April 17, 2020

Radio Free Europe: Taliban Says It Released 20 More Afghan Government Prisoners <[link removed]>

“The Taliban says it has released a second group of Afghan security forces it has been holding captive as part of a delayed swap considered key to paving the way for peace talks between the two sides. Suhail Shaheen, the spokesman for the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, said on Twitter late on April 16 that 20 Afghan soldiers and police officers were set free in the eastern province of Laghman earlier in the day. Another Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a tweet on April 16 that the prisoners were handed over to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Neither the ICRC nor the Afghan government have confirmed the release. If confirmed, it would bring the total number of prisoners released by the militants to 40. The Taliban released 20 Afghan troops in the southern province of Kandahar on April 12. The Kabul government has released a total of 300 Taliban inmates since April 8. A pact signed by the United States and the Taliban on February 29 calls for the Afghan government to release 5,000 Taliban fighters as a confidence-building measure ahead of formal peace talks aimed at ending the 18-year conflict in Afghanistan.”

Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Arkansas Targets Part Of Bomb Plot, FBI Says <[link removed]>

“A Missouri man who investigators said was planning to bomb a Kansas City-area hospital was distressed by the government’s response to the coronavirus crisis and motivated by racial, religious and anti-government animus, according to newly unsealed court documents. Timothy Wilson, 36, died March 24 in a firefight with FBI agents serving a probable-cause arrest warrant on a Belton street. The plot was reminiscent of the 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City. Wilson first talked of plans for an attack in April or June, but FBI agents say he moved up that timeline as the coronavirus made its way to Missouri. The violent take-down followed a long-running domestic terrorism investigation that began in 2019 with Wilson’s encrypted communications about bomb-building with Jarrett William Smith, a 24-year-old Army infantry soldier who faces prison for distributing bomb-making information through social media. Among details in court records unsealed last week was that Wilson considered attacking the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., before settling on a plan to park a vehicle loaded with explosives and detonate it in the parking lot of Belton Regional Medical Center in Cass County, the Kansas City Star reported.”

United States

The Washington Post: 3 Accused White Supremacists Denied Bond Amid Virus Concerns <[link removed]>

“Three Georgia men accused of belonging to a white supremacist group and of plotting to kill a couple were denied bond Thursday after requesting a hearing because of coronavirus concerns, authorities said. Floyd County Superior Court Chief Judge Bryant Durham rejected bond requests for 25-year-old Michael Helterbrand of Dalton; 19-year-old Jacob Kaderli of Dacula; and 21-year-old Luke Lane of Silver Creek, news outlets reported. The three men face charges of conspiring to kill members of a militant anti-fascist group and participation in a criminal gang. Floyd County police said the men belong to “the Base,” a group described by the FBI as a collective of hardcore neo-Nazis, operating as a paramilitary organization that is hostile to minority communities. An arrest affidavit said the men planned to kill a married couple who were anti-fascist protesters — part of the Antifa movement — and believed that killing the couple would send a message to enemies of The Base. The men were previously denied bond in February but requested another hearing amid coronavirus concerns and delays. Lane’s attorney, Emily Matson, said social distancing was impossible in jail and inmates don’t have access to disinfectants.”

Al Monitor: Intel: US Holds Virtual Anti-IS Meeting Amid COVID-19 Pandemic <[link removed]>

“The US-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State convened a virtual meeting today to discuss the fight against the remnants of the terrorist group. “The political directors agreed to maintain maximum pressure on [IS] despite the several and multifaceted challenges, including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to achieve the enduring defeat of the terrorist group in Iraq and Syria and to remain vigilant against the threat of [IS] around the world,” the coalition said in a join statement. “In particular, the political directors agreed upon the importance of maintaining and allocating adequate military and civilian means and resources to sustain coalition efforts in Iraq and Syria, including providing support to legitimate partner forces, in order to safeguard our collective security efforts.” Why it matters: While the coronavirus pandemic has forced the US-led coalition to scale back some of its operations, today’s meeting is intended to signal that the United States remains committed to continuing support for its partners in Iraq and Syria to continue the fight against remaining IS cells. The coalition announced last month that the pandemic has forced “temporary adjustments” to the anti-IS fight.”

Iraq

The New York Times: Iraq Says 2 Women Killed In Turkish Strikes On Kurdish Group <[link removed]>

“Turkish airstrikes targeting members of an outlawed Kurdish rebel group struck a refugee camp in northern Iraq and killed two refugee women, Iraqi authorities said Thursday. The strikes, which took place on Wednesday, were a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, Iraq's Foreign Affairs Ministry said. The strikes on the Makhmour refugee camp were carried out by a Turkish military drone that was detected by Iraq's air defense, a statement from the ministry said. It expressed “condemnation in the strongest possible terms over these Turkish attacks” and said they also “constituted a serious violation of international humanitarian law.” The Turkish government claims the refugee camp is a hotbed of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party, or PKK, an outlawed group in Turkey that is fighting an insurgency against Ankara. “We know that some in the leadership level of the PKK have a safe hideout in Makhmour and therefore we want this to be known by our Iraqi friends, and at the end this needs to be addressed,” a Turkish official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the strikes. Iraq summoned the Turkish ambassador to the country, Fatih Yildiz. During the meeting, Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hakim stressed “the need to stop such serious violations and respect the principles of good neighbourliness,” according to a statement.”

Al Monitor: Iraq Condemns Turkish Strikes Against PKK In Kurdistan Region <[link removed]>

“In what it called a flagrant violation of its sovereignty, Iraq says Turkish airstrikes inside its airspace targeted a refugee camp and killed three civilians Wednesday. “We deplore the penetration of Iraqi airspace by Turkish aircraft,” the Iraqi government-affiliated Security Media Cell wrote on Twitter. “This provocative behavior is inconsistent with the obligations of good neighbors.” On Wednesday, news outlets in Iraq’s Kurdistan region reported that that an strike killed three civilians near a refugee camp in the mountainous Makhmour region and that another airstrike destroyed a shelter in the city of Rawanduz belonging to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an armed Turkish insurgent group. Turkey has attacked the refugee camp before, saying it is a haven for the PKK; The Associated Press quoted Iraqi officials today as saying the strike was made with a drone. The shelter bombing, which took place just 200 meters away from a peshmerga headquarters northeast of Erbil, took out two telecommunications towers, a local official told Rudaw. Turkey’s Defense Ministry said, “Turkish fighter jets neutralized four PKK terrorists,” according to a statement carried by the state-run Anadolu Agency. The ministry said the jets struck Wednesday in the Qandil region near the Iraq-Iran border.”

Afghanistan

Radio Free Europe: Taliban Kills Nine Afghan Soldiers In Attack On Army Post <[link removed]>

“Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry says the Taliban has killed nine government soldiers in an overnight attack on an army post in the Charkh District of Logar Province, in the eastern part of the country. Fawad Aman, a spokesman at the ministry, told RFE/RL that Taliban the Taliban had suffered “heavy casualties,” in the violence, without giving further details. Didar Ahmad Lawang, a spokesman for the governor of Logar, confirmed the number of soldiers killed. The Taliban did not immediately comment. Taliban militants have been carrying out attacks despite signing a peace deal with the United States in February aimed at ending the 18-year war. That deal envisions the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan by July 2021 in exchange for counterterrorism guarantees from the Taliban, which is obliged to launch direct talks with the Afghan government over a permanent cease-fire and a power-sharing arrangement. Scheduled for March 10, the intra-Afghan negotiations have been delayed due to political bickering in Kabul and a dispute among the warring sides over a prisoner swap.”

Saudi Arabia

Arab News: Yemeni Convicted Of Terror Attack At Riyadh Show Executed <[link removed]>

“A Yemeni convicted of committing an armed terrorist attack after he stabbed two people during a show in Riyadh was executed on Thursday, a statement from the Saudi interior ministry said. Imad Abdulqawi Al-Mansouri, stabbed members of a show team participating in the Riyadh season, as well as a security guard, the ministry statement said. Al-Mansouri was executed in Riyadh. “Al-Mansouri is also accused of terrorizing people and causing chaos and terror amongst the audience, assigned by one of the leaders of Al-Qaeda terrorist organization in Yemen,” the statement added. He was captured by security and referred to the Specialized Criminal Court. The convict filmed himself with his mobile phone, before the attack, while wearing a mask and delivering a poem inciting violence. He later sent the video to others via WhatsApp.”

Egypt

Asharq Al-Awsat: Sisi: Amiriya Incident Proved Egypt’s Capabilities In Countering Terrorism <[link removed]>

“Egyptian President Abdul Fattah el-Sisi said that al Amiriya incident proved that Egypt is capable of countering terrorism and preserving the safety and security of the homeland and citizens despite all the challenges. On Wednesday, the Interior Ministry announced it neutralized a “terrorist cell” in Amiriya area, eastern Cairo, which was planning to attack Coptic Christians during Easter celebrations. The ministry raided the group’s shelter and found a cache of weapons and explosives which the militants were planning to use in their terrorist attack. It said clashes erupted as the security forces raided an apartment in the neighborhood and killed seven militants, also a police officer got killed and three others were injured. On Tuesday, Egyptian television showed images of the gun battle between counter-terrorism forces and the terrorist elements, while security officers appealed to people, through speakers, to stay away from the area. Authorities held a military funeral for the police officer in his hometown, and Sisi praised the operation, saying: “I followed with great pride the heroic action of the interior ministry's men, which confirms the bravery of police officers in the face of terrorism.”

Libya

Daily Sabah: 1 Child Killed, 3 Others Injured In Haftar Militia Attack In Libya's Tripoli <[link removed]>

“One child was killed and three others were injured early Thursday in an attack by militias loyal to putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar on civilian settlements in Libya's capital. The militias targeted homes in Tripoli with Grad missiles, the United Nations-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) said in a statement. A 5-year-old child was killed and his siblings aged 2, 7 and 9 were injured, the statement said. As part of measures against the coronavirus, a cease-fire came into effect on March 21. Despite this, Haftar's militias have continued their attacks on the capital. Libya has reported one death from the virus, 35 cases and nine recoveries. It recorded its first case of the coronavirus on March 24. Since the ousting of late ruler Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: Haftar in eastern Libya, supported by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, and the GNA in Tripoli, which enjoys U.N. and international recognition. The GNA has been under attack by Haftar's forces since last April, with more than 1,000 killed in the violence. The U.N. says hundreds have been killed and more than 200,000 displaced in the year since Haftar launched his battle for Tripoli, which quickly ground to a bloody stalemate.”

Africa

The Christian Post: Jihadi Terrorists Killing Christians In Mozambique Seek To Establish ‘Government Rule From 'Allah' <[link removed]>

“Radical Islamic militants in the majority-Christian country of Mozambique have their eyes set on instituting Sharia law and have killed hundreds and displaced thousands in Southeast Africa. Over the last two years, over 100,000 people have been displaced from their homes and farms in the northern province of Cabo Delgado due to increased massacres carried by terrorists. According to the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, hundreds of villages have been burned or are now completely abandoned after jihadists carried out an “indiscriminate campaign of terror.” Voice of America News reports that in recent weeks, jihadists seized government buildings, robbed banks, blocked roads and raised their black-and-white flags over towns and villages across the province.  The U.S. news outlet reports that the militants also released a propaganda video after a recent attack in which a jihadi is seen telling fearful residents “we want everyone here to apply Islamic law.” In the recently released video, the jihadists don’t cover their faces. “We don't want a government from unbelievers, we want a government from Allah,” a militant was quoted as saying in the video in the local Kimwani language.”

The Southern Times: The Growing Threat Of ISIS And Al-Qaeda In Africa <[link removed]>

“From the Sahel to Mozambique, terror attacks by groups affiliated to ISIS and Al-Qaeda have been on the increase in recent years. Al Venter takes a detailed look what is happening in the terror hotspots and how African countries and their allies are responding to the problem. Colonel Alain Bayle, erstwhile French military attaché in London, with whom I shared a few confidences, intimated recently that it was whispered within the corridors of power in the Élysée Palace that Europe “faces a 400-year war against militant jihadists” in Africa. Bayle’s grim words may seen exaggerated but they reflect an even grimmer reality. What had started as a fairly limited upheaval in Mali in 2012 has bloomed into a major conflagration that is threatening to engulf not only the Sahelian states but much of West Africa as well. Terror attacks in Mali have increased exponentially in the past two years. In 2019, a total of 268 attacks were recorded in that Sahelian state compared with 160 in 2018; fatalities rose from 310 in 2018 to 869 the following year. It is much worse in Burkina Faso where there has been a 441.8% increase in fatalities between 2018 and 2019, coupled with double the number of attacks in the same period.”

Southeast Asia

Long War Journal: Islamic State Claims First Attack In Island Nation Of Maldives <[link removed]>

“Earlier today, the Islamic State claimed its first-ever attack in the small island nation of Maldives. While the reported operation did little in terms of damage, it does represent the further spread of the group’s violence. In its weekly Al Naba newsletter, the Islamic State reported that “an exclusive source told Al Naba that yesterday morning soldiers of the Caliphate attacked 5 boats belonging to the apostate Maldivian government.” The newsletter continued by saying that the docked boats were burned on Mahibadhoo island in the Maldives’ Alif Dhaal Atoll. Little additional information is given other than repeating what Maldivian media has reported. According to local outlets and authorities, five boats were indeed burned on the island yesterday. Local authorities have referred to the attack as “arson” and “a retaliatory attack for recent investigations into drug trafficking and religious extremism.” While today’s statement is the first officially claimed attack in the country, it is not the first Islamic State-linked operation in the Maldives. Earlier this year, three people were arrested after stabbing two Chinese citizens and one Australian national on Hulhumale island. A local cell reportedly claimed the operation in the name of the Islamic State, but the group did not pick up and amplify that claim.”

Technology

Modern Diplomacy: Is Internet Recruitment Enough To Seduce A Vulnerable Individual Into Terrorism? <[link removed]>

“Is Internet recruitment alone strong enough to recruit an individual into a terrorist group, much less to incite him or her to travel across continents to join, as in the case of the 40,000 or so foreign terrorist fighters and their family members [FTFs] who traveled to ultimately join the ISIS Caliphate in Syria and Iraq? Most experts, until now, would likely answer no, stating that some face-to-face element is necessary to seal the deal. A new study, however, carried out by the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism [ICSVE] and based on 236 in-depth interviews carried out by the first author, demonstrates that this is no longer true. Based on these interviews, which queried about recruitment history and experiences with and inside the terrorist group, among many other aspects of the interviewees’ paths into and out of terrorism, the data clearly show that Internet recruitment alone is enough to seduce a vulnerable person into the group. Of the 236 ICSVE interviews that have been translated and coded on 342 variables, 117 reported some element of Internet-based recruitment as part of their process of joining the group.”



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The Counter Extremism Project - United States
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