Eye on Extremism
February 5, 2020
The
Guardian: Far-Right 'Hate Factory' Still Active On Facebook Despite
Pledge To Stop It
“Facebook has failed to stop a coordinated far-right operation
profiting from disinformation and anti-Islamic hate almost two months
after it was publicly exposed. The Guardian revealed in December that
a network of Facebook’s largest far-right pages were part of a
coordinated commercial enterprise that for years had been harvesting
Islamophobic hate for profit, prompting promises from the social media
giant that it would crack down on the network. Facebook soon removed
several pages and accounts which it said “appeared to be financially
motivated” and said it had updated its inauthentic behaviour policy to
“further improve our ability to counter new tactics”. “These pages and
accounts violated our policy against spam and fake accounts by posting
clickbait content to drive people to off-platform sites,” a Facebook
spokesperson said at the time. “Our investigations are continuing and,
as always, we’ll take action if we find any violations.” But two
months after Facebook was made aware of the scheme, an analysis by the
Guardian has confirmed that a number of the pages are still feeding
off anti-Islamic content to drive readers to the same for-profit,
third-party websites.”
The
New York Times: Islamic State Claims South London Attack: Amaq News
Agency
“Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a stabbing attack in
south London, without giving evidence, the group's Amaq news agency
said on Monday. “The perpetrator of the attack in Streatham district
in south London yesterday is a fighter of Islamic State, and carried
out the attack in response to calls to attack the citizens of
coalition countries,” a statement carried by Amaq said. The assailant
in Sunday's attack, who was shot dead by police, had previously
praised the Islamic State, shared an online al Qaeda magazine and
encouraged his girlfriend to behead her
parents.”
Military
Times: DIA Says ISIS Took Advantage Of Turkish Invasion Of Northern
Syria, Baghdadi Death Did Not Degrade Jihadi Group
“The Defense Intelligence Agency said that ISIS took advantage of
Turkey’s October 2019 invasion of northern Syria and increased attacks
by nearly 20 percent, according to an inspector general report.
Officials from Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition
fighting the Islamic State group, pushed back on that, saying that DIA
based its information on propaganda. There is agreement, however, on
one thing: The death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi did not
degrade the jihadi group. The DIA said in the IG report, that
following Turkey’s military operation to rout out Kurdish militants in
northern Syria, ISIS self-claimed actions rose from a monthly average
of 55 attacks to 66 attacks. The DIA detailed in the report that the
figures of ISIS claimed attacks were pulled from the group’s online
claims. “This suggests ISIS continues to view the security environment
in northeast Syria as more conducive to its operations,” the DIA said
in the IG report. Military officials with Operation Inherent Resolve
and U.S. Central Command pushed back in the IG report on claims that
the Turkish incursion has increased capabilities or attacks by the
Islamic State. OIR said in the report that ISIS’ claims of attacks
were “most likely propaganda” and that OIR’s assessment that the
Turkish military operations have not led to an ISIS comeback are based
on “known facts.”
United States
CNBC:
Trump Touts Killings Of ISIS Leader, Iranian General In State Of The
Union
“President Donald Trump recognized the parents of Kayla Mueller, an
American humanitarian aid worker who was kidnapped and imprisoned by
ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Tuesday during the State of the
Union address. “In 2013, while caring for suffering civilians in
Syria, Kayla was kidnapped, tortured, and enslaved by ISIS, and kept
as a prisoner of Al-Baghdadi himself. After more than 500 horrifying
days of captivity, Al-Baghdadi murdered young Kayla,” Trump said after
recognizing Carl and Marsha Mueller. “She was just 26 years old,” he
said. The president then recounted the night that U.S. Special Forces
carried out the mission that led to Al-Baghdadi’s life. “The Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, received a call in
the Situation Room. He was told that the brave men of the elite
Special Forces team, that so perfectly carried out the operation, had
given their mission a name,” Trump explained. “Task Force 8-14, it was
a reference to a special day: August 14th, Kayla’s birthday,” he said,
telling Kayla’s parents that, “America’s warriors never forgot Kayla
and neither will we.”
Syria
Business
Insider: Killing ISIS Leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi Hasn't Hurt The
Terror Group's Operations, Pentagon
Warns
“The elimination of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi last
fall has not hindered the terror group's operations, the US military
assessed, according to a new Pentagon inspector general report. US
Central Command and the Defense Intelligence Agency “both assessed
that the October death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a US
operation in Syria has not resulted in any immediate degradation to
ISIS' capabilities,” the report explained. CENTCOM said that “ISIS
likely implemented an existing succession plan upon Baghdadi's death
and continued to operate without interruption.” President Donald Trump
announced in late October that the notorious ISIS leader Baghdadi died
during a raid by US Special Operations Forces on his position,
detonating a suicide vest that killed him and his children. “The
United States brought the world's number one terrorist leader to
justice. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead,” Trump said. “Baghdadi's demise
demonstrates America's relentless pursuit of terrorist leaders and our
commitment to the enduring and total defeat of ISIS and other
terrorist organizations,” he added. The ISIS leader was eliminated on
Oct. 26. Less than a week later on Oct. 31, the terror group announced
a successor, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi.”
Iraq
France
24: Exclusive: Iraqi Kurdistan PM Barzani Warns 'Great Possibility' Of
IS Group Returning
“In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24, Masrour Barzani, Prime
Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, warned “there is a great
possibility for ISIS (the IS group) to come back” and urged the
international community to take action. Barzani claimed the IS group
had more members now than it did in 2013 when it was about to create
its “caliphate”. He also said the terrorist group was taking advantage
of the security “vacuum” in areas disputed between the central
government in Baghdad and the Kurds and called for the resumption of
full security cooperation between the two respective parties. Speaking
to FRANCE 24's Marc Perelman, the Iraqi Kurdistan PM Masrour Barzani
expressed his support for US troops remaining in Iraq and said he
would be open to allowing the US to deploy Patriot anti-missile
systems. He said he was very worried about the escalating tensions
between the US and Iran but refused to comment on the US killing of
Qassem Soleimani, noting, however, that while “Iran is our neighbour,
the United States is our friend”. He criticised Hassan Nasrallah, the
Hezbollah leader, for recently declaring that his father Massoud
Barzani begged Soleimani to come to the rescue when the IS group was
marching towards Kurdistan in 2014.”
Afghanistan
Reuters:
Taliban Accuses U.S. Of Delaying Peace Process After Call For Violence
Reduction
“Afghanistan’s Taliban on Tuesday accused the United States of
hampering peace negotiations in response to the top American
diplomat’s comments that a reduction in violence was needed before a
deal to end years of war could be struck. U.S. Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo on Monday said during a visit to Uzbekistan that “demonstrable
evidence” of a reduction in Taliban violence was necessary for a peace
agreement with the Islamist group. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah
Mujahid said issues from the American end, including a tweet by U.S.
President Donald Trump halting the signing of an agreement last year,
were the reason for challenges in the peace process. “Mr. Pompeo
should not shift the blame. Our stance is principled and united, and
our policy is not shaky like the opposite side,” said Mujahid in a
statement on messaging service Whatsapp. Trump abruptly called off the
talks to end the 18-year war in a Tweet in September after a U.S.
soldier was killed in an attack by the militant group. Talks have
since resumed but have suffered setbacks due to multiple attacks,
including a December suicide bombing of a U.S. base outside Kabul that
killed two civilians. Hostilities have surged in recent weeks,
suggesting a deadlock in the peace talks between U.S. and Taliban
negotiators in Qatar’s capital, Doha.”
Xinhua:
4 Militants Killed In Afghanistan's Eastern Nangarhar
“Four militants have been confirmed dead as the government forces'
fighting planes struck the armed group's hideout in Haska Mina
district of the eastern Nangarhar province on Monday, said an army
statement released here Tuesday. Acting on tip off, the fighting
planes targeted the Taliban hideout in Kozkalai area of the restive
district on Monday afternoon, killing four insurgents including the
shadow district chief, Ziarat Gul, on the spot. No security personnel
or civilians were harmed during the raids, the statement added.
Taliban militants who are active in parts of Nangarhar province with
Jalalabad as its capital 120 km east of Kabul have yet to make any
comment.”
Libya
The
New York Times: Turkey Deploys Extremists To Libya, Local Militias
Say
“Syrian militants affiliated with groups such as al-Qaida and the
Islamic State group are currently being sent by Turkey to fight on
behalf of the U.N.-supported government in Libya, according to two
Libyan militia leaders and a Syrian war monitor. Both sides in Libya's
civil war receive equipment and backing from foreign countries. But
Turkey, which has long trained and funded opposition fighters in Syria
and relaxed its borders so foreign fighters joined IS, has in recent
months been airlifting hundreds of them over to a new theater of war
in Libya. The U.N.-supported government controls only a shrinking area
of western Libya, including the capital, Tripoli. It's facing a
months-long offensive by forces loyal to Gen. Khalifa Hifter who is
allied with a rival government based in Libya's east. The United
Nations recognizes the government in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister
Fayez Sarraj, as Libya's legitimate government because it was born out
of U.N.-mediated talks in 2015. Sarraj is backed by Turkey, and to a
lesser degree, Qatar and Italy. Hifter receives backing from the
United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia. Libya
has the ninth largest known oil reserves in the world, and many of
these countries are apparently jockeying for influence in order to
control Libya's resources.”
Somalia
The
Telegraph: Al Shabaab 'Fires Two Members Of Executive Council' After
They Pushed To Stop Attacks On Civilians
“Somali jihadist group Al-Shabaab has expelled top members of its
executive council after they expressed concern over attacks against
civilians, according to Somalia’s intelligence agency. Attacks on
civilians have intensified in the past year in the East African
country, and the group are thought to have struck nearly 800 times in
2019. Al-Shabaab’s leader Ahmed Diriye fired senior members Mahad
Karate and Bashir Qorgab after the two asked him to stop targeting
civilians in the capital Mogadishu, the National Intelligence and
Security Agency, said on Twitter. Last month, the terror group killed
at least 90 people in Mogadishu in its deadliest strike in years,
prompting an unprecedented show of anger from residents. It later
issued a rare apology after hundreds of people took to the streets in
protest over the car blast....”
Xinhua:
One Al-Shabab Terrorist Killed, Two Compounds Destroyed In Somalia
Week-Long Operations
“Somali and U.S. security forces have killed an al-Shabab terrorist
and destroyed two compounds of the militant group in southern Somalia
in week-long operations, the United States Africa Command (Africom)
said Monday. The results were recorded during the airstrikes on
various targets in the Jan. 23-29 operations in order to disrupt and
disable the al-Shabab expansion beyond Somalia, into Kenya recently
for example. “We assess these compounds were used by al-Shabab
militants to organize and plan violent terrorist actions against
innocent Somali citizens,” Gregory Hadfield, Africom's deputy director
for intelligence, said in a statement. Hadfield said the two al-Shabab
compounds were located in the Jamame and in Jilib areas. “We currently
assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of these
airstrikes,” he added. The Somali government and partner forces have
intensified military raids against the al-Shabab insurgents, including
airstrikes by U.S. forces largely targeting important al-Shabab
members based in southern Somalia where the group still has
strongholds.”
Africa
Reuters:
More Soldiers Won't Help Mali, Talks With Jihadists Might:
U.N.
“The United Nations' top humanitarian official in Mali urged more
engagement with armed groups including jihadists, and more aid and
development funding, saying on Monday that extra troops would not help
to stabilize the country. Islamist groups with links to al Qaeda and
Islamic State operate across northern and central Mali despite
constant efforts to drive them back. More than 200,000 people are
displaced and many communities have no local government or means of
defense. The former colonial power, France, on Sunday pledged another
600 soldiers to the 4,500 it has tackling armed groups in the Sahel or
with a 14,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission in the region. Ute
Kollies, head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs in Mali, told journalists in Geneva that the country was at a
watershed, and complained of a lack of international support. The
funds received by OCHA in Mali last year amounted to just 5% percent
of the $3 billion spent by armies there. “I do not believe that more
military would help,” Kollies said. “What we need is more engagement
on the political front.”
Asharq
Al-Awsat: Morocco Busts Isis-Affiliated Terrorist
Cell
“Morocco’s interior ministry announced Tuesday that it had
dismantled a terrorist cell that was plotting attacks in the kingdom.
It said that the six-member cell was operating in Casablanca,
Mohammedia and Azilal, reported the state news agency (MAP). The
members, whose ages ranged between 18 and 59, had adopted extremist
ideology and pledged allegiance to ISIS. They were planning on
carrying out attacks in Morocco ahead of declaring the establishment
of a “state” loyal to ISIS. Investigations are underway with the
detainees to uncover their accomplices.”
News
24: Two Killed, 20 Homes Torched In Cameroon Boko Haram
Attack
“Suspected Boko Haram jihadists attacked a village in northern
Cameroon early on Tuesday, torching homes and killing two civilians
just days before legislative and municipal elections, security sources
said. “Boko Haram made an incursion a little before 02:00 in Mozogo
village,” in the Extreme-Nord province “killing two people,” a police
officer told AFP. They torched about 20 homes and two motorbikes and
stole another five motorcycles, the officer said. An army officer
confirmed the incident. Security has been tightened in Cameroon ahead
of Sunday's elections. Anglophone separatists are fighting government
troops in western Cameroon while the north of the country has come
under attack from Boko Haram. Based in neighbouring Nigeria, Boko
Haram has stepped up attacks from bases hidden in the vast Lake Chad
area, where the borders of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria converge.
Cameroon says the group has carried out nearly 13 000 attacks on its
territory since 2014, with the loss of “several thousand” lives. The
insurgency has forced more than 250 000 people to flee their homes and
triggered an influx of 60 000 people from Nigeria.”
United Kingdom
The
New York Times: Man Shot Dead By British Police Wanted Girlfriend To
Behead Her Parents
“The man shot dead by police after wounding two people in a
stabbing spree on a busy London street had been jailed for promoting
violent Islamist material and had encouraged his girlfriend to behead
her parents. He had also once written a list of “goals in life” which
included the desire to die as a martyr. Police have named Sudesh
Amman, 20, as the attacker. He was killed on a street in the south
London district of Streatham on Sunday afternoon by armed officers who
had been carrying out surveillance on him. In November 2018, Amman had
pleaded guilty to 13 offences of possession of terrorist documents and
disseminating terrorist publications and the following month he was
sentenced to more than three years in prison. He was released last
month having served half the sentence. Amman was 17 and living at home
in Harrow, north London, with his mother and four younger siblings
when he first began committing terrorism offences, according to
authorities. Police became aware of his activities in April 2018 and
he was arrested in a north London street a month later. When officers
examined his computers and phone, they found he had downloaded
material about making explosives and carrying out terrorist attacks,
court documents show.”
BBC
News: Extremism: More Than 250 People In Wales Flagged Over
Concerns
“More than 250 people in Wales were flagged up to police and
councils over concerns about extremism, it has emerged. Just under
half were aged 20 or younger, Home Office figures show. Right-wing
extremism accounts for 24% of all referrals, while 15% are related to
Islamist extremism. An education watchdog warned that some schools
could miss early opportunities to address extremism because they do
not think it is relevant. Estyn wants it acknowledged that
radicalisation and extremism are “real risks” to pupils in all
schools. Schools are required to protect pupils from radicalisation
and the Welsh Government said Wales' new curriculum will teach
youngsters to “critically evaluate” information they are exposed to.
Last year 258 people in Wales were flagged up to police and councils
over concerns about extremism. The figures are highlighted in a report
by the education and schools inspectorate says most schools do not do
enough within their curriculum to build pupils' resilience against
extremist influences.”
BBC
News: Schools In Wales 'Could Miss Real Risk' Of
Extremism
“Some schools could miss early opportunities to address extremism
because they do not think it is relevant to them, says a watchdog.
Estyn wants it acknowledged that radicalisation and extremism are
“real risks” to pupils in all schools. Schools are required to protect
pupils from radicalisation as part of safeguarding duties. Last year
258 people in Wales were flagged up to police and councils over
concerns about extremism. Just under half were aged 20 or younger. A
report by the education and schools inspectorate says most schools do
not do enough within their curriculum to build pupils' resilience
against extremist influences. But “in a minority of schools, leaders
do not perceive radicalisation and extremism as relevant to their
school or surrounding area”, and that meant “staff in these schools
may miss an opportunity to identify and address early concerns about a
pupil.”
BBC
News: Hashem Abedi: Manchester Arena Attack Brother 'Equally
Guilty'
“The brother of the Manchester Arena bomber was “just as guilty” of
the murder of the 22 people who died in the attack, his trial has
heard. Salman Abedi detonated a “large home-made improvised explosive
device” outside an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017. His brother
Hashem Abedi is standing trial at the Old Bailey over his “role in
perpetrating these terrible events”. He denies the murder of 22 people
and the attempted murder of others. He also denies conspiring with his
brother to cause an explosion. Prosecutor Duncan Penny QC said the
siblings spent “months” planning the attack, which had been “both
sudden and lethal” and had had “nearly 1,000 victims”. He said in
addition to the 22 people - men, women, teenagers and a child - who
died, a total of 264 “were physically injured” while 670 more had
since “reported psychological trauma as a result of these events”. Mr
Penny said the explosion was the “culmination of months of planning
and preparation” by the brothers, who had worked together to source
chemicals and buy screws and nails to use as “anti-personnel shrapnel”
in experimental improvised bombs. He said they had also obtained an
address in Blackley, north Manchester where they could work on the
device and bought a Nissan Micra car to use as a “de-facto storage
facility.”
Sky
News: Five Terrorists Who Could Spend Longer In Prison Under Proposed
Law Change
“Streatham terrorist Sudesh Amman stabbed two people a week after
being released halfway through his sentence for spreading extremist
material. Usman Khan, who killed two people in the London Bridge
attack last year, was also released early. The government has said
emergency legislation will be introduced “as soon as possible” to end
the automatic early release of convicted terrorists in the wake of the
Streatham attack. Under the plans, they would only be considered for
release after serving two thirds of their sentence and with the
approval of the Parole Board. Sky News has profiled five jailed
extremists who could end up serving longer sentences if the law change
goes through. Britain's youngest terrorist was just 14 years old when
he was arrested at his home in Blackburn, Lancashire, in 2015 in
connection with a terrorist plot in Australia. The Islamic State
supporter, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a life
sentence in October 2015 and told he must serve at least five years
for planning a “massacre” at an Anzac Day parade in Melbourne,
Australia. Described as highly intelligent but “abusive and
aggressive” to his teachers, he pretended to be an adult online and
plotted to behead police officers at the war remembrance event.”
France
The
National: French Police Attacker Inspired By ISIS Made Pre-Attack Call
To Pledge Allegiance
“A knife attack at a French police barracks was carried out by a
trainee soldier who stabbed officers having reportedly made a phone
call to say he was inspired by ISIS. It follows a recent spate of
knife attacks across Europe by extremists seemingly motivated or
claimed by terror groups. There are fears that recent statements by
ISIS and Al Qaeda could be causing such attacks with the latter
releasing a video on Sunday calling for stabbings with household
knives in message seemingly directed at Western Muslims. The knifeman,
who is in hospital, wounded one officer in Dieuze, eastern France in
the hand before being shot. Shortly before the attack, a call was
placed to the police from someone saying he was in the armed forces
and was preparing an attack in Dieuze in the name of ISIS, local media
reported. Prosecutor Christian Mercuri said the attacker had declared
he was a member of ISIS and that there was going to be “carnage” at a
gendarmerie barracks in Dieuze. “It's been confirmed that the attacker
was a young soldier, two months into initial training and currently in
his probationary period,” Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly wrote
on Twitter. “He was not on duty at the time of the incident.”
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