Friday, July 15, 2016
Queen’s University terrorism expert Wagdy Loza is available to comment on the horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France that left 84 people dead and many others injured. The driver was identified by a Reuters police source as 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a Frenchman of Tunisian descent.
“The Nice terrorist attack should come as no surprise to anyone who have some expertise with Middle-eastern terrorism,” says Dr. Loza. “Several professionals including this writer has been warning for several years that acts of terrorism in the west and some middle-eastern countries will continue.
“Regarding yesterday’s attack, it is well known that a large percentage of France’s population have immigrated from middle-eastern countries. Among other factors, France has been one of the countries that taking the lead in fighting terrorism. France’s prison have a large number of offenders from the Middle-East. Unless the terrorist related ideologies are thoroughly understood by the majority of the world’s populations, terrorism related ideologies will continue and consequently the occurrence of terrorist acts.
“As this type of terrorism cannot be defeated either by military or by law and order means alone, it is crucial that Counter-recruitment/prevention programs be developed and utilized proactively.”
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