Switzerland: European retreat for militants?

Switzerland could become a retreat in the heart of Europe for radical Islamic groups and other militant organisations that are banned in neighbouring countries, Swiss federal police warned. According to its 2003 report on internal security the country is vulnerable to the growing violence of a wide range of extremist groups even if it is not directly targeted. Apart from terror groups, police cited domestic security concerns surrounding Albanian, Macedonian, Turkish, Kurd, Sri Lankan Tamil and Middle Eastern militant groups, as well as active right wing and left-wing extremists. Switzerland’s reputation as a stable financial haven has added to its vulnerability to money laundering.