“Domestic violent extremists have in the last year increasingly shared tactics
with each other on using guns to attack electric power stations in a move that
likely escalates the threat to US critical infrastructure, according to a
Department of Homeland Security bulletin obtained by CNN. Following multiple
high-profile attacks on US power substations last year, extremists have stepped
up sharing of ‘online messaging and operational guidance promoting attacks
against this sector,’ says the DHS bulletin, which was distributed to US
critical infrastructure operators on Monday. The information and tactics shared
by extremists online include ‘detailed diagrams, simplified tips for enhancing
operational security, and procedures for disabling key components of
substations and transformers,’ DHS warned. The last year saw a flurry of
physical attacks and vandalism on US electric infrastructure.”











<[link removed]>
<[link removed]>



Eye on Extremism



April 25, 2023



CNN: Violent Extremists Are Increasingly Sharing Tactics For Attacking Power
Stations, DHS Warns
<[link removed]>



“Domestic violent extremists have in the last year increasingly shared tactics
with each other on using guns to attack electric power stations in a move that
likely escalates the threat to US critical infrastructure, according to a
Department of Homeland Security bulletin obtained by CNN. Following multiple
high-profile attacks on US power substations last year, extremists have stepped
up sharing of ‘online messaging and operational guidance promoting attacks
against this sector,’ says the DHS bulletin, which was distributed to US
critical infrastructure operators on Monday. The information and tactics shared
by extremists online include ‘detailed diagrams, simplified tips for enhancing
operational security, and procedures for disabling key components of
substations and transformers,’ DHS warned. The last year saw a flurry of
physical attacks and vandalism on US electric infrastructure.”



The National: Israel 'Shells Hezbollah Site In Syria'
<[link removed]>



“Israel shelled a site in Syria belonging to Hezbollah early on Monday
morning, according to reports in state-affiliated Syrian media. No injuries
have been reported. The barrage was claimed to have taken place just across
Israel's border, with Israeli forces also reportedly dropping Arabic-language
pamphlets in the same area warning Syrian troops against working with
Hezbollah. Images of the purported documents on social media read: ‘We are
closely watching and aware of the ongoing intelligence co-operation with
Hezbollah within the Syrian army’s positions in the region, including near the
Israeli border … co-operation with Hezbollah leads to harm!’ They also show
images that appear to depict a Syrian military officer next to a Hezbollah
commander, according to Israeli media.”



United States



Tennessee Star: Ohio Pro-Life Group Responds to Rep. Sykes’ Legislation
Penalizing Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers
<[link removed]>



“…The Counter Extremism Project, which keeps databases on extremist and
terrorist organizations throughout the world, refers to Jane’s Revenge as a
“militant pro-abortion rights group.” The organization also claims that Jane’s
Revenge is responsible for numerous arson and acts of vandalism across the
nation.”



Syria



Kurdistan24: SDF Arrest Four ISIS Operatives In Raqqa: Coalition
<[link removed]>



“The U.S. Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force - Levant (SOJTF
LEVANT) on Monday said the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arrested four ISIS
operatives in Raqqa on April 14 and 15. ‘SDF, advised, assisted, and enabled by
Coalition Forces, planned and achieved the successful capture of Hasan Husain
Muhammed Al Ali, Hasan Harald Ali Hajju, Omar Ibrahim Omar Al Sulaiman, and
Muhamad Al Ali, who are assessed ISIS operatives while conducting searches for
weapons, explosives, and other illicit items, with the focus on disrupting and
dismantling ISIS networks,’ the SOJTF LEVANT said in a press release.
‘Coalition Forces continue to see successful results with SDF-led operations in
ar-Raqqah province,’ said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Claude Tudor, Combined
Special Operations Joint Task Force - Levant Commander. ‘We continue to advise,
assist, and enable our SDF partners by reviewing key infrastructure
requirements that will play a critical role iin the enduring defeat of ISIS.’”



Turkey



Reuters: Turkey Arrests 110 Over Alleged Kurdish Militant Ties Ahead Of
Election
<[link removed]>



“Turkish police on Tuesday detained 110 people over alleged militant ties,
security sources said, with a pro-Kurdish lawmaker saying politicians, lawyers
and journalists were among those held in raids that he linked to elections on
May 14. The operation was focused on Diyarbakir, the largest city in mainly
Kurdish southeast Turkey, and targeted people across 21 provinces accused of
links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group. The
operation came less than three weeks before presidential and parliamentary
votes that represent the biggest electoral challenge President Tayyip Erdogan
has faced since his AK Party first came to power in 2002. ‘On the eve of the
election, out of fear of losing power, they have resorted to detention
operations again,’ Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Tayip Temel said on
Twitter.”



Afghanistan



The Print: Taliban Rejects Pentagon Report About Presence Of ISIS In
Afghanistan
<[link removed]>



“Taliban has denied the media report citing ‘classified Pentagon assessment’
stating that Afghanistan has become a significant coordinate site for the
Daesh/ISIS group that plans attacks in Europe and Asia and carries out
‘aspirational plotting’ against the US, TOLO News reported. The head of the
Taliban-led Qatar-based Political Office Suhail Shaheen refuted the report. He
said that Daesh has been suppressed in Afghanistan, TOLO News reported. The
statement of Suhail Shaheen comes after The Washington Post in its report cited
a ‘classified Pentagon assessment’ that demonstrates the threat as a ‘growing
security concern.’ Suhail Shaheen said that The Washington Post report is not
as per the ground realities in Afghanistan.”



Pakistan



Reuters: Explosions At Pakistani Counter-Terrorism Ammunition Store Kill At
Least 13
<[link removed]>



“Two explosions in a counter-terrorism ammunition depot in northwest Pakistan
killed at least 13 people and wounded over 50 on Monday, police said.
Provincial police chief Akhtar Hayat said the explosions rocked the
counter-terrorism office in northwestern Swat valley, which was previously long
controlled by Islamist militants before they were flushed out in a military
operation in 2009. His spokesman said in a statement issued later that
ammunition caught fire, ‘most probably due to an electric short-circuit. No
evidence of an attack from outside has been established so far.’



Middle East



Outlook India: Israel: 5 Injured In Car Ramming Attack Near Jerusalem Market
<[link removed]>



“…Think tank Counter Extremism Project (CEP) says the 2016 Nice attack
launched a wave of vehicular terrorist attacks around the world. It also says
that Hamas is among the terrorist groups engaging in vehicular terrorist
attacks. The CEP says, ‘Terrorist groups like al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Hamas have
long called for—and claimed responsibility for—vehicular terrorist
attacks...Following the wave of vehicular terrorist attacks in 2016 and 2017,
ISIS has continued to issue calls to violence and warnings of additional
car-ramming attacks.’ The CEP notes that Israel has particularly faced the
brunt of car attacks. The CEP says, ‘A slew of car-ramming attacks have also
been carried out by Palestinian assailants in Israel and the West Bank. In
November of 2014, Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups—including the
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)—praised a wave of vehicular attacks and called
for more. One such image posted online read, 'Run [them] over, son of
Hebron...and son of Jerusalem. Take your car...and run over the Zionists'."



AFP News: Decrease In IS Attacks In Iraq, Syria: Coalition
<[link removed]>



“The international coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq
and Syria said Monday there has been a ‘reduction in attacks’ by jihadists in
both countries this year. The IS extremists in 2014 launched their
self-proclaimed ‘caliphate’ across swathes of both countries in a campaign
marked by its brutality including mass killings, torture, rape and slavery.
US-backed counter-offensives ended their territorial hold in Iraq in 2017 and
in Syria in 2019, but IS cells continue to target security forces and civilians
in both countries. ‘Since the beginning of this year in Iraq... through the
first week of April, we have seen a record of a 68-percent reduction in attacks
when compared to the same period last year,’ said US Major General Matthew
McFarlane, commander of the anti-jihadist coalition.”



i24 News: West Bank: Terrorist Shoots At Joggers Commemorating Israel's
Memorial Day
<[link removed]>



“One person was wounded when a group of Israeli joggers were fired upon in
the West Bank, Israeli emergency services reported Tuesday morning. The
shooting was confirmed to be a terrorism-motivated attack. According to initial
reports a 28-year-old man taking part in a Memorial Day run was lightly wounded
in the arm when shots were fired from a passing vehicle, paramedics said.
Medics provided assistance at the scene. Hadassah Medical Center reported that
the victim's condition was moderate, and that he was fully conscious.



Africa



Associated Press: Kenyan Cult Deaths At 73, President Likens Them To Terrorism
<[link removed]>



“Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday compared the dozens of starvation
deaths among the followers of a pastor in the south of the country with the
results of terrorist acts, as the new death toll rose to 73. He maintained that
the pastor, Paul Makenzi, who is in police custody, should be in prison. ‘What
we are seeing ... is akin to terrorism,’ Ruto said. ‘Mr. Makenzi ... pretends
and postures as a pastor when in fact he is a terrible criminal.’ Makenzi was
arrested on suspicion of telling his followers to fast to death in order to
meet Jesus. A group of emaciated people were rescued alive, but some of them
later died. Authorities then turned their attention to dozens of shallow graves
marked with crosses on Makenzi’s 800-acre ranch.”



UPI: EU Sanctions ISIS Group In Mozambique
<[link removed]>



“The European Union has sanctioned an Islamic State-affiliated terrorist
group in Mozambique and two of its leaders as the lawmakers seek to stem years
of violence that has displaced more than a million people in the northern Cabo
Delgado province. Lawmakers in the 27-member bloc's council, which defines the
union's political direction, announced the punitive measures against Abu Yasir
Hassan and Bonomade Machude Omar as well as their ISIS-Mozambique terrorist
organization on Monday. All three have been previously designated by the United
States. ‘Their activities contribute to the expansion of the terrorist threat
in Mozambique and pose a serious threat to the EU and to regional and
international stability,’ the EU said in a statement.”



The Counter Extremism Project depends on the generosity of its supporters. If
you value what we do, please consider making a donation.

DONATE NOW
<[link removed]>
 




Click here to unsubscribe.
<[link removed]>