The Eritrean citizen was arrested after firing shots outside the convenience store where he worked.

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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
------------------

*North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson speaks during a press conference in Raleigh, N.C., March 18, asking for more information on a terror suspect in the state - Travis Long via News Observer screenshot*


**Illegal Immigrant on Terror Watch List Arrested Following Shooting**


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Awet Hagos, 32, a citizen of Eritrea, was taken into custody following a barricade shooting incident in North Carolina.


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Hagos was arrested after a four-hour standoff with Gates County Sheriff’s deputies after allegedly firing shots outside the Quick Stop convenience store in Eure, where he worked, and allegedly trying to take a deputy’s gun while being arrested.


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Hagos was allegedly found to be on a terrorist watch list and had been living in the area for six months. North Carolina Republican state leaders have written to President Biden requesting more information about Hagos. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**


**Columbia University Hires Hamas Supporter as Visiting Professor**


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Columbia University appointed Mohamed Abdou, known for his open support of Hamas, raising concerns amid increasing antisemitism on campuses.


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The hiring sparked debate over academic freedom versus the promotion of ideologies supporting terrorism. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**


**Intelligence Director Says to Stop Using "Radical Islamists" and Other "Problematic Phrases" **


-

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence sent out a newsletter that included guidelines to avoid "problematic phrases" regarding Islamic terrorism.


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Some of the problematic phrases include, but are not limited to: “Salafi-Jihadist,” “Jihadist,” “Islamic-Extremist,” “Sunni/Shia-Extremism,” and “Radical Islamists.”


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The initiative aims to refine language used in counterterrorism discussions. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**


**Crypto Exchange Company Sued for Financing Hamas**


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A lawsuit alleges crypto exchange company Binance knowingly offered material support to a Hamas terrorist who was behind the October 7 attack on Israel, linking the company to terrorist financing. 


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The court filings claim Binance knowingly eased money transfers to reach Hamas for over five years. 


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The legal action seeks damages, underlining the importance of regulatory compliance for crypto platforms. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**

Militant-Right & Militant-Left Extremism
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*Skylar Meade (L), Nicholas Umphenour (C) and Tonia Huber booking photos - Twin Falls County Jail via KTBV 7 screenshot*


**Aryan Knights Arrested for Attacking Corrections Officers at Hospital**


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Nicholas Umphenour and Skylar Meade, members of the Aryan Knights, a white supremacist gang in Idaho's prisons since the mid-1990s, were arrested after 36 hours on the run following an ambush at an Idaho hospital. An accomplice, Tonia Huber, was also arraigned. 


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The ambush injured three corrections officers, led to a manhunt, and spawned two homicide investigations.


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The Aryan Knights focuses on criminal activities for white inmates. The gang, involved in drug trafficking and violence, has been described by prosecutors as a significant threat within the prison system. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**


**Cop City Activists Indicted for Vandalizing Tucson Bank**


- Three individuals were indicted for vandalism at downtown Tucson banks, charged with arson, criminal damage, and burglary among other charges related to a "Stop Cop City" protest.
- The vandalism, including smashed windows and graffiti, occurred on February 25 at PNC and Wells Fargo Banks, involving out-of-state protesters.
- After their arrest, each defendant was released on a $5,500 bond, with arraignments scheduled at Pima County Superior Court. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**
**Portland Antifa Activists Rearrested**


- Nicole Noreiga and Chester Hester were re-arrested on felony charges related to a 2020 Antifa riot in Portland, following DA Mike Schmidt's initial dismissal of charges.
- Noreiga and Hester’s involvement in property damage during an anti-Thanksgiving demonstration has led to renewed legal action. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**

  Hate Crime
------------

*Former Mississippi offers sentenced to 10 to 40 years in prison for torture of two Black men - via AP News screenshot*


**Mississippi Law Enforcement "Goon Squad" Sentenced**


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Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers who formed a self-styled “Goon Squad” were sentenced to prison, with terms ranging from 10 to 40 years, for torturing and abusing two Black men.


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The former officers pleaded guilty to breaking into a home without a warrant and torturing two Black men in an hours-long attack that included beatings, repeated uses of stun guns and assaults with a sex toy before one of the victims was shot in the mouth. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**


**Orthodox Jews in NYC Pelted by Passing Car**


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Two Orthodox Jewish men in NYC were attacked by objects thrown from a car, an incident investigated as antisemitic by the NYPD Hate Crimes Unit. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**


**Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Racist Threats to Black Family**


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Charles Allen Barnes, 46, of Lewiston, Maine, pleaded guilty to one count of threatening communications in interstate commerce for sending racist death threats to a Black family living in his apartment complex.


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According to court documents, Barnes used Facebook Messenger to record and transmit a racial-slur-laden voice message in which he threatened, in graphic and violent terms, to kill his neighbor.


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Barnes faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**


**Florida Man is Escorted Off Airplane After Antisemitic Outburst**


- A Florida man was put in a headlock on a flight from Tampa to Philadelphia after yelling antisemitic slurs and causing a disturbance.
- The incident, which delayed the flight for 30 minutes, involved the man making offensive remarks to a flight attendant and another passenger, escalating to a physical altercation. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**

  School Threats
----------------

*Delcambre (La.) High School - via Google Maps screenshot*


**Louisianna Teen Arrested**


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A 14-year-old girl was arrested in Delcambre, La., after threatening to “shoot up” Delcambre High School via social media.


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The juvenile was arrested on one count of terrorizing and released to the custody of her parents. The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests may follow. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**


**Buffalo Teen Arrested**


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A 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection to a social media threat to shoot up various Buffalo schools.


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Following several interviews and a search of the suspect's home, Buffalo Police do not believe the threats were credible. However, the juvenile was charged with multiple misdemeanors. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**

Hostile Foreign Influence Operations
------------------------------------

* Gen. Michael Langley, USMC, commander of U.S. Africa Command, testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, March 16, 2023 - Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images*
**


**Russian Disinformation Helped Persuade Niger to Expel US Troops**


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Russian disinformation significantly influenced Niger's decision to expel U.S. forces, according to the head of U.S. Africa Command Gen. Michael Langley, who highlighted the need for increased counter-disinformation efforts.


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Russian actors, including the Wagner Group, have used aggressive misinformation tactics, such as staging incidents to falsely accuse foreign forces, demonstrating the sophistication of their disinformation campaigns. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**


**Two Men Charged for Sending EV Trade Secrets to China**


- Klaus Pflugbeil and Yilong Shao, linked to a China-based company, are charged with attempting to transmit trade secrets from a top U.S. electric vehicle company to undercover law enforcement agents.
- Pflugbeil was arrested in New York and Shao remains at large, highlighting international legal enforcement challenges. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**
**Sanctions Imposed on Russian Disinformation Actors**


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The U.S. imposed sanctions on two organizations and their CEOs, who were involved in Russia's malign influence operations.


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The two organizations created a network of over 60 websites that impersonated genuine news organizations in Europe, and then used bogus social media accounts to amplify the misleading content of the spoofed websites.


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Sanctions were enacted under Executive Order 14024, part of ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt Russia's attempts to destabilize democracies globally. **[Read More]([link removed] 202403-28&utm_medium=email)**

QUOTABLE
 
=

“In dictatorships you need courage to fight evil; in the free world you need courage to see evil.”

*- Natan Sharansky*

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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