“Hundreds of protesters stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad early Thursday
and set fire to part of the building, Reuters reported, ahead of another
planned burning of the Quran in Sweden, which has angered many in the Muslim
world and drawn condemnation from the Swedish authorities. Footage shared on
social media showed part of the embassy in flames and people with pieces of the
building in their hands. The images could not be immediately verified. The
Iraqi police fired water cannon to disperse the protesters, according to images
shared on social media and news reports. All embassy staff members were safe,
the Swedish Foreign Ministry said, according to Reuters. The ministry also said
that the Iraqi authorities had the responsibility to protect diplomatic
missions and their staff.”











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



Eye on Extremism



July 20, 2023



The New York Times: Swedish Embassy In Baghdad Is Set Afire Amid Protests Over
Quran
<[link removed]>



“Hundreds of protesters stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad early Thursday
and set fire to part of the building, Reuters reported, ahead of another
planned burning of the Quran in Sweden, which has angered many in the Muslim
world and drawn condemnation from the Swedish authorities. Footage shared on
social media showed part of the embassy in flames and people with pieces of the
building in their hands. The images could not be immediately verified. The
Iraqi police fired water cannon to disperse the protesters, according to images
shared on social media and news reports. All embassy staff members were safe,
the Swedish Foreign Ministry said, according to Reuters. The ministry also said
that the Iraqi authorities had the responsibility to protect diplomatic
missions and their staff.”



Associated Press: 2 Suicide Bombers In Pakistan Attack Police And Government
Compound, Killing 2 And Injuring 15
<[link removed]>



“Two suicide bombers attacked a sprawling compound housing a police station
and government offices in northwest Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least two
police officers and wounding 15 other people, police and rescue officials said.
The attack occurred in the Bara neighborhood in northwest Pakistan bordering
Afghanistan, provincial police chief Akhtar Hayat said. Rescuers said part of
the compound collapsed after the bombing, burying a police officer whose body
was later retrieved. The explosive vest on one of the suicide bombers detonated
when police opened fire after coming under attack, Hayat said.”



<[link removed]>

Listen to the Fighting Terror Podcast

Fighting Terror is a podcast that brings together counterterrorism experts and
practitioners from Europe, the United States, and beyond to address different
approaches to combating terrorism in our society. Our frank discussions cover
the lifecycle of terrorism from propaganda and recruitment, to financing,
action, and failure. Listenhere
<[link removed]>
or wherever you get your podcasts.




Pakistan



Samaa: Punjab CTD Nabs 4 Terror Suspects Ahead Of Ashura
<[link removed]>



“The CTD officials reported that the arrested individuals have affiliations
with notorious terrorist groups such as Daesh, TTP, and Baloch Liberation Army
(BLA), and were believed to have been planning dangerous acts within
Rawalpindi. During the operation, law enforcement confiscated a significant
amount of dangerous materials, including explosives, detonators, safety fuses,
and cash, which were allegedly in the possession of the suspects. The suspects
have been identified as Ajmal Amin, Feroze, Hamid Bashir, and Owais Shah. The
investigation is ongoing as the authorities continue their efforts to ensure
the safety and security of the public during the sacred month of Muharram.”



Middle East



The Jerusalem Post: Hamas Begins Paying Late Salaries In Gaza - Ministry
<[link removed]>



“Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip have begun distributing June salaries to
around 50,000 public sector workers who had not been paid for almost three
weeks, the local finance ministry said on Wednesday. A delay in a monthly
payroll grant from Qatar, a crucial aid donor to the impoverished Gaza enclave,
a drop in tax revenue, and a jump in spending were to blame for the crisis,
according to the Hamas-run ministry of finance. Salama Marouf, chairman of the
Hamas government media office, said the reception of nearly half of the Qatari
$5-million monthly payroll grant and a loan from a Gaza local bank facilitated
payment of wages on Wednesday, adding that the financial crisis persisted. Most
of Gaza's 2.3 million residents live in poverty, and the economy is dependent
on foreign aid.”



Ynet News: Terrorist Killed In Exchange Of Fire In Nablus As Jewish
Worshippers Enter Joseph's Tomb <[link removed]>


“Hundreds of Jewish pilgrims who arrived early Thursday morning in Nablus to
worship at Joseph's Tomb came under attack. The worshipers came to the compound
in about 40 buses under Israel Defense Forces security, and during the prayer
service disturbances developed in the area that included shooting at the
forces, throwing explosive devices, and throwing stones and Molotov cocktails.
The soldiers returned fire and reported that they detected injuries to a number
of the terrorist attackers. There were no casualties among the worshipers or
the security forces.”



Somalia



Garowe Online: Somalia Army Eliminates More Al-Shabaab Militants In Operation
<[link removed]>



“The Somali National Army [SNA] has intensified crackdowns against Al-Shabaab
militants in central and southern regions, authorities confirmed, with the
country striving to restore normalcy after decades of instability and chaos.
The information ministry said at least 30 Al-Shabaab militants were killed in
the latest operations in Galgaduud, within Galmadug state, and subsequently
weapons were seized by the national army which has been pursuing the militants.
The operation, Adala told the state media, was activated in El-Qurac along the
border of Galgaduud and Middle Shabelle regions. The latest confrontation comes
amid ongoing operations across the country with the assistance of the
international community. ‘Over 30 Al-Shabaab terrorists eliminated in National
Army's planned operation intel-Qurac, bordering Galgudud and Middle Shabelle
regions. Weapons and equipment seized, terrorist base destroyed. The ongoing
pursuit of fighters,’ the ministry added.”



Garowe Online: Suspected Al-Shabaab Militants Assassinate Ex-Official In
Somalia
<[link removed]>



“Suspected Al-Shabaab militants killed a former senior official in Somalia on
Wednesday, sources confirmed, in the latest spate of terror attacks targeting
innocent civilians, security forces, and senior government officials in the
Horn of Africa nation. Faqay Abdulle Mayow, who was the former deputy
commissioner of administration and finance in Awdhegle District within Lower
Shabelle, was killed at Hamarjab district by suspected Al-Shabaab gunmen, who
opened fire before disappearing to an unknown location. A few minutes after the
unfortunate incident, a number of federal government troops arrived at the
scene, but the suspects managed to escape to an unknown destination. So far,
nobody has been arrested with regard to the incident, which could trigger
emotions in the country.”



Africa



AFP News: Two Held In Joint Morocco-Spain Anti-Jihadist Operation
<[link removed]>



“Police in Morocco and Spain said on Wednesday two people have been arrested
in a joint operation by both countries' security services targeting
‘terrorists’. An Islamic State jihadist group supporter ‘active between Morocco
and Spain’, was arrested Wednesday by special forces of the General Directorate
for Territorial Surveillance, in Nador, a Moroccan border town with Spain's
Mediterranean enclave of Melilla, said a press release from DGST, the domestic
intelligence agency. It said he was being held in custody suspected of
‘terrorism’, and added that an accomplice had been arrested at the same time by
Spain's Civil Guard in the northeast Spanish town of Lleida. A police
spokesperson in Madrid confirmed the arrest of one person. ‘It's a joint
operation with Morocco which is ongoing. We have arrested one person on
terrorism charges in Lleida,’ the spokesperson said. ‘The two suspects were in
touch with elements of Daesh (the Arab acronym for IS) in Syria, preparing to
carry out terrorist operations in Europe,’ the same source said.”



Canada



CBC: Mississauga, Ont., Mosque Attacker Who Planned 'Mass Casualty Event'
Pleads Guilty To 3 Charges
<[link removed]>



“A man who assaulted worshippers at a mosque in Mississauga, Ont., last year
had been planning the attack for a year and was motivated by hatred of and a
desire to intimidate Muslims, court documents show. Mohammad Moiz Omar
‘intended to perpetrate a mass casualty event’ when he entered the Dar
Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre during early morning prayer on March 19, 2022 and
sprayed bear spray toward congregants while swinging a hatchet, according to an
agreed statement of facts read at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in
Brampton, Ont. Wednesday. Omar, who was 24 years old at the time of the attack,
pleaded guilty to three charges, according to one of his lawyers, Jacob Roth of
Robichaud Criminal Lawyers. Those charges include administering a noxious
substance with intent to endanger life or cause bodily harm, assault with a
weapon, and mischief to religious property with motivation of bias, prejudice
or hate based on religion.”



India



The New Indian Express: NIA Busts Terror Network, Arrests Thrissur Native
Involved In Heists
<[link removed]>



“The NIA has busted a major terror network suspected to be associated with
the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and arrested a Thrissur native who
carried out several heists for arranging funds for its operations in India. The
arrested person is Mathilakath Kodayil Ashraf aka Ashif, 36, of Kettungal,
Venkidangu, Thrissur. Ashif, who was hiding at Doddampalayam village near
Bhavanisagar in Erode, was taken into custody on Tuesday night. He was later
brought to Kochi where his arrest was recorded. According to NIA sources, the
group came under the radar of the national agency following an ATM heist in
Thrissur last year. The probe revealed that money from the heist was used for
strengthening ISIS activities in India.”



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]>