A graph database framework for covert network analysis: An application to the Islamic State network in Europe

•Graph database theory is applied to map covert networks•Open source media data is collected for the Islamic State (IS) network in Europe•The network is mapped and compared to other covert networks•Robust differences are found between IS and Al-Qaida networks

This paper proposes a new framework, based on graph database theory, for encoding complex data on covert networks, mapping their structure, and conducting a sensitivity analysis. The framework is then applied to reconstruct the terrorist network of the 2015-2016 attacks in Paris and Brussels, and related plots in Europe by the Islamic State group. The resulting network was found to be qualitatively different from the ideologically-related Al-Qaeda network, having a lower secrecy and a lower mean degree, under different network-generating assumptions.