With the start of Ramadan on February 28th, hundreds of millions of observant Muslims around the world began a month of introspection, worship, and service, along with fasting each day from dawn to dusk. But the Muslim holy month of Ramadan also has a darker side, that being traditionally it is a time for war. History books are rich with accounts of Muslim armies waging war during Ramadan, and modern times are no different. Since 9/11, the number of terror attacks around the globe has surged most years during this period.
As of the time of this report's preparations Friday evening, the first seven days of Ramadan claimed 74 lives in 24 attacks across seven predominantly Muslim nations, as well as Israel.
Additionally, transnational terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State, Al Qaeda, and their supporters, have also ramped up their production of online propaganda calling on lone wolves to strike Christians and Jews. Earlier this week, one day after the attack in Mannheim, the Islamic State's Al Said media group published a poster in English and German chiding Germany for their inability to prevent attacks.
Readers are cautioned that if history serves as an indicator of possible future events, the next 21 days constitute a high-risk period for a surge of attacks. While most are likely to take place in countries like Syria, Israel, and Pakistan, caution and vigilance are urged in all Western nations while in crowded public venues and tourist destinations.
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