VALLETTA, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The world must be well-prepared to face fresh challenges, including a possible backlash in the West, after the dislodgement of ISIS from their stronghold in western Iraq's Mosul, said Maltese Security Minister Carmelo Abela on Tuesday.
He was speaking at a two-day workshop organized by the U.S. State Department in collaboration with the International Institute of Justice, with its main aim to advance U.S. efforts to defeat ISIS.
The minister cautioned the impact of the development in Mosul on the terrorist group's structure, saying spillover of ISIS fighters into other countries is possible.
Participants were urged to strengthen and consolidate mutual cooperation to ensure they are well prepared to address these threats to their security and overcome this common enemy.
"It is imperative to look into models of integration, particularly in respect of young men and women and individuals from vulnerable groups in our countries who could easily get carried away by terrorist propaganda. We need to tackle the root causes that make them easy prey to radicalisation by organisations like ISIS," said Abela.
He stressed in his speech the need to ensure the progress under the two key objectives of the EU Internet Forum, one is barring accessibility to terrorist content online, and the other is empowering civil society partners to increase effective alternative narratives online.
Concern was also raised over radicalization, as an estimated 4,000 EU nationals are believed to have joined terrorist organizations in conflict-stricken countries such as Syria and Iraq.
Furthermore, it was stated that the majority of terrorist suspects implicated in the most recent terrorist attacks in the EU were European citizens, born and raised in Europe.
