NYPD: Radicalization in the West

The NY Police Department just published its report Radicalization in the West; The Homegrown Threat.

Here are some of its key findings:

Jihadist or jihadi-Salafi ideology is the driver that motivates young men and women, born
or living in the West, to carry out “autonomous jihad” via acts of terrorism against their
host countries. It guides movements, identifies the issues, drives recruitment and is the
basis for action.

The report delineates four distinct phases in the process of radicalization: Pre-Radicalization; Self-Identification; Indoctrination; and Jihadization.

While not every terrorist follows this exact path, the report does conclude that those who do are "quite likely to be involved in the planning or implementation of a terrorist act."

Most terrorists, the NYPD found, started out as "unremarkable." They were ordinary in every way and generally had no criminal history. They were not even particularly religious. They became drawn to Salafi Islam as the result of some crisis - perhaps the loss of a job or loved one, or after suffering some type of humiliation, real or imagined.

During the indoctrination phase, they often use the Internet to deepen their knowledge of jihadist-Salafi Islam and connect with like-minded individuals or groups. A "spiritual sanctioner" is often key to ushering the individual or group into the jihadist stage as he (and it is always a he) convinces them that it is their religious duty to fight jihad.

This is when they begin preparing for some type of jihad operation, perhaps travel to a jihad front or a terrorist attack. During this phase, "group think" becomes a key variable. As the report notes: "It acts as a force-multiplier for radical thought while creating a competitive environment amongst the group members for being the most radical."

Rather than coming from the ranks of the poor and despondent, the report concluded that Western jihadists are activists, people who want to change the world. Men ages 15-35 seem to be the most vulnerable - this is when they have to sort out their role in the world and are also the most attracted to a warrior ethos.

While Al Qaeda provides a role model for Western jihadists, most act independently of Al Qaeda.

Moreover, not everyone who is attracted to jihadist Islam will become a mujahideen or terrorist, as the report notes - some will just go on to serve as mentors or agents to the next generation.

On that note, I recommend you read the whole report.