Europol, FBI and Belgian Police Dismantle ISKP Terror Network in Europe
In a major coordinated international operation from June 1 to 5, 2026, Europol led a week-long counter-terrorism action that dismantled a terrorist network linked to Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) across Europe. The operation involved eight law enforcement agencies from Europe and the United States FBI, resulting in multiple arrests of individuals of Chechen and Central Asian origin.
Coordinated Action Across Continents
The operation was organized through Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC), which brought together investigators from Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Finland, Italy, Ireland, Spain, and the United States. Belgian authorities played a particularly prominent role, with the Federal Judicial Police (Federale Gerechtelijke Politie) working closely alongside the FBI and other partner agencies.
According to the Europol press release, the operation focused on “ISKP-affiliated individuals of Chechen and Central Asian origin, identified through shared investigative leads.” The collaboration allowed authorities to map ISKP travel routes spanning Europe, South America, and the United States.
Intelligence Sharing and Arrests
A critical component of the operation was the real-time exchange of intelligence via SIENA (Secure Information Exchange Network Application), Europol’s secure communication channel for law enforcement agencies. Over 100 gigabytes of operational information were exchanged during the action week, enabling the full identification of several suspects and advancing multiple high-stakes investigations.
Europol swiftly responded to an urgent intelligence request via SIENA over the weekend following the operation, which allowed authorities to arrest several suspects. As De Morgen reported, the investigation was conducted in close cooperation with the American FBI, the Belgian federal judicial police, and security services from Germany, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Czechia, and Finland.
Cross-Cutting Support from Europol Centres
Europol deployed dedicated analysts with each participating delegation to identify critical investigative overlaps, facilitate bilateral meetings, and resolve blind spots in ongoing cases. The European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) supported member states in tracking cryptocurrency trails, while the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC) provided expertise on financing networks. Specialized tools from the Europol Innovation Lab’s Tool Repository were also deployed to enhance operational capabilities.
ISKP: A Growing Transnational Threat
Islamic State Khorasan Province, also known as ISIS-K, is a regional affiliate of the Islamic State operating primarily in the historical Khorasan region encompassing parts of modern-day Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The group has demonstrated an increasing ability to project power beyond its core territory, as highlighted by the Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow in March 2024 and operations in Iran.
As Defence24 analyst Aleksander Olech noted: “The scale of the operation shows that ISKP is not only a threat in Afghanistan or the wider region. Its networks in Europe remain active, mobile and connected across borders.” The analysis further emphasized that ISKP-linked networks use migration routes, diaspora connections, and digital tools to move people, money, and instructions across several continents.
Implications for European Security
The operation represents a significant intelligence victory for European counter-terrorism efforts. The Brussels Times reported that the information sharing during the week helped authorities build a clearer picture of travel routes spanning Europe, South America, and the United States.
In the short term, the arrests will disrupt specific ISKP-linked cells in Europe, though the group’s decentralized nature means other cells may remain operational. The mapping of ISKP travel routes will enable more targeted border security measures and intelligence collection. Longer term, the operation signals that ISKP is evolving into a truly global threat, requiring European counter-terrorism strategies to adapt to the unique challenges posed by the group’s use of digital tools, migration routes, and diaspora networks.
What to Watch For
Accelerated investigations stemming from the 100+ gigabytes of intelligence may yield further arrests in the coming weeks. The operation may also prompt other countries to increase cooperation with Europol, particularly regarding the newly identified travel routes to South America. As Europol stated, the operation “underscores Europol’s strengthened global partnerships in counter-terrorism, highlighting the agency’s commitment to disrupting threats through coordinated, intelligence-driven action.”