Full coverage: G20 Hangzhou Summit
In recent months, Europe was hit with a wave of attacks. CCTV Europe Correspondent Kevin Ozebek takes a look at what the continent hopes G20 leaders will do to diminish what seems to be a constant threat.
In Europe, it’s been the summer of mourning.
On June 28th—45 were killed at Istanbul’s main international airport. Then on July 14th—86 were plowed down in Nice, France.
In the coming days and weeks, an 85 years old priest would be murdered inside a church in Normandy, France.
Fve would be stabbed on a train in southern Germany and a suicide bomber would blow himself up outside a music festival here in the German city of Ans-bach.
All attacks are blamed on ISIL—or people inspired by ISIL.
“I think the mood is one of concern, if not fear,” said Pauline Massart, Friends of Europe.
But security experts say European Union lawmakers have passed crucial laws—like a tracking program to spot those coming and going from Syria.
Still though—they say more needs to be done on both a European and global level.
“I think there is still a culture within the intelligence services to not cooperate as much as they should,” Pauline Massart said.
“There are issues of national interests, national sovereignty—that makes it difficult sometimes to exchange sensitive information at the G20 level,” said Bruno Lete, German Marshal Fund.
Security analysts say those issues must be overcome to prevent attacks.
Many on the continent will tell you it now feels like a new era for Europe.
Military units remain on patrol throughout the large cities—London just recently added 600 armed officers.
With ISIL continuing its call for followers to attack—this is the new normal.
“This is a challenge that Europe has never seen before—at least at this kind of level,” Bruno Lete said.
Security experts tell us despite the strides the EU has made at boosting security and regardless of what leaders decide to do at the G20—it’s impossible to completely eliminate the threat from ISIL. They say zero risk of terrorism—is simply an illusion.
