish communities received a special warning from the authorities who fear that radical activists will organize to harm groups of Jews, especially in synagogues, Chabad houses and community centers.

At the same time, the possibility is being considered that Iran will concentrate on attacks on Israeli embassies, diplomatic facilities and military bases, which were a significant target for the actions of Iran and its agents. However, thanks to the increasing pressure on Iran, experts estimate that the regime may expand its targets and hit softer targets as well, which makes it difficult to plan responses from the West. In the meantime, with the beginning of the fighting, the MLA issued a severe warning to Israelis abroad in which it asks Israeli travelers to be vigilant, to avoid posting their location on social media and to consistently keep up to date with the changes.