The five were convicted of kidnapping and terrorism

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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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Siraj Ibn Wahhaj - Taos County Sheriff's Office via Fox News 5

Five New Mexico Terror Compound Suspects Sentenced to Life

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Five individuals who were connected to a New Mexico terror compound have been sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in a kidnapping and terrorism plot, with one defendant receiving a shorter term based on a plea agreement.

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The case involved Siraj Ibn Wahhaj's abduction of his 3-year old son from his mother's home in Georgia and their relocation to the compound, where the group, including other family members, engaged in firearms and tactical training to prepare for attacks against the government.

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The boy died at the compound. [Read More]([link removed])

FBI Searching for Iranian Spy

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The FBI in Miami is seeking an Iranian Intelligence officer, Majid Dastjani Farahanim, in connection with the recruitment of individuals for various operations in the U.S.

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Farahani is believed to be connected with the targeting of former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other current and former U.S. officials as revenge for the killing of Iranian Commander Qasem Soleimani. [Read More]([link removed])

FBI Director Warns of ISIS-Connected Smuggling Networks Crossing Border

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FBI Director Christopher Wray on Monday warned of a "wide array" of dangerous threats coming from the U.S. border, including drug trafficking, violent gangs and smugglers with ties to ISIS. [Read More]([link removed])

Militant-Right & Militant-Left Extremism

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A San Francisco police officer pepper-sprays protesters during a pro-Palestinian march - Arab Resource and Organizing Center via San Francisco Chronicle screenshot

San Francisco Protesters Clash With Police

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An anti-Israel march in San Francisco escalated into a clash with police as protesters breached barricades and attempted to replace an American flag with a Palestinian one.

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Organizers claim marchers were pepper-sprayed and suffered injuries from police batons, while police report violence from the group.

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The incident occurred during a Global Day of Action for Palestine, drawing attention to the tensions between demonstrators and law enforcement. [Read More]([link removed])

Oregon Man Charged With Defacing Synagogue

- Adam Edward Braun, 34, of Eugene, Ore., is charged with hate crimes for defacing an Oregon synagogue with antisemitic graffiti.
- Braun traveled to Temple Beth Israel with a hammer and prepared to swing at the glass doors of the synagogue. Braun stopped when he saw that he was being recorded by a surveillance camera. He then moved to a different area of the property and used spray paint to write “White Power” in large letters on the building’s exterior. [Read More]([link removed])

Hate Crime

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Scene of a protest over an Israeli speaker at UC Berkeley, via CBS New San Fransisco screenshot

Hate Crime Investigation at UC Berkeley

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UC Berkeley launched a hate crime investigation after a protest against an [Israeli speaker]([link removed]), with two Jewish students facing antisemitism and physical battery.

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A criminal suspect was identified for trespassing, alongside a separate discrimination investigation by the university’s Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination.

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The protest, involving around 200 demonstrators, led to the event's cancellation after unauthorized entry, prioritizing speaker and audience safety. [Read More]([link removed])

Washington Woman Attacked on Bus

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A Black woman in Kent, Wash., was targeted in a racially motivated assault on a bus, involving derogatory slurs and physical violence, including stabbing.

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The attack led to the arrest of two men, one charged with second-degree assault and a hate crime, and the other with obstruction. [Read More]([link removed])

Florida Man Charged With Deadly Attack at Dog Park

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Gerald Declan Radford, 65, of Tampa, Fla., faces a second-degree murder charge with a hate crime enhancement for a shooting at a Tampa dog park, due to alleged homophobic threats against the victim, John Walter Lay. [Read More]([link removed])

Man Charged With Hate Crime Against White People

- Mark Elliot Lewis, 47, faces a hate crime charge for threatening to kill white people at a Columbia, Mo., Walgreens.
- The charge stems from an incident on February 27, motivated by racial discrimination. [Read More]([link removed])

Teens Repeatedly Target Jewish Teachers in Brooklyn School

- Origins High School in Brooklyn has seen a series of antisemitic incidents targeting Jewish teachers and students, including harassment and threats.
- Despite repeated occurrences, including a protest chanting anti-Israel slogans and physical confrontations, the school's administration has faced criticism for not taking stronger disciplinary actions. [Read More]([link removed])

School Threats

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Norwood (Mass.) Middle School, scene of a shooting threat - via NBC Boston screenshot

12-Year-Old Arrested for Threat to Massachusetts School

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A 12-year-old has been arrested in connection to a threat about a mass shooting at a middle school in Norwood, Mass.

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The arrest was made after police investigated a screenshot they received of a group text that warned of a shooting that was going to take place at the school. [Read More]([link removed])

Two Arrested for West Virginia School Shooting Threat

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Two individuals were arrested for planning a shooting at Sissonville High School, W. Va. Russell Kidd, 18, and a 17-year-old were charged with terroristic threats, with evidence including a "hit list" and drawings found in Kidd's backpack. [Read More]([link removed])

Teen Arrested for Threat to New York School

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A 13-year-old student was arrested at Arkport Central School in Arkport, N. Y., for making a terrorist threat via social media, leading to a lockdown.

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The minor, charged with a felony, was released to Family Court. The incident prompted a coordinated response from local law enforcement. The school followed safety protocols, ensuring no active threat was present. [Read More]([link removed])

Hostile Foreign Influence Operations

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Rep. Mike Gallager (R-WI) speaks to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol Building after the House voted on legislation to ban TikTok due to concerns over privacy and national security unless the Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance sells the video app within the next six months - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

US Lobbyists Drop Chinese Clients

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Washington lobbying firms are reducing their Chinese clientele due to increased legislative scrutiny aimed at limiting Beijing's influence.

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Proposed laws seek to close loopholes in current regulations to enhance transparency regarding Chinese corporate lobbying efforts.

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The crackdown is driven by concerns over the potential national security risks posed by Chinese companies' involvement in U.S. policy-making. [Read More]([link removed])

Air Force Employee Indicted for Disclosure of Classified Information

- David Franklin Slater, 63, a U.S. Air Force employee and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel from Nebraska, was arrested for allegedly transmitting classified national defense information on a foreign online dating platform.
- According to the charging documents, Slater attended USSTRATCOM briefings regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine, then transmitted classified NDI that he learned from those briefings to his co-conspirator, who claimed to be a female living in Ukraine.
- If convicted, Slater faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count of conspiracy to transmit and the transmission of national defense information. [Read More]([link removed])

US Army Intelligence Analyst Arrested

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Korbein Schultz, a U.S. Army intelligence analyst stationed at Fort Campbell, was arrested for allegedly conspiring to provide national defense information to an overseas individual.

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Schultz, accused of trading sensitive U.S. military information for financial gain, faces charges including conspiracy to disclose national defense information, export control violations, and bribery. [Read More]([link removed])

Chinese National Arrested for Theft of AI Secrets

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Linwei Ding, a Chinese national residing in California, has been arrested for allegedly stealing artificial intelligence-related trade secrets from Google.

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Ding is accused of transferring sensitive information to his personal account and working for companies in China. [Read More]([link removed])

Research and Trends in Extremism

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Camden County Police officers keep an eye out as demonstrators take part in a Black Lives Matter protest march in Camden, N.J. on June 13, 2020 - Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images

New Jersey Issues Report Showing Dramatic Rise in Bias Incidents in 2022

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New Jersey reported a record high in bias incidents in 2022, marking a continued increase.

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The most targeted groups were Black individuals, the Jewish community, and the Hispanic or Latino community.

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Efforts to combat the rise include launching a public awareness campaign and a new [interactive bias data dashboard]([link removed]), with a notable increase in incidents at educational institutions. [Read More]([link removed])

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]) under the appropriate "news tip" category.

QUOTABLE

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- James Madison - The Federalist Papers

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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