Terror on the Web

The "Global Islamic Media Front" (GIMF), which has been attempting to recruit volunteer translators on the Internet as well as posting al Qaeda videos, vowed to defy the authorities trying to track it down.

"After some brothers and sisters were arrested (may Allah free them) and the forum and blog of the GIMF were removed, we say this: the GIMF still exists and will continue its work," a statement from the front republished by Reuters said.

"To the Kuffar (infidels) who try to fight us, we say: you can do what you like, make as many arrests as you like ... you will not reach your goal," the statement continued. "We will always keep going until we achieve victory or martyrdom."

Hunting down and shutting off radical Islamist Web sites is extremely difficult. Most times, the Web sites relocate within minutes of being identified, showing up at new Internet addresses.

Taking down Islamist sites a difficult job

"This can be done in minutes," said Harald Summa, chief executive of Eco, an association of German Internet enterprises. "It can be automated. You will never catch it. Once you try to hit it, it's already at another destination, another point."

The reappearance of the German-language site comes at a time when the authorities in Germany are on their highest alert after three men were arrested earlier this month over an alleged plot to commit "massive bomb attacks" against US interests in the country.

One of the new German GIMF sites contains several online responses. One, allegedly from a student in Germany, read: "Brothers, I would like to be in contact with you because I want to become a mujahedeen (warrior) after I finish my studies, inshaallah (God willing)."

Investigators said it was impossible to say whether the comment was genuine, but the German authorities have expressed great concern that the message of radical groups affiliated or sympathetic to al Qaeda is now being broadcast in German. The increase in number and the speed of these German-language sites in getting established is creating a new and difficult front for anti-terror organizations.

The GIMF material was located via search engines and would have been accessible to anyone with allegiances to Islamist terror groups.

Germany, Austria on alert after terror arrests

The arrest of a suspect connected to the GIMF in Austria also highlights again the struggle the Austrian authorities are currently engaged in with extremists in their own country.

In an unconnected operation a week after the German arrests, Austrian police captured three people with alleged al Qaeda links who are suspected of posting a video last March threatening attacks against Germany and Austria.

Use of the Internet for spreading propaganda and recruiting potential terrorists was an issue at this year's Group of Eight (G8) summit in Heiligendamm in Germany.

The G8 leaders vowed to work together to combat "terrorist and criminal abuse" of modern communications technology in June.

Meanwhile, the European Union's Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini is due to present proposals next month to block access to Web sites that contain instructions for bomb-making in another attempt to disarm the terrorists of their latest weapon.

His plan is similar to one presented this week by German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries. Her ministry proposed legislation that, if passed by parliament, would make the preparation of terrorist acts, as well as the instruction of such actions, a criminal offence. If convicted, offenders would face up to 10 years in prison.