Intelligence sources alert India of Orlando-style lone wolf attacks

Mumbai: Despite increased online surveillance, intelligence agencies and authorities have conceded that one of the most daunting challenges faced by them is tackling self styled jihadists. These jihadists carry out lone wolf attacks after being indoctrinated to extremist ideologies online.

Citing credible sources, Daily Mail reported that the threat of lone wolf attacks motivated by jihadist propaganda online, similar to the recent Orlando gay club shooting, is high and the chances of detecting and preventing such attacks is minimal.

“Our biggest concern as of now is a lone wolf-type strike. If a person decides to get a weapon and go on a killing spree or plant explosives somewhere without involving others, chances of detection are minimal,” a senior intelligence official was quoted as saying.

Youth in the age group of 17 to 25 are more susceptible to falling pray to digital jihad and counter-radicalisation strategy will be most effective only if they target this section of the society, cites the Home Ministry paper on ISIS.

“The possibility of piggybacking on terrorist groups operating in India has opened up the possibility of ISIS-sponsored terrorist action on Indian territory,” the Intelligence Bureau had earlier warned all state governments. 

A recent report by the Hindustan Times had revealed that the middle-class educated youth in India fall prey to the lure of ISIS in India.

The government will plan a ‘24X7 situation room’ to monitor the cyber space and tackle cyber jihad, the government sources said.