The Recent plots in Europe were organized by Osama.

A screen shot of Osama bin Laden, from his latest audiotape. Image from AP/SITE Intelligence Group.

The recent foiled plots of a Mumbai style attack were orchestrated by Osama bin Laden.  Using couriers to send messages and to organize the events showcases that almost 10 years after 911 Osama and the al Qeada group are still relevant.

 German Homegrown Terrorist Eric Breininger Believed Killed

It was unclear recently whether Breininger was still with the Islamic Jihad Union. The picture shows IJU members. Taifatul Mansura, the mainly Turkish group that reported his death, operates under the command of the Afghan Taliban and is closely linked to the IJU. Its statement says: "We, those responsible for the region Germany, regard it as important to mention that the jihad is getting increasing numbers of supporters from Europe, especially from Germany."

As al Qeada and other groups find it difficult to be completely open in their memberships and locations they rely heavily on other terrorist groups to do much of the front line work.  Al Qeada is still a force to be reckoned with but as terrorism is generally a compartmentalized operation the numbers of actual al Qeada members may be very small.

Bekkay Harrach, speaking in a markedly soft voice, the German-Moroccan swears an oath of allegiance to terrorist leader Osama bin Laden on a recently released video. 

In a more localized concern Canadian citizens have also been training in Pakistan for a similar such Mumbai style attack in Toronto or Ottawa.  Three have been arrested in Ottawa and there are two others that are wanted by the RCMP and the worry is because of their engineering backgrounds we could see an particularly harmful event in Canada.

Three Ontario men, from left to right, Khurram Sher, Hiva Alizadeh and Misbahuddin Ahmed, have been charged in connection with an alleged domestic terrorism plot. (Sarah Wallace/CBC)

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the arrest warrants for Maiwand Yar and Ferid Ahmed Imam are the result of a four-year national security criminal investigation known as Project Darken.

Terrorism will always be a concern as the world moves to more openness and globalization.  The recent events in the Middle East show case how venerable some countries are to things like social media and if groups like al Qeada are able to utilize them we will new issues to worry about.