Belgium does have a long history with connections to terrorism. It predates 9/11. Algerian terrorism in France was often connected with the illegal gun trade in Belgium because it had more relaxed laws than other European neighbours until recently. The networks for modern terrorism are closely related and established.
This is something of a point though. Its not new. Its not suddenly come from nowhere and escalated to a point which is totally unprecedented in levels.
Its just getting a lot more coverage due to other geopolitical reasons and because tactics have evolved in a particularly nasty way.
I don't think the threat is therefore substantially increased. (The number of deaths from terrorism In Europe isn't leaping up, despite what you might think). It is higher this year than it has been in the last few but there were comparible peaks in 2004 (due to the Madrid train bombings) and in 1980. There were several years in the 1970s which were worse too.
Article about the number of terrorists deaths in Europe. Nor do I think there is a cover up to somehow hide terrorism and stop widespread panic (There is more sensitivity to anything that involves violence and social media also plays its part in this).
I do think that Belgium is weak in tackling terrorism and always has been - in part because its law enforcement is federalised and there is difficulty within the police to share information because of a turf war on language. If memory serves me correctly there has been in the past a situation where British intelligence has been more effective in picking up on terrorists in Belgium for various reasons - not least this federal one. The British have been hesitant to share all their information for security reasons, but as the threat is changing there is actually an increasing reason to be involved more actively in European policing.
Strangely enough, May seems to agree with me on this one, and the UK has committed itself to this today (the first big UK-EU decision post Brexit) and there will be more cross border security measures.
I do think the tone of some of the comments on the subject on this thread are completely off, and lack the historical context (which is pretty important in stopping this panic about there being a wave of Islamic militants appearing suddenly from nowhere as the refugee crises has enfolded).
There is a problem, but sensationalist fearmongering (yep there is a large part of the Leave narrative that is doom mongering going too) isn't helping tackle the problem either. A lot of the right of the Leave camp think we should not cooperate with Europe on this, which is bonkers.
I do not think putting up borders or even more marginalisation of Muslims is really going to stop the issues either here nor in Belgium. I don't think this is being 'soft' either, but recognising the weaknesses of government and helping to support that as well as looking at problems with integration.
I think the whole 'radical islam' thing is part of the problem really as it focuses on the problem being a) a failing only of islam b) puts the emphasis on the whole religion c) puts the responsibility only on the shoulders of Muslims.
I do think that terrorism always requires a look in the mirror as part of the process of dealing with it as if its happening there is always something that its a reaction to in terms of social inequality and injustice.
For this reason, it always requires very measured responses rather than headline that scream 'JIHADI HAVE TAKEN OVER BELGUIM' or the like every five minutes. Which is what we are in the firm grips of. The threat is being over stated to scare and control people rather than to tackle the issue effectively. Its whipped people up into a hysteria.
Sensible debate on the subject is next to impossible on MN if I'm honest, and I do think its in no small part down to the media, so I try to keep out of it as a general rule.
I don't mind talking about. I think people should do. But only in a constructive way and that's really the problem that we have a culture that makes that difficult to do.