FBI Director issues warning of heightened risk from domestic Islamic terrorists.

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The Extremism Roundup
=====================


**Promoting Civil Discourse and Marginalizing the Extremes**
A weekly compilation of the most important developments in the struggle against radical ideologies

Islamist Extremism
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*Pro-Palestinian demonstrators burn a Israeli flag outside Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., November 7, 2023 - KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images*


**America at Increased Risk for Hamas-Inspired Terror**


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FBI Director Christopher Wray warned that the threat of a terror attack against Americans has significantly increased due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly the actions of Hamas and its allies.


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The conflict in the Middle East has renewed concerns that individuals or small groups, inspired by foreign terrorist organizations, may carry out attacks in the U.S., including domestic and homegrown terrorists.


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Wray highlighted the need to monitor threats posed by Hezbollah, Iran, and their potential impact on the U.S., emphasizing vigilance and reporting suspicious activity to local law enforcement.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**


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**The**[**Clarion Intelligence Network (CIN)**]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email) **, a division of Clarion Project, provides more than 1,000 evidence packets to law enforcement each year on violent extremists that pose a threat to our safety. In light of the heightened risk of Islamic extremism, Clarion Project has sought out and is ready to hire additional intelligence analysts with expertise in this area.  We need your help to hire them NOW.**[**   PLEASE DONATE**]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)


**Jordanian Man Arrested on Gun Charge**


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Sohaib Abuayyash, 20, a citizen of Jordan living in Houston, Texas, was charged with possessing a firearm despite his visa not allowing it.


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U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan found that Abuayyash expressed support for radical groups, had training to shoot multiple weapons, and discussed martyrdom with others.


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Abuyyash entered the U.S. from France in June 2019 on a tourist visa while traveling on a Palestine passport, according to court records. He remained after the visa expired in August 2019 and applied for asylum in January 2020.


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He has been detained since his arrest on October 20 and faces a potential 15-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine if convicted.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**

**Maryland Imam Praises Oct. 7 Massacre**


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Imam Mahmoud Abdel-Hady of the Maryum Islamic Center in Marriottsville, Md., praised the October 7 massacre in southern Israel as a "great victory" in a video.


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Abdel-Hady also predicted that Muslims would eventually be "in control of things" based on demographic trends.


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The Maryum Islamic Center later issued a statement clarifying that the Imam's remarks were taken out of context and meant to draw attention to the Palestinian cause, while condemning the violence against innocent civilians in both Israel and Palestine.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**


**Indianapolis Woman Attempted to Attack What She Thought Was a Jewish School**


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Ruba Almaghtheh, 34, was arrested in Indianapolis after driving her car into a building she thought was a Jewish school but was actually used by Black Hebrew Israelites.


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Almaghtheh claimed she attacked the building due to her offense over the "Hebrew Israelite" symbol on its front, inspired by news coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.


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The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) labeled her a “terrorist,” and arrested her on a preliminary charge of criminal recklessness.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**

Militant-Right & Militant-Left Extremism
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*Tenured Oberlin College professor and former Iranian Ambassador to the UN Mohammad Mahallati - Bill Foley/Getty Images*


**Oberlin College Faces Federal Antisemitism Probe**


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Oberlin College, one of the country's most liberal colleges, is under investigation for alleged instances of antisemitism on campus, potentially endangering its federal funding of over $5 million in grants received annually.


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The investigation was prompted by a complaint filed in 2019 by an Oberlin College graduate, Melissa Landa, who cited various incidents of antisemitism at the school, including allegations against a tenured peace studies and religion professor, Mohammad Jafar Mahallati, who is accused of supporting Hamas and promoting anti-Israel sentiments in his classes.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**


**Anti-Israel Protesters Vandalize White House**


- Anti-Israel protesters vandalized the gates of the White House with red paint and attempted to scale the fence around the president's residence early Sunday morning. They also placed Palestinian flags and signs on monuments in Washington DC.
- Video footage from the scene showed protesters climbing the White House fence while waving Palestinian flags and shouting profanities at security officers. A poster with a "Wanted" message featuring photos of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris was placed on the fence.
- The riot was organized by the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, who stated that hundreds of thousands of people participated in the event. The protesters used the slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," which is associated with the elimination of the State of Israel.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**
**House Censures Rep. Tlaib Over Call to Destroy Israel**


- Twenty-two House Democrats joined Republicans in a vote to censure Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan for her comments in the wake of the Hamas-Israel war.
- In particular, her use of the term, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," is understood to be a call for the annihilation of the Jewish state. **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**
**Protests Over Riley Gaines Appearance on Campus Turns Violent**


- A protest at UC Davis turned into a larger demonstration with participants expressing support for trans rights and protesting an appearance by Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who opposes the inclusion of trans women in women's sports.
- Demonstrators descended on Mrak Hall, vandalizing the building with graffiti, including messages like "F--- TERFS" (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) and "Die transphobes."
- The UC Davis Police Department reported two assaults but made no arrests, and the university emphasized its commitment to the First Amendment and free expression while supporting the dignity and respect of transgender and nonbinary individuals.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**
**Neo-Nazis Group Leader Arrested for Antisemitic Littering**


- Jon Minadeo II, the founder of the Goyim Defense League, has been sentenced to 30 days in jail in Florida. He was found guilty of littering in a jury trial.
- The Goyim Defense League, founded in California in 2018, is known for distributing antisemitic flyers. In 2022, the group was responsible for nearly 500 incidents of antisemitic propaganda, according to the Anti-Defamation League, making it one of the most prominent American antisemitic groups.
- Minadeo relocated to Florida, believing it would be more hospitable to his group's operations. However, a new Florida state law, aimed at curbing neo-Nazi activity, makes it a felony to distribute hateful or intimidating materials on private property.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**

  Hate Crime
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*Sign at a makeshift memorial at the site of an altercation in which 69-year-old Paul Kessler was killed by a pro-Palestinian protestor on November 7, 2023 in Thousand Oaks, California - Mario Tama/Getty Images*
**


**Elderly Jewish Man Killed at Pro-Palestine Protest in California**


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Paul Kessler, a 69-year-old Jewish man, died from injuries sustained in “an altercation” on Monday in the greater Los Angeles area.


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According to the sheriff’s office, the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be blunt force head injury and the manner of death homicide.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**


**Cornell Student Arrested for Antisemitic Threats**


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Patrick Dai, a Cornell University junior, was arrested for allegedly making violent online threats targeting Jewish students.


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The threats included antisemitic messages such as, "If you see a Jewish 'person' on campus follow them home and slit their throats."


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The arrest comes amid increased state police presence on campuses and concerns about antisemitism.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**


**Seattle Synagogue Receives Suspicious Packages**


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Seattle police officers and firefighters responded to two reported hazmat situations at synagogues.


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The Sephardic Bikur Holim Congregation, an orthodox synagogue, was evacuated due to a white, powdery substance found in an envelope during mail opening. The FBI is investigating a similar situation at another local congregation.


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The powder was tested and determined not to be hazardous.


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Law enforcement and public safety officials are working to determine how many letters were sent, the individuals responsible for them, and the motives behind these incidents.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**


**Former Memphis Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights and Conspiracy Charges**


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Desmond Mills Jr., one of five former Memphis Police Department officers facing federal charges in the killing of Tyre Nichols, pleaded guilty to civil rights and conspiracy charges arising from the January 7 incident.


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The charges against Mills and his co-defendants include using excessive force resulting in Nichols's death, aiding and abetting in the excessive force, failing to intervene to stop it, failing to provide medical aid, and conspiring to cover up their misconduct.


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Mills admitted to using excessive force on Nichols, failing to intervene in other officers' use of force, not providing medical aid, and making false statements regarding the incident. The government will recommend a sentence of no more than 15 years in prison for Mills, while the other four defendants still face a federal trial scheduled for May 6, 2024.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**


**Oregon Man Sentenced for Anti-LGBT Assaults**


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Matthew Alan Lehigh, from Oregon, has been sentenced to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release for a week-long crime spree targeting the LGBT community in Boise, Idaho.


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Lehigh's crime spree involved threatening, assaulting, and attempting to run over individuals based on their LGBT identities, causing fear and harm to the community.


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As part of his plea agreement, Lehigh admitted to multiple instances of anti-LGBT vandalism and violence.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**

  School Threats
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*Amir Safavi Farokhi - Pima County Sheriff's Department via KOLD 13 News screenshot*
**


**Tucson Man Arrested for Multiple Violent Threats**


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Amir Safavi Farokhi, 28, from Tucson, was arrested by the FBI's Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force on a federal complaint and arrest warrant.


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Farokhi is charged with making threats, including plans to place pipe bombs on school buses in Indianapolis, and threatening to rape and murder a female employee of the Bloomington (Indiana) Police Department.


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His threatening behavior extended to Tucson-area hospitals, where he allegedly made threats to shoot hospital staff and patients at Tucson ER Hospital and Northwest Hospital on different dates.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**


**Shelter in Place Order Lifted in Maine Elementary School After Suspect Placed in Custody**


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A shelter in place order for all MSAD 75 schools in Maine was lifted after Adam Green, of Caribou, Maine, was taken into custody for allegedly threatening to bring a weapon to an unnamed elementary school in the district.


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Green was arrested and charged with terrorizing and harassment by telephone or another electronic device after making threats related to a mass shooting and mentioning an AR-15 on social media.


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While there was no immediate indication of danger to students and staff, the school district took precautionary safety measures. All activities are now scheduled to proceed, and law enforcement is working to gather more details.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**

Hostile Foreign Influence Operations
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*Photo illustration of binary code on a phone screen and microchip - Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images*


**Four Arrested and Charged for Scheme to Evade Russia Sanctions**


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Four individuals have been arrested, and an indictment and criminal complaint were unsealed in the Eastern District of New York, regarding two separate conspiracies to unlawfully export controlled dual-use technologies to Russia after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.


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In one case, a Brooklyn resident and two Canadian nationals were arrested for unlawfully sourcing and purchasing millions of dollars worth of dual-use electronics on behalf of end-users in Russia, including companies affiliated with the Russian military. Some of these components matched those found in seized Russian weapons and signals intelligence equipment in Ukraine.


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In a separate case, three individuals were charged with conspiracy and other offenses related to an export control scheme benefiting companies affiliated with the Russian military. They procured dual-use electronic components for entities involved in Russia's war effort in Ukraine. The defendants used a Brooklyn-based corporate entity to facilitate this illegal scheme.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**

Research and Trends in Extremism
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*Hamas child soldier, posted by Hamas Ministry of Interior - Palestinian Media Watch via Israel National News screenshot*
**


**Hamas Child Soldiers**


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Hamas's Ministry of Interior posted a photo of a child soldier, a boy of about five years old, dressed in full military attire and holding an actual automatic rifle.


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The accompanying text in the post reads: "These are our lion cubs. We have brought them up in the love of Jihad and Shahada (martyrdom-death)."


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This revelation highlights the indoctrination of children into extremist ideologies, similar to practices seen in other groups like ISIS and some factions within the Palestinian Authority. **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**


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**Clarion Project’s documentary**[**Kids: Chasing Paradise**]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email) **exposes a global Islamic extremist infrastructure to radicalize youth, which the filmmakers describe as “the biggest child abuse network in the world.”**


**Bot Networks Target Celebrities and Influencers With Anti-Israel Messages**


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A study from Rutgers University’s Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict reports an increase in coordinated propaganda and bot-like activity on social media platforms.


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Celebrities and influencers have experienced an influx of comments with anti-Israel messages and bot-like signatures.


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The research conducted by the NCRI reveals patterns of potentially inauthentic accounts and coordinated efforts to influence influential figures and their followers on social media platforms during the conflict. These tactics risk stifling genuine discourse in online discussions.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email)**

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**]([link removed] 202311-09&utm_medium=email) under the appropriate "news tip" category.  

QUOTABLE
 
=

“Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.”

*- Harry Truman, Special Message to the Congress *

*on the Internal Security of the United States, 1950*

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.

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