The Extremism Roundup

Islamist Extremism

Video screengrab of an attempted car ramming outside an Orthodox Jewish school in Brooklyn - Shomrim Flatbush via New York Post screenshot

Pakistani Immigrant Tries to Run Down Jewish Students in Brooklyn

• Asghar Ali, 58, a Pakistani immigrant in New York, attempted to run over a group of Orthodox Jewish students outside a Brooklyn yeshiva.

• Video footage showed Ali revving his engine and mounting the curb as he tried to run down the Jewish men while screaming, “I’m gonna kill all the Jews.”

• Ali, originally from Pakistan and who has lived in the U.S. for more than two decades, has four prior arrests. Read More

Anti-Israel Protestors Attack Brooklyn Museum

• Anti-Israel protesters backed by a pro-Hamas group occupied the Brooklyn Museum, clashing with the NYPD and causing damage.
• Organizers, including the group Within Our Lifetime, called on supporters to “flood” and “de-occupy” the museum.
• The protesters demanded the museum divest from Israel-related investments, escalating their protest by hanging banners and setting up tents. Security staff was reportedly assaulted and the gallery reported damage to artwork.
• Thirty-four people were detained, six were arrested and charged with crimes ranging from trespassing to assault. Another 23 were released after receiving tickets or summonses for misdemeanors including trespassing, making graffiti, damaging property, and resisting arrest. Read More

Man Holds Up ‘Kill Hostages Now’ Sign

• Anti-Israel demonstrators, protesting outside the Israel Day parade in New York City, held up a sign that read, "Kill Hostages Now." 
• The protestor wore a black mask and a Palestinian flag as he held up the incendiary sign. Read More

Militant-Right & Militant-Left Extremism

Stephen Farrea, during his 2022 arraignment in East Providence, R.I. - Glenn Osmundson/For The Boston Globe via Boston.com screenshot

Neo-Nazi Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography

• Stephen Farrea, a 34-year-old from Portsmouth, R.I., and affiliated with the neo-Nazi group Nationalist Social Club-131, has been charged with possessing child pornography.

• The arrest followed an investigation initiated from a tip about his involvement in such activities, leading to the seizure of explicit images on his electronic devices.

• Farrea, previously known for white nationalist activities, has been set stringent bail conditions, including no internet use and no contact with minors. Read More

Man Lights Police Car on Fire

• An unknown individual wearing dark clothing set a University of California, Berkeley police vehicle on fire.

• UCPD is investigating the arson and has not confirmed the identity of the individual or the motive behind the attack.

• Social media groups claim the act was in retaliation for UCPD's actions against pro-Palestine student encampments and protesters at UC Santa Cruz and UCLA.

• A far-left anarchist blog popular with Antifa posted a claim of responsibility, stating the attack was in support of pro-Gaza militants and aimed at fighting "fascism." The post also glorified Hamas rocket attacks, knife attacks on Israelis, and expressed a desire for America's destruction. Read More

  Hate Crime

Skiboky Stora speaks to Fox 5 New York after being charged in court with hate crimes, May 29, 2024 - Fox 5 New York via Times of Israel screenshot

NYC Man Charged With Hate Crimes

• Skiboky Stora, 40, from Brooklyn, has been charged with multiple hate crimes, including incidents of assault, stalking, and harassment that targeted people based on their gender, race, and religion.

• Stora, who has run for various public offices and is known for his extremist views, was particularly noted for an incident where he assaulted a woman and made threats against a Jewish couple, shouting to them “die, Jews, die!”

• Stora is currently out on bail and representing himself in court. Read More

  School Threats

 Sammamish High School, Belleview, Wash. - KOMO News file photo via KOMO News screenshot

Washington Teens Arrested

• Two juveniles were arrested by Bellevue, Wash., police after making threats to fatally shoot multiple girls at their high schools. Read More

Pennsylvania Teen Arrested for School Shooting Threat

• A 14-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly threatening a possible school shooting in the Chambersburg Pennsylvania School District.

• Pennsylvania State Police say the teen was identified and charged with making terroristic threats. Read More

Hostile Foreign Influence Operations

Students from Brooklyn College take a moment of prayer during a pro-Palestinian demonstration organized by Students for Justice In Palestine (SJP) - Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

US House Committee Investigating Funding of Pro-Hamas Organizations

• The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the funding of the National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and its parent organization, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP).
• The committee is concerned about pro-Hamas propaganda and antisemitic harassment linked to these groups on college campuses.
• The investigation aims to uncover whether foreign or domestic sources supporting Hamas or other terrorist organizations are funding these activities.
• The committee has requested detailed documentation on the funding, policies, and procedures of the National SJP to ensure compliance with laws related to terrorist financing. Read More

OpenAI Tools Were Used in Foreign Influence Campaigns

• OpenAI reported that its AI models have been used by several foreign influence campaigns, including efforts from China, Russia, and Iran to generate and translate content.
• The Chinese network "Spamouflage" and the Russian "Doppelganger" effort utilized OpenAI tools to create social media posts, translate articles, and generate headlines in multiple languages.
• An Iranian operation and an Israeli company used OpenAI models for generating and translating articles and comments, conducting covert influence campaigns on various social media platforms.
• OpenAI's report highlights the use of AI in these operations but notes that AI-generated content was combined with traditional methods and did not significantly spread organically, indicating limited impact. Read More

QUOTABLE 

“An elective despotism was not the government we fought for; but one in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among the several bodies of magistracy as that no one could transcend their legal limits without being effectually checked and restrained by the others.”

- Thomas Jefferson

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.