Kovačević: It has become normal to say that terrorism equals Islam, but Europe also has its own terrorism

The fact that ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack in Berlin means nothing. Because, whatever happens similarly, ISIL finds it convenient to claim responsibility – Goran Kovačević, assistant professor at the Faculty of Criminal Justice in Sarajevo, said on Tuesday evening in Dnevnik 3 of Federal Television, Patria reports.

A man killed 12 and injured more than 50 people on Monday evening in Berlin, after driving a truck into a crowd at a Christmas market. The motives for this attack are still unknown, as is who was driving the truck.

- What is interesting to me is that the information emerged that the attacker was Pakistani or Afghan. It was already known that he had been seeking asylum for a year, that he was here, he was detained...

However, if I were in Chancellor Merkel's place or possibly in the place of some police chief who could issue such an order, I would focus the investigation on the witness who, at that moment, in all that panic, followed the man, photographed him, and reported him to the police. This is precisely the person who directed the investigation in the wrong direction. Therefore, the investigation should focus on the witness – Kovačević believes.

When asked if the attack could be characterized as an attack on Christianity, given that it occurred during the holidays, Kovačević said that he does not view it that way, because he generally doubts that ISIL carried out the attack.

- You now have a phase within the European Union where right-wing political options are strengthening, and if you look from a political aspect, this is a blow to Angela Merkel's policy and her asylum policy – Kovačević said.

When asked if the attack in Berlin could be linked to the attack in Zurich on an Islamic center, where three people were killed, Kovačević said that no one is even mentioning that attack.

- That attack remained in the shadow of the events in Ankara and Berlin, but it is possible that the same people are generally responsible. You have a movement in Europe, the generation of movements that smell of Nazism and fascism, which are generally indigenous European movements. It has become normal to say that terrorism equals ISIL, or Islam, but Europe also knows its own terrorism – says Kovačević.