Emerging details of last week’s Istanbul suicide bombings support the idea that Al Qaeda is becoming more of a terror ‘‘consultancy’’ and less of a direct actor, security analysts say. Most see Al Qaeda’s hand behind the car bombs that blew up two synagogues, the British consulate and the offices of British-based banking group HSBC. The car bombers were all Turks from the Bingol, known as a fundamentalist centre, and reported to have global connections. Locals and media reports said three had attended Al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan. Experts said this fits a pattern of attacks since 9/11 in which Al Qaeda’s core operatives have played a background role: supplying know-how, and possibly finance, but leaving it to locals to carry out missions. ‘‘Al Qaeda has moved to a ‘second generation’ of structures and operational capability,’’ said David Claridge, managing director of Janusian Security Risk Management in London. ‘‘There clearly is some remaining core, but that core is no longer involved in operations at the sharp end.’’ Some analysts see it as an international terror ‘‘university’’ or consultancy; others liken it to a franchising operation, endorsing operations around the world with the cachet of its global ‘‘brand’’. ‘‘The old, damaged military organisation has undergone a transformation to terror sponsor. That means Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri (his deputy) and others are active today in the sense of franchising terrorism,’’ said Berndt Georg Thamm, a German writer on security issues. This meant local groups can tap into Qaeda’s expertise for contacts with like-minded networks and ‘‘order’’ logistical support, financial help and advice on how to prepare and transport explosives. (Reuters)
