German special forces carry out searches after a far-right extremist killed 10 people in Hanau, near Frankfurt.
German special forces carry out searches after a far-right extremist killed 10 people in Hanau, near Frankfurt.
German special forces carry out searches after a far-right extremist killed 10 people in Hanau, near Frankfurt.
German special forces carry out searches after a far-right extremist killed 10 people in Hanau, near Frankfurt.

Far-right paramilitary forces pose emerging threat to Western European nations


Nicky Harley
  • English
  • Arabic

The rise of paramilitary far-right groups to a position of dominance in Western European countries is "not unthinkable", terrorism experts say.

A report by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) think tank urges officials to be "concerned" about the risk of Western far-right extremists connecting with paramilitaries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Last year it was revealed German extremist Tobias Rathjen received training in Slovakia before he went on a shooting spree, killing 10 people.

The report, "Looks Can Be Deceiving: Extremism Meets Paramilitarism In Central And Eastern Europe", identifies two potential developments which it says should concern policymakers and security authorities.

The first is the risk of Western far-right extremists connecting with CEE paramilitaries and the second is the potential for them to make a "more concerted use of the sprawling paramilitary infrastructure in Ukraine."

“The possibility of a truly transnational and paramilitary extreme right-wing arch stretching from Moscow via CEE into the heart of Western Europe is not unthinkable”, it says.

Protestors in Hanau call for more action after a far-right extremist murdered 10 people.
Protestors in Hanau call for more action after a far-right extremist murdered 10 people.

“The activities of paramilitary organisations whose members share viewpoints with the broader Western European far right or its most aggressive and militant component, the extreme right-wing, and their access to commercial training should be of concern to officials in CEE.”

The report, written by CEP affiliated researcher Kacper Rekawek, examined case studies from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine, warns of the risk of paramilitary training camps and the lack of monitoring taking place.

It makes four recommendations, including advising Ukraine to collect information on foreigners seeking training and to look at restricting the travel of high-risk violent right-wing extremists to stop them accessing commercial training infrastructure.

"Western radicals who attempt to utilise this infrastructure for their purposes, such as the Hanau shooter, do not involve themselves in the intricacies of the regional extremism-paramilitarism axis", it said.

"They tend to obtain their training privately, potentially under false names, most likely skipping the scant security protocols that these privately-run training facilities employ.

"Therefore, two major security concerns arise for Western security authorities. The first is the potential connection between Western right-wing extremists with likeminded CEE paramilitaries.

"The second concern is the risk that Western right-wing extremists obtain paramilitary training through Ukrainian networks and training facilities. Although these Ukrainian training networks are currently more internally focused, their commercial orientation also allows for the training of foreigners.

"Consequently, the current situation can develop into a major security threat for Western security authorities."

The report also recommends that more analysis of the far right in CEE countries takes place and suggests exploring the Czech Republic’s existing legal arrangements barring paramilitary training for civilians as a potential blueprint for similar legal mechanisms.

Last year a report on extremism in the German security forces uncovered more than 350 suspected far-right cases between 2017 and 2020 that led to recent calls for a crackdown.

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First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974  
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work

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Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

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Updated: July 01, 2021, 2:20 PM