"Is Malta in danger from an ISIS attack" Topic

As someone of Maltese heritage with a lot of family there I'm increasingly worried about the growing ISIS presence in Libya. In my mind Malta would be a prime target with its strong Catholic identity and history of fighting Islam via the Knights of St John. Do people think they could be capable of launching a seaborne attack for instance or would NATO/European naval forces be prepared for such an eventuality?

Seriously, I dont think Malta GM is not at much risk. Terrorists tend to target countries their warped minds perceive to be publicly anti Islamic. So long a the Maltese premier doesn't threaten to join in air attacks on Iraq, or Syria, I wouldn't worry over much.
Its good policy to keep security tighter though, sad world we live in, isn't it?

Yes, to the attack.

No, to the being prepared for the defense of the island.

They've also threatened to attack Rome/Italy, and have posted numerous pictures of sites around the country on-line to demonstrate their presence there. Rome was mentioned by name as a target, since it is the base for the Catholic Church, and the jihadis despise all religions other than their own. It's only a matter of time, and anyone that tells you otherwise is a fool.

Spain is also particularly worried, given their proximity to North Africa, and many suspected radicals coming across into their country in the last few years.

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While IS will eagerly kill any Christians they get their hands on, I don't think Malta is near as big a target as Italy or France, or even Spain would make for a seaborn attack. That would make news.

Then again, I have no idea how well prepared the Maltese are to defend themselves, perhaps they make a softer target.

Much easier to attack, and/or take control of Malta, than say France, Spain, Germany, Italy, or the UK.

They do seem to like splashy news headlines, and aren't afraid to send their fighters to their deaths, so……

I'd say Sardinia, Corsica, Cyprus, Crete, Leros, to name a few have about as much of a chance of problems with Daesh as Malta.
Of course Corsica, IIRC, has a Bn of FFL Paras. And Cyprus still has UN troops there to keep the Turks and Cypriots from killing each other. So my short answer is I don't think Malta has much to worry about at this point.

I don't think Malta will make them the headlines like attacks on the larger nations will.

They are looking for dramatic news grabbing headlines to get them more volunteers/$$ and for a jihadist organization they do not seem to be in for the moral victories like Malta would give them. Sure, they will take out historical sites ~after~ they control the area.

Re Malta: The Muslim population of Malta is actually vanishingly small and there are no distinct Muslim communities, let alone ghettos, in which a terrorist cell could easily hide. Maltese communities are also very densely-populated and close-knit, which would make it very difficult for suspicious activity to go unnoticed.

Malta also has a policy of interning all illegal immigrants, which again would make it difficult for a cell to land and take root.

There is also a massive amount of NATO and EU naval/coastguard activity in that area, making it very difficult indeed for small craft to slip through. A raiding party from Libya would also have to find somewhere to land – by no means easy. There are only a tiny handful of beaches (none at all on the southern coast).

The Maltese Armed Forces are small – essentially a single light infantry battalion, including an AA battery, border guard element, SWAT-type Special Forces, an armed coastguard flotilla and some light surveillance air support, plus assistance from the Italian Military Mission (mainly helicopter and naval support). That said, every man and his dog on Malta outside the main urban areas are armed with shotguns…

BTW, it is quite entertaining when the Maltese AA Battery is blatting away with 40mm Bofors at Pembroke Fort… All it needs is for a Do-217 or Italian tri-motor to come over and it could be 1942… :)

+many JF

Every time I look at the newspaper some poor soul is on there way to meet their maker so give it a bit of time we will all be under attack.

To answer the question, I don't see Malta as having any more or less to worry about than anywhere else, though obviously anywhere with a tourist industry needs to be careful. But frankly killing a lot of Maltese won't make the papers half as much as gunning down a bunch of northern Europeans.

Every time I look at the newspaper some poor soul is on there way to meet their maker so give it a bit of time we will all be under attack.

There may be more fact than fiction in this statement … But to the original query … I'd think Malta is generally safe. As noted the Islamic terrorists of all versions like Big attacks on many Western targets as possible. Malta is fortunate that it is not on the list. Like NY, Paris, etc.

One of Malta's great security advantages is that NOBODY outside Malta speaks Malti. It makes it easy for their security services to identify who isn't a local (thankfully they also speak English better than many British people – Malta's school system teaches both languages equally). :)

PDF link

Cheers Kyote, thank goodness… ;)

"To answer the question, I don't see Malta as having any more or less to worry about than anywhere else, though obviously anywhere with a tourist industry needs to be careful. But frankly killing a lot of Maltese won't make the papers half as much as gunning down a bunch of northern Europeans.'

Really? How did you come to that conclusion? Every time the paradigm shifts people who say 'it could never happen…' have to change their position. A weak target is a target. And a large number of deaths in the name of Islam will make the papers everywhere, even if they happen on an island most people have never heard of.

And the idea that 'northern Europeans' are more news worthy than Maltese is really self-centered, to say the least.

I hope I'm wrong, but suspect I'm not, given their very close proximity to the island from the beaches of North Africa, where they were reportedly lining victims up, and beheading them not too long ago, for sport.

Dn Jackson – what gets more newspaper coverage – 100 civilians killed in Paris or a hundred in Lebanon?

Not self-centred, just the way the media works.

As it happens, the Med is reasonably well patrolled due to the refugee crisis. I don't doubt ISIS could get personnel into Malta, but weapons? Not so much.

That is the way the Western media works. It's just sociology, anthropology and phycology … It always comes down to "us" or "them". And that is relative who is doing the talking, reporting, etc. …