Eye on Extremism
May 1, 2023
Associated Press: In Lebanon, Iran FM Visits Israel Border, Extolls Hezbollah
“Iran’s top diplomat visited Lebanon’s border with Israel on Friday where he expressed support for the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group in its struggle against their common enemy: Israel. Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian began his visit to Lebanon since Wednesday, meeting top officials and expressing Tehran’s readiness to help build power stations in an effort to try to end the Mediterranean country’s prevailing electricity crisis. Lebanon is in the throes of the worst economic crisis in its modern history, rooted in decades of corruption and mismanagement by the small nation’s ruling class. The crisis erupted in October 2019 and has plunged three quarters of Lebanon’s 6 million people, including 1 million Syrian refugees, into poverty.”
New York Post: Turkish Forces Killed ISIS Chief In Syria: Erdogan
“Turkish forces have killed the leader of the Islamic State group during an operation in Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late Sunday. Recep Tayyip Erdogan told TRT Turk television in an interview that the IS leader, code-named Abu Hussein al-Qurayshi, was killed in a strike conducted on Saturday. Erdogan said the Turkish intelligence agency, MIT, had been following him ‘for a long time.’ ‘We will continue our struggle against terrorist organizations without discriminating against any of them,’ Erdogan said in the interview. Turkey has conducted numerous operations against IS and Kurdish groups along the Syrian border, capturing or killing suspected militants.”
United States
Reuters: Cuba, US Officials Meet In Havana To Discuss Anti-Terrorism Measures
“Cuban and U.S. officials met on Friday in Havana to discuss anti-terrorism measures, Cuba's interior ministry said, broaching a particularly thorny subject between the two long-time rivals in the latest in a series of bilateral talks. Terrorism is a contentious issue as Cuba is on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, a matter the two sides agreed to continue discussing, however the talks this week were mainly ‘technical’. The meetings, which included the U.S. State Department, Justice Department and Homeland Security and their Cuban counterparts, addressed the hijacking of aircraft and maritime vessels and the use of digital networks for violent purposes. ‘The realization of this exchange is an expression of the commitment of the Cuban government in the fight against (terrorism),’ the interior ministry statement said.”
Iraq
Kurdistan24: Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service Detains Eight ISIS Members
“The Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) announced on Sunday the detention of eight Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) members. The CTS also released figures on its operations conducted against ISIS militants. In April, 11 operations across Iraq were conducted against the terrorist group. ‘Eight ISIS members were arrested and a terrorist plot was foiled as a result of the operations,’ according to the CTS. A series of airstrikes targeting ISIS hideouts were also conducted last month, resulting in the destruction of a number of the group’s hiding places.”
Afghanistan
AFP News: Afghan Women Protesters Urge Against Foreign Recognition Of Taliban
“A group of Afghan women protested in Kabul on Saturday, defying a crackdown on dissent to urge foreign nations not to formally recognise the Taliban government ahead of a UN summit next week. Protesters opposing creeping curbs on women's rights have been beaten or detained since the Taliban surged back to power in 2021, and security forces have fired into the air to disperse some rallies. However, small groups of women have continued to stage sporadic gatherings. Around 25 women marched through a residential area in the Afghan capital on Saturday ahead of a summit in Doha that the United Nations says will discuss a ‘durable way forward’ for the country. ‘Recognition of Taliban -- violation of women's rights,’ the women chanted during the march, which lasted no longer than 10 minutes and passed without confrontation with security forces.”
Pakistan
Dawn: 7 Terrorists Killed As Security Forces Repulse Attacks In KP’s Lakki Marwat: ISPR
“According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces repulsed the attacks which took place at different locations within a short span of time. In the first incident, the ISPR said that ‘a motorcycle-borne suicide bomber exploded himself near security forces post in Lakki Marwat followed by a fierce fire exchange between own troops and terrorists’. ‘Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists as a result of which four terrorists were sent to hell,’ the statement said. The ISPR said that the remaining two incidents took place in the district’s Amir Kalam and Tajbi Khel areas during which another three militants, including terrorist commander Musa Kha, were eliminated.”
The Print: Pakistan: Counter-Terrorism Official Killed In Bomb Blast In Khuzdar
“A police official of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station was killed after a roadside bomb went off all of a sudden in Khuzdar city of Balochistan, Dawn reported on Friday. On his way to the police station, Inspector Sharbat Khan’s vehicle was on the Quetta-Karachi Highway when a roadside bomb exploded. According to hospital staff, Khan died there and then after the explosion completely wrecked his vehicle. According to police, an IED containing about 5kg of explosive substance was used in the blast. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of now, Dawn reported.”
Middle East
Reuters: Hezbollah Behind Roadside Bomb In Israel Last Month, Israeli Official Says
“Lebanon's Hezbollah was behind a rare roadside bomb attack last month that wounded a motorist in northern Israel, Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said on Friday. Israel's military said that security forces had killed a man carrying an explosive belt after he apparently crossed from Lebanon into Israel and detonated a bomb on March 13 near Megiddo junction in northern Israel. A possible link to Iran-backed Hezbollah was being investigated, officials said at the time. Asked on Channel 12 television whether a political crisis in Israel regarding the government's plan to overhaul the country's judiciary has emboldened Israel's enemies, Hanegbi said: ‘We estimate that for now it may lead to operations that were not considered in the past.’”
Reuters: Hamas Armed Wing Announces Suspension Of Bitcoin Fundraising
“The armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas said on Thursday it would stop receiving fundraising via the crypto currency bitcoin, a method it has used for years, citing an increase in ‘hostile’ activity against donors. ‘This comes out of concern about the safety of donors and to spare them any harm,’ the group said in a statement late on Thursday, adding that it had seen increased efforts to prevent people and groups sending it bitcoin funds. The group, Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, Gaza's most powerful armed faction that has fought several wars with Israel over many years, renewed its call for ‘continued donation to Qassam and the resistance by all available means.’ Contacted by Reuters, the Israeli military declined to comment on the Hamas statement.”
Al Jazeera: Israeli Missiles Hit Syria, Three People Wounded: State Media
“Three people have been injured, with fires and explosions reported after an Israeli air attack on a site near the Syrian city of Homs, state media reported, with a monitoring group saying a munitions depot was hit. Syria’s state news agency SANA, citing military officials, said three civilians were wounded in the attack in the early hours of Saturday and that a civilian fuel station caught fire. A number of fuel tankers and trucks were also burned. ‘At around 00:50 [21:50 GMT]…the Israeli enemy carried out an air attack with a number of missiles, from the direction of north Lebanon, targeting several positions in the vicinity of the city of Homs,’ SANA reported. SANA said Syrian air defences shot down some of the Israeli missiles in the sky over Homs.”
Nigeria
Sahara Reporters: Terrorists Collect Another N3million Ransom, Fail To Release 85 Abducted Zamfara Residents
“The terrorists who kidnapped 85 people in Wanzamai village in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State have failed to release their abductees despite collecting an additional N3millon ransom. Abubakar Na’allah, a resident of the locality, said the terrorists sent a message requesting an additional N3million for the abductees' final release. He stated that each of the households was urged to contribute an additional N35,000 in order to reach the N3million target. According to Na’allah, N2,975,000 was realised and given to the bandits in the hope that they would free the abductees. He lamented, however, that the victims had not been released two days after the payment.”
Somalia
Garowe Online: Somalia: Al-Shabaab "Target" Governor Jeyte Holds Talks With US Envoy
“Outgoing US ambassador to Somalia Larry Andre has held talks with Hiiraan Governor Ali Jeyte, who has been under constant trial from the Al-Shabaab militants, a group he has openly taken arms and fought in the last seven months, leading to the liberation of several strategic towns in HirShabelle. Through video conference, Andre supported initiatives taken by Jeyte's leadership to fight Al-Shabaab, noting the contributions of local Ma'awisley militia, who have been instrumental in dislodging the group from strategic areas within the central state of Somalia. Jeyte has been under surveillance from Al-Shabaab who have reportedly contributed millions of dollars to aid in the removal of him from the prestigious seat, with former HirShabelle leader Mohamed Abdi Ware calling for support to the goverrlor, Al-Shabaab views Jeyte as a threat to their dominance. The governor lauded the US for supporting the Al-Shabaab war through the provision of guns, ammunition and other military hardware which are essential in operations, The US has been instrumental in providing aerial support during the Al-Shabaab crackdown leading to the elimination of several senior and junior Al-Shabaab commanders.”
Africa
The Defense Post: Togo’s President Says 140 People Killed In Jihadist ‘War’
“Around 40 soldiers and 100 civilians have been killed in a jihadist ‘war’ in northern Togo, President Faure Gnassingbe said in a ground-breaking interview. The small West African nation, along with neighbouring Benin, Ghana, and Ivory Coast, is increasingly facing threats of a jihadist spillover from Burkina Faso and Mali. ‘We have paid a heavy price, especially our defence and security forces, who have lost around 40 men unfortunately, and then we add civilian victims, a hundred or so civilian victims in the country,’ Gnassingbe said in an interview with local private station New World TV broadcast on Thursday. The president’s family has ruled Togo since 1967.”
United Kingdom
The Guardian: Far-Right Extremist Who Set Off ‘Fireball’ In His Kitchen Convicted Of Terrorism Offences
“A far-right extremist who accidentally set off a ‘fireball’ in his own kitchen while experimenting with explosives has been convicted of terrorism offences. Vaughn Dolphin, who had spoken of his desire for ethnic minorities to be shot, was found guilty on a series of charges after a jury viewed videos and incriminating conversations on social media. In one self-filmed video, he was seen in a gas mask surrounded by a choking cloud of smoke after attempting to blend a blast mixture in a saucepan on a domestic hob. Dolphin spoke of causing an ‘awesome fireball’ in videos posted on far-right chatrooms, in which he complained: ‘Ah the bastard fucking mixture set itself prematurely, oh my God. Next time I’ll do this outside, but, ah well, you live and learn.’”
Voice Of America News: Iranians Urge Britain To Declare Revolutionary Guard A Terrorist Organization
“Thousands of Iranians participated in a rally in London on Saturday and asked Britain to declare the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. According to the videos received by Voice of America, the protesters chanted against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranians who oppose the Islamic Republic of Iran had called for the protest rally weeks ago. Alireza Akhondi, an Iranian-born member of the Swedish Parliament, said on Friday that he would participate in ‘the big demonstration in London to convince Britain and the countries of the European Union to take the final steps toward weakening the Islamist regime in Iran, including the classification of IRGC as a terrorist organization.’ The Association of Families of Flight PS752 victims has also asked the international community to hold the IRGC ‘accountable for its crimes.’”
The Times Of India: Sikh Extremism And Hindu Nationalism Are Growing Threats In The UK: Report
“Sikh extremism and Hindu nationalism are emerging threats facing the UK that have grown under the noses of the British authorities whilst they were focused on other threats, such as Islamist extremism, a report commissioned by the UK government, when Boris Johnson was PM, has found.Whilst the aim of the recently published Bloom Review, written by independent faith engagement adviser Colin Bloom, was to provide recommendations on how to make relations between the state and faith groups stronger, it ended up devoting an entire chapter to threats from faith extremism, with by far the largest space dedicated to Sikh extremism. The report, based on 21,000 public responses and interviews with experts, calls on the government to investigate extremist activity within the Sikh community, stating there is an “extremely vocal and aggressive minority of British Sikhs who can be described as pro-Khalistan extremists, promoting an ethno-nationalist agenda. Some of these extremists have been known to support and incite violence and intimidation in their ambition to establish an independent state called Khalistan, the physical borders of which are largely shared with specific parts of the Punjab state in India.”
Germany
Al Arabiya: German Prosecutors Probe Suspected Extremist Stabbings
“German federal prosecutors said Friday they were investigating a 26-year-old Syrian man for two separate knife attacks in the western city of Duisburg, where an extremist motive was suspected. The federal prosecutor’s office, which generally investigates cases including terrorist incidents, was taking over the probe from local authorities due to its particular significance, a spokeswoman said. The Syrian man was arrested by police over the weekend in relation to a stabbing at a city center gym last week, which left four men severely injured. The suspect initially evaded law enforcement but was identified after police shared CCTV images from the night of the incident.”
Europe
CNN: Convicted Terrorist Pardoned In Hungary On Eve Of Pope’s Visit
“A far-right activist convicted of terrorism was among several prisoners pardoned in Hungary before the Pope’s official visit to the country this week, it has emerged. György Budaházy, convicted of terrorism in March, left prison on Friday night on horseback, authorities said. He was one of a number of prisoners pardoned by Hungarian President Katalin Novák before the Pope’s arrival. ‘The week of the papal visit is a special occasion for the head of state to exercise her power of pardon,’ Novák’s office said in a statement.”
The Jerusalem Post: Seven Syrians Face Terror-Related Charges In Malta
“Seven Syrian men were accused in a heavily guarded Maltese court on Sunday of having encouraged and trained others to commit terrorism in Europe. The seven, aged between 21 and 27, were arrested on Saturday in an operation coordinated with the European police agency Europol, the Malta police said. The group are accused of association with an extremist organization, inciting terrorism through public messages, recruiting or attempting to recruit others to commit terrorism, instructing others on the use of explosives or firearms and attempting to travel to Europe to commit terrorism. They all pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody at the end of the hearing. They did not ask for bail.”
Ecuador
Reuters: Ecuador To Launch Military Operations To Fight Terrorism -Minister
“Ecuador's military will launch special-forces operations nationally in a bid to counter groups and individuals who commit terrorism in the country, Defense Minister Luis Lara said on Friday. Ecuador's security council declared terrorism a threat to the South American country's security late on Thursday, urging the implementation of measures to combat criminal groups. The security council also requested that President Guillermo Lasso issue a decree authorizing the use of lethal force by security forces to combat organized criminal groups. Lasso, a conservative former banker, has struggled to stem rising crime and violence on Ecuador's streets and in prisons, which the government attributes to conflicts over territory and power between drug-trafficking gangs.”
Australia
The Guardian: Legal Aid Lawyers Kept In The Dark Over Damning Report On Terror Risk Assessment Tool
“Legal Aid lawyers were left oblivious to a damning government-held report which cast doubt on a tool used to try to lock up or control 25 of their clients on the basis they might commit a terrorist offence in the future. Guardian Australia has revealed serious problems with the way the federal and New South Wales governments have wielded extraordinary powers to detain or control individuals for crimes they have not yet committed. The powers are reliant on a tool used to assess an individual’s likelihood of future terror offending, known as VERA-2R, which is used by lawyers for the commonwealth and NSW to convince courts to use continuing detention orders (CDOs) or extended supervision orders (ESOs) to prevent a future crime from occurring.”
Technology
Hindustan Times: India Blocks 14 Mobile Apps Used By Terrorists In Pakistan To Send Information In J-K
“The Indian government has blocked 14 messenger mobile apps that were used by terrorists in Pakistan to transmit information to J&Kashmir. The Indian government has blocked 14 messenger mobile apps that were used by terrorists in Pakistan to transmit information to J&Kashmir. The apps blocked by the government include Crypviser, Enigma, Safeswiss, Wickrme, Mediafire, Briar, BChat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO, Element, Second line, Zangi, Threema among others. It was found that these apps were being used by terrorists in Kashmir to communicate with their supporters and on-ground workers (OGW), News18 reported citing sources.”
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