Switzerland: Terrorism threat assessed as high

Event

In light of the results of its annual assessment, the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) declared on Tuesday, May 2, that the threat of terrorism remains high in the country. The FIS expressed particular concern about the risk of attacks by Islamic State (IS) members and satellite terrorist organizations, including individual attackers ("lone wolves") or small groups sympathetic to IS' ideology.

Context

The FIS is also focusing on countering online radicalization, which can play a major role in the formation of individual attackers. The FIS claimed to have identified more than 500 propagandist internet users thanks to new powers granted by a 2016 law, which granted the national intelligence services the authority to monitor internet traffic or hack foreign computers to contain the spread of extremism.

Switzerland has not been targeted by jihadist groups but remains extremely vigilant against such a threat as several terrorists have traveled through the country before carrying out attacks elsewhere in Europe.

Advice

Individuals in Switzerland are advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities.