Weeks before Islamic State militant Abdelhamid Abaaoud led the Nov. 13 terror attacks in Paris, French authorities thought he was holed up in northern Syria. Western Intelligence agencies pursuing Abaaoud had tracked him there using cell-phone location data and other electronic footprints. These techniques helped protect attackers from Western intelligence agencies by leaving few electronic clues in a sea of intercepted data. Some were committed by people who appear to have received little direct training from Islamic State. Officials worry such attacks could be a way to distract intelligence services while militants prepare more complex plots.

Source: Fox News September 11, 2016 20:03 UTC