CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed: "IS-KP, IS Khorasan Province is a very special affiliate of the Islamic State. Purposefully set up by the Islamic State center from Iraq and Syria, they sent emissaries into Afghanistan. It's partially manned by ex-Taliban, partially manned by foreign terrorist fighters, including Tajik terrorist fighters. It has been the most active affiliate trying to conduct overseas attacks, several arrests here in Germany, in France,  in the Netherlands, several arrests in Russia in the last couple of years."

"Authorities in Russia say more than 60 people have been killed after shooters opened fire in a concert hall near Moscow. It's the worst attack Russia has faced in 20 years. The so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility. Others reportedly escaped into a nearby forest.
00:00 Intro and report
02:28 DW speaks with Hans-Jakob Schindler, Senior Director of the Counter Extremism Project"

"Afghanistan's IS branch was built by the group's envoys arriving from Iraq and Syria -- unlike almost everywhere else in the world, where pre-existing outfits pledged to its cause, said Hans-Jakob Schindler, director of the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) research outfit and a former UN terrorism expert."

"ISIS-K militants have been captured in a series of arrests in Germany, the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe over the past three years, according to Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director at the Counter Extremism Project, a trans-Atlantic think tank."

"Today, ISPK is one of the most active IS groups in the world. It pursues jihadist goals and has repeatedly carried out attacks in Afghanistan in recent years. But not only there: 'ISPK is still the IS offshoot that tries to organize the most attacks in western countries,' says terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler from the Counter Extremism Project to IPPEN.MEDIA."

"Shortly before Christmas there are indications of a possible attack plan by an Islamist group, including on Cologne Cathedral . The police speak of a 'danger warning' and the officers have initiated extensive protective measures at Cologne Cathedral. A church in Vienna was also a possible target, it was said on Saturday. According to information from the German Press Agency, the group may have links to the terrorist group Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISPK). If this is confirmed, it would not be their first attack plan in Germany. Terror expert Hans-Jakob Schindler from the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) tells IPPEN.MEDIA : 'ISPK probably has Germany firmly in its sights.'"

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler writes: "Two years ago, the world saw the return of a repressive Taliban regime. The rapid fall of the Afghan government sent shockwaves throughout neighbouring countries and beyond, as the new Taliban powerbrokers in Kabul systematically degraded human rights and afforded protection to a long list of Al-Qaeda linked terrorist groups in Afghanistan."