Al Qa’ida is creating "franchises" out of Islamist groups from its base in Pakistan to spread terror into the Middle East and Africa. The Financial Times is reporting that European officials and terrorism experts see this as an Al Qa’ida "force multiplier" as radical Islamist groups turn from targeting local interests to targeting Western interests. Examples cited by the Europeans include the merger between Al Qa’ida in Maghreb and the Algerian Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) and Al Qa’ida and the Libyan Fighting Group, and moves underway in Lebanon, Syria and East Africa. The core Al Qa’ida operation in Pakistan, known as "Al Qa’ida Central," provides instruction and assistance in the use of poisons, explosives and target planning, according to the report.