The Extremism Roundup

Islamist Extremism

Surveillance footage of Suleiman Othman, who assaulted a Jewish man for wearing an Israeli military sweatshirt - DCPI via New York Post screenshot

NYC Man Takes Plea Deal for Antisemitic Attack

• Suleiman Othman, 28, accused of assaulting a Jewish man for wearing an Israeli military hoodie in Dec. 2021, has struck a plea deal after pleading guilty to attempted third-degree assault as a hate crime in Brooklyn Supreme Court.

• Othman, a Palestinian activist from Staten Island, punched the victim and threw an iced coffee at him after making derogatory remarks about Jews. He was arrested after being caught on surveillance cameras.

• As part of the plea deal, Othman is expected to receive a 60-day jail term and three years' probation at his sentencing. Read More

Islamist Teen in Britain Convicted of Planning to Kill British & American Soldiers

• Mathew King, 19, from Essex, U.K., was sentenced to life in prison on June 2 after his mother turned him in to counter-terror authorities.
• King expressed a desire to kill British and American military personnel, claiming he wanted to “die a martyr."
• The authorities were alerted by King's mother after she noticed him watching hate-promoting videos from the Islamic State and after he started expressing the desire to join Islamic State and kill British and American soldiers. He was arrested after indications that he was actively planning an attack. Read More

Alt-Right & Alt-Left Extremism

Albuquerque police take Solomon Peña into custody, Jan. 16 - Roberto E. Rosales/The Albuquerque Journal via AP, via NBC News screenshot

Failed GOP Candidate Charged for Shooting Spree

• Solomon Peña, 40, a former candidate for the New Mexico House of Representatives, has been indicted for orchestrating a shooting spree targeting the homes of four elected officials.

• The shootings took place between December 2022 and January 2023, after Peña's electoral defeat. He allegedly organized the attacks with the assistance of co-conspirators, using a machine gun in one of the incidents.

• Peña visited the homes of Bernalillo County commissioners prior to the shootings, urging them not to certify the election results and claiming that the election had been rigged against him.

• Peña, Demetrio Trujillo, and Jose Trujillo are facing charges of conspiracy, interference with federally protected activities, and firearms offenses. If convicted, Peña could face a mandatory minimum of 60 years in prison. Read More

Additional Oath Keepers Sentenced

• Four members of the Oath Keepers were sentenced for seditious conspiracy and other charges related to the U.S. Capitol breach in January 2021.
• Roberto Minuta received 54 months in prison, Edward Vallejo received 36 months in prison with 12 months of home confinement, David Moerschel received 36 months in prison, and Joseph Hackett received 42 months in prison.
• The defendants were found guilty of various charges, including seditious conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy to prevent Members of Congress from carrying out their duties. Read More

 Hate Crimes

People march to protest against anti-Asian hate crimes on Brooklyn Bridge in New York, April 2021 - Xinhua/Wang Ying via Getty Images

NYC Resident Charged for Hate Crime Assault Spree Against Asians

• Camila Rodriguez, a 29-year-old New York City resident, has been charged with multiple counts of assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment in connection with six unprovoked attacks against Asian victims on the Upper West Side.

• The attacks occurred within a few blocks of each other in the 24th Precinct over a month-and-a-half period.

• Rodriguez pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently held on Rikers Island. Read More

School Threats

An empty corridor in a Maryland school - Kerem Yucel/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Teen Arrested for Threat to Maryland School

• Two Princess Anne, Md., residents have been arrested for making threats against Somerset Intermediate School over social media, following a fight involving students. The school was briefly placed on lockdown.

• The suspects, Shakira Cephas and Rontari Malik Warren, have been charged with various offenses including threat of mass violence, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and contributing to the condition of a child. They are currently held without bond at the Somerset County Detention Center. Read More

Oregon Teen Arrested After Threat to Middle School

• The Salem Police Department arrested a teenager in connection with an anonymous social media threat made against Adam Stephens Middle School in Salem, Ore.

• Concerned residents reported a threatening post on Instagram, leading patrol officers and Salem-Keizer Public Schools security to implement additional safety measures. The arrested teenager is facing charges of first-degree disorderly conduct and is being held at the Marion County Juvenile Department. Read More

Minnesota Teen Arrested in Connection to Bomb Threat

• A 15-year-old boy from Maple Grove, Minn., was arrested in connection with a bomb threat that caused the evacuation and cancellation of classes at Maple Grove Middle School.

• The teenager was taken into custody and held at the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center. No explosive devices or materials were found during the school search. The investigation is ongoing, and it was not confirmed whether the teenager was a student at the school. Read More

Hostile Foreign Influence Operations

Dr. Anna Gabrielian and Dr. Jamie Lee Henry leave the courthouse after judge declares a mistrial, via WBAL-TV 11 screenshot

Mistrial Declared in Russian Spy Case

• A federal judge declared a mistrial in the spy trial of two married Maryland doctors accused of trying to be Russian assets, due to a deadlock in the jury's deliberations.

• The jury was split, with one juror believing the defendants were entrapped and the remaining 11 jurors believing they were not entrapped.

• The defense claimed entrapment, while the government argued that the doctors willingly shared patient health records for malicious harm or personal gain in support of Russia. Read More

Suspected Chinese Spies Try to Infiltrate Alaskan Military Bases

• Chinese citizens posing as tourists have made multiple attempts to access military facilities in Alaska, raising concerns of spying and probing for information on U.S. military capabilities in the region.
• Incidents at bases like Fort Wainwright have involved Chinese nationals being apprehended, claiming to have gotten lost while touring the area.
• The U.S. military has increased security measures to protect installations and personnel, but concerns remain about potential spying and the monitoring of military communications. The tensions between the U.S. and China, along with China's activities in the Arctic region, add to the significance of Alaska for national defense. Read More

 Research and Trends in Extremism

 Protesters during an anti-fascism protest in January 2021 in Amsterdam, Netherlands - Niels Wenstedt/BSR Agency/Getty Images

New Research Shows Link Between Left-Wing Activists and Narcissism

• A study from the University of Bern, Switzerland, suggests that individuals with narcissistic and psychopathic traits are more likely to endorse left-wing antihierarchical aggression, a form of hostility aimed at challenging hierarchical power structures.

• The study highlights a gap in understanding authoritarianism among individuals who support left-wing political ideologies and addresses the psychological factors behind left-wing authoritarianism.

• The findings reveal that neurotic narcissism is related to left-wing authoritarianism, particularly the subfacet of antihierarchical aggression, while psychopathy is associated with violent actions to challenge hierarchy.

• The researchers propose the "dark-ego-vehicle principle," suggesting that individuals with dark personality traits are attracted to certain forms of political and social activism to fulfill their ego-centered needs rather than genuine desires for social justice and equality. Read More

Attacks on Catholic Churches Rise

• Advocates expressed frustration over the lack of consequences for individuals targeting Catholic churches and organizations, compared to the consequences for those targeting other religions or minority groups.

• The number of attacks on Catholic sites has been on the rise, with reports of 174 attacks between May 2020 and September 2021, 260 anti-Catholic incidents tracked by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops since May 2020, and 324 attacks on Catholic churches reported by CatholicVote.

• Although the FBI reported a decrease in anti-Catholic hate crimes in 2021 compared to 2020, Catholic groups argue that attacks have intensified in 2022, particularly after the Supreme Court's May 2022 abortion ruling.

• Critics highlight the need for more resources from the federal government to combat hate crimes targeting Catholic churches and argue that the consequences for perpetrators should be comparable to those for crimes against other religious groups. Read More

Have You Found A Story You Think We Should Cover?

If you see an article on violent extremism in the U.S. or hostile foreign influence that is reliable, timely, and fits into one of the six categories that we cover in this newsletter, please send us a note, either by replying directly to this email or by submitting a contact form under the appropriate "news tip" category.  

QUOTABLE 

“Above all, we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have. It is a weapon that we as Americans do have. Let that be understood by those who practice terrorism and prey upon their neighbors.”

-  Ronald Reagan’s First Inaugural Address, 1981

NOTE TO OUR READERS: We have pulled out the salient points of the articles in this newsletter to keep you informed and focused on the most relevant, important and timely news in national security and extremism. While our national security experts stand behind the summary bullets and deem them trustworthy, Clarion Project does not endorse all the views expressed in the articles linked.