Atrocities show global reach of extremists

Terrorist attacks across three continents last Friday demonstrate the influence of Islamic State and wide reach, as well as the difficulties of countering its use of the internet to galvanise and inspire global violence.

Attacks in France, Tunisia, and Kuwait left at least 65 dead, three days after a June 23 audio message by the group’s spokesman, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, urging followers to make the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, being celebrated now, a time “of disasters for the infidels”.

The ability of IS to direct co-ordinated attacks outside areas under its control would suggest an expansion of its capabilities. In any event, the attacks highlight the group’s ability to inspire militants to act on its behalf, and the challenge of confronting terrorists who use the modern world’s tools against it — global travel, the internet financial markets.