Previous jihad epicenters, in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, all attracted foreign jihadis from the world over. However, the number of Muslims from Western countries going to Syria and Iraq to wage jihad for the Islamic State seems to be larger than the number that ever went to join al-Qaeda. That is probably because of the attraction of waging jihad for the caliphate, and participating in the restoration of the supranational unity of the Muslims.
“11 pro-jihad Milan residents probed,” ANSA, September 4, 2014 (thanks to Insubria):
(ANSA) – Milan, September 4 – Eleven people resident in and around Milan including an electrician who went to fight in Syria two years ago and other Syrians have been under investigation in a probe into international terrorism for two years, judicial sources said Thursday.