Zukunft im Turm

The terrorist threat

Rolf Tophoven

24 June 2014

Ringturm

The security of a democracy – a utopia in today’s united Europe? The smouldering threat of terrorism has arrived in Europe – on its streets, in the media and in people’s minds.

At the Ringturm, terrorism specialist Rolf Tophoven spoke about this controversial topic which has now pervaded the whole of Europe.

"Zukunft im Turm": The terrorist threat with Rolf Tophoven. © Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein/APA-Fotoservice/Preiss

Rolf Tophoven is regarded as one of Europe’s top terrorism experts. He is Director of the Institute for Terrorism Research and Security Policy (IFTUS) in Essen. Previously Tophoven headed the Institute for Terrorism Research in Bonn for many years. He has lectured at the Danube University Krems’ Department of Business Law and European Integration for several years.

“Security authorities will be able to keep this phenomenon in check, but not eliminate it completely without cross-border cooperation,” Rolf Tophoven emphasised. “The West will have to carry on living with acts of terrorism, but it is essential that we don’t fall into the trap of giving up our civil liberties,” he added.