Eye on Extremism

April 21, 2020

The Wall Street Journal: Pakistan Removes Thousands Of Names From Terrorist Watch List 

“Pakistan has removed thousands of names from its terrorist watch list in what the country says is an effort to meet its obligations ahead of a new round of assessments by a global anti-money-laundering watchdog. The so-called proscribed persons list, which is maintained by Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority, or NACTA, is intended in part to help financial institutions avoid doing business with or processing transactions of suspected terrorists. The list, which in 2018 contained about 7,600 names, has been reduced to under 3,800 in the past 18 months. About 1,800 of the names have been removed since the beginning of March, according to data collected by Castellum.AI, a New York-based regulatory technology company. No public explanation was given for the removals as they were made, but a Pakistani official said in an email interview that they are part of the country’s ongoing efforts to comply with a commitment to strengthen its counterterrorism safeguards. The size and speed of the removals is unusual, according to Peter Piatetsky, a former senior policy adviser for the U.S. Treasury and co-founder of Castellum.AI. “Removing close to 4,000 names without a public explanation is unheard of and it raises significant questions about the listing process,” he said.”

All Africa: Nigeria: Boko Haram Leader, Shekau, Ready To Surrender, Says Military

“Military authorities said yesterday that with the grand offensive mounted by the Armed Forces of Nigeria against Boko Haram and the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP), the body language of terror leader, Abubakar Shekau, is that of surrender. They also confirmed the killing of key Boko Haram commanders during airstrikes on Durbarda, Borno State. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) also said it had produced 18,000 hand sanitisers and ventilator machine, “Dicovent” in support of government's effort to contain COVID-19 pandemic. It called on federal and state governments to patronise the products produced by Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to enable mass production. Speaking at a briefing in Abuja attended by the leadership of DICON, led by Major General Victor Ezugwu, the Coordinator of the Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General John Enenche, said while there was no official contact with the terror leader, his body language showed that he was ready to surrender. He added that Boko Haram has been degraded by the ongoing pounding of its forces and structures.”

United States

The New York Times: Judge Frees Man Linked To Neo-Nazi Plot To Deface Synagogues 

“A New Jersey man accused of coordinating a neo-Nazi group’s plot to vandalize synagogues and telling FBI agents that he fantasized about killing black people at a mall has been freed from jail several months after his arrest. Richard Tobin, 19, was released on $100,000 bond last Wednesday, according to Matthew Reilly, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. A federal magistrate ordered Tobin to remain under house arrest, prohibited him from accessing the internet and barred him from having any contact with current or former members of the neo-Nazi group, called The Base, and another group called Atomwaffen Division, court records show. The records don’t explain why U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Williams in Camden, New Jersey, agreed to set bond for Tobin, who was arrested by the FBI in November. The magistrate sealed court records related to Tobin’s bond request. A criminal complaint said Tobin was a member of a “white racially motivated violent extremist group” that has “proclaimed war” against minority groups in the U.S. The complaint doesn’t name the group, but its description matches The Base.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Man Who Threatened To Bomb Lafayette College Pleads Guilty

“An Alaska man who threatened to detonate bombs at Lafayette College in 2018, causing the Easton, Pa., school to move its graduation ceremony, pleaded guilty on Monday, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced. Gavin Lee Casdorph, 21, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of willfully making false threats before U.S. District Judge Edward G. Smith, who presided over the hearing in Easton via video teleconference. Casdorph, who was charged in January 2019 and was scheduled to go on trial this week, posed as a radicalized Lafayette student on May 5, 2018, using the handle “BdanJafarSaleem” to post on Twitter that he planned to bomb multiple locations on campus, McSwain’s office said in a statement. “He attached a letter to his tweets, falsely claiming that his grandfather had died, his girlfriend had broken up with him, and that he had found faith and healing in Allah,” the statement said. “The posts also pledged allegiance to ISIS and included an image of the ISIS flag and a photograph of several firearms, with the caption: ‘Allah has graced us with these weapons of destruction to carry out his needs,’” according to the statement. Casdorph also sent a mass email to members of the college’s admissions staff containing similar threats and imagery.”

Syria

The New York Times: Turkey Says Syria Violating Truce In Rebel-Held North 

“Turkey’s president on Monday accused the Syrian government of taking advantage of the world’s preoccupation with the coronavirus pandemic to increase attacks in rebel-held northwestern Syria in violation of a truce. In an address to the nation following a Cabinet meeting, Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to take action if the alleged Syrian government violations in Idlib province continue. “Turkey remains committed to an agreement that it reached with Russia and will not give way to the (Syrian) regime’s aggression,” Erdogan said. “Should the regime, which has violated the cease-fire and other conditions of the agreement, continue in this way, it will pay a price with heavy losses,” he added. Erdogan’s comments came amid reports of limited Syrian violations and exchanges of fire between troops and Turkey-backed opposition forces, though the truce appeared to be mostly holding. The cease-fire deal was brokered on March 5 between Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. The deal halted a three-month Syrian government offensive into the country’s last rebel stronghold. That Russia-backed offensive killed hundreds of civilians and displaced nearly a million people in Idlib province. Turkey backs some of the opposition groups in Idlib.”

Iraq

Asharq Al-Awsat: US Zeroes In On Shadowy Lebanese Hezbollah Playmaker In Iraq 

“Months after the United States killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, it has offered millions for any details on the mysterious man filling his boots -- Hezbollah power-broker Mohammad Kawtharani. Washington charged last week that Kawtharani had “taken over some of the political coordination of Iran-aligned paramilitary groups” formerly organized by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qassem Soleimani. In fact, when a US drone strike in January killed Soleimani and others in a small convoy outside the Baghdad airport, the little-known but powerful official from Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement was initially rumored to have died alongside him. It was quickly confirmed that Kawtharani, who has long spearheaded Hezbollah's Iraq policy, was not among those killed in the attack that brought arch enemies Tehran and Washington to the brink of war. But rumors of his demise only proved his place among the shadowy pro-Iran brokers steering politics in Iraq, the oil-rich but poverty-stricken country torn by unrest since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Keen to curb Iran's influence in Iraq, the United States last week announced the reward of up to $10 million for any details on Kawtharani's activities or associates.”

Afghanistan 

Fox News: Afghan Officials: Taliban Attacks On Checkpoints Kill 29 

“A wave of Taliban attacks on checkpoints across Afghanistan has killed 29 members of the security forces, officials said Monday. In northern Takhar province, 19 security personnel were killed in a battle Sunday night in the district of Khwaja Ghor, according to Jawad Hajri, spokesman for the provincial governor. The Taliban fled the scene after reinforcement arrived, Hajri added. Meanwhile, in northern Balkh province, a Taliban attack on Sunday morning in the Sholgara district killed seven, according to Adil Shah Adil, spokesman for the provincial police chief. A child was caught in the crossfire and wounded during the attack, which also killed five Taliban, he added. And in western Badghis province, the Taliban struck an army checkpoint early on Sunday morning, killing three soldiers and wounding 10, said Tahsel Haideri, spokesman for the provincial police chief. The Taliban, who have not claimed responsibility for the attacks, and President Ashraf Ghani's government in Kabul are in the process of exchanging prisoners as part of a peace deal signed by the U.S. and the Taliban at the end of February in Doha, Qatar. The release of up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners and 1,000 government officials held captive by the insurgents ahead of intra-Afghan negotiations is a condition of the U.S.-Taliban deal.”

BBC News: Afghanistan: The Detention Centre For Teenage Taliban Members

“In a dusty courtyard, behind a tall mesh fence, a group of teenagers are playing a frenetic game of football, while others stand around watching from the sidelines. These are some of Afghanistan's most vulnerable and most troubled children. Inmates of Kabul's Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre. A small, excited crowd of boys press their faces up to the fence to talk to us. “Some of us killed people… some of us are thieves,” one lanky teenager tells me when I ask what they are accused of. They're smiling and laughing but they aren't the most serious cases here. The centre generally holds approximately 300 inmates, aged between 12 and 18. On average, around half are accused of being in militant groups: the Islamic State (IS) or the Taliban. The Taliban control or contest around half of Afghanistan, they've been waging a deadly war against the Afghan government and US-led international forces since being overthrown in 2001. The staff try and keep the categories of detainees separate, to avoid fights between those linked to the Taliban and to the Islamic State group - which have clashed with each other in the outside world - and to prevent the boys accused of “general crimes” from becoming radicalised.”

Pakistan

The New York Times: Police In Indian-Administered Kashmir Target Journalists For Alleged 'Fake News'

“Police in Indian-administered Kashmir are investigating two journalists for allegedly spreading “fake news,” authorities said on Monday, as a months-long security crackdown in the Muslim-majority state persists. Kashmir Police Chief Vijay Kumar told Reuters freelance Kashmiri photojournalist Masrat Zehra, a contributor to various international publications, had been booked under India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for her “anti-national” posts on Facebook and other social media. The law allows the government to designate individuals as terrorists and empowers India’s National Investigation Agency to investigate such cases. Police have not arrested the journalists so far. “The post by the (Facebook) users can provoke the public to disturb the law and order besides glorifying the anti-national activities”, Kumar said, in an apparent reference to Zehra's postings on social media. Recent feeds from Zehra, who has accused the government of censorship, have focused on militancy in Kashmir, as well as scenic beauty and COVID-19 related issues. “They want to silence and suppress me for bringing out the repressed voices and stories from Kashmir,” she said on Monday.”

Yemen

Asharq Al-Awsat: Yemeni Rights Network Documents 180 Houthi Abuses In 2 Weeks

“The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms revealed on Monday that the Iran-backed Houthi militias have committed 180 abuses against civilians during the first two weeks of April. In an official report, the Network explained that the abuses took place in different parts of the country in the period spanning from April 1-16. “The observers documented the killing of 36 civilians, including 11 women and 11 children, in the cities of Taiz, Ibb, Hodeidah, Beidha, Sanaa, Dhale, Marib and Hajjah.” It said that 51 civilians were injured, including 13 women and seven children. According to the Network, Houthi militias pounded residential areas in the governorates of Marib, Hodeidah, Dhale and Taiz with Hauser cannons, Katyusha missiles and mortar rockets, killing 16 people. Six of the victims were shot dead by Houthi snipers, the report found. “The field observers documented six killing cases by direct fire shooting, four cases by burning and two cases by landmines the militia had planted,” it said. The report stressed that Houthis re-named 35 schools after the militia's slain warlords, and changed the name of conference rooms at the Sanaa University. It said the militias destroyed 13 houses and damaged eight others across the country.”

Somalia

All Africa: Somalia: Somali Elite Forces Recapture Fresh Areas From Al-Shabaab 

“Somali elite forces have liberated two villages in Southern Somalia following operations against al-Shabaab. According to a statement issued by SNA on Monday, Somalia's DANAB forces have engaged al-Shabaab fighters in Abdi-Dhore and Berhani villages which lies 50km west of Kismayo town in Lower Jubba region. The forces managed to dislodge the group's fighters from the villages. The locals in the villages have welcomed Danab soldiers. The villages are now secure and are in the hands of the forces,” the statement reads in part. The military said in its statement that the forces killed a number of al-Shabaab fighters during the clashes. The liberation of the two villages came hours after the Somali national army recaptured Bandhub and Bilane villages near Dinsor district of Bay region. The Somali government has intensified aerial and land operations against al-Shabaab in southern Somalia.”

Africa

The New York Times: Rights Group Accuses Burkina Security Forces Of Killing 31 Unarmed Detainees

“International advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday that it believed security forces in Burkina Faso had summarily executed 31 unarmed detainees earlier this month during operations against Islamist militants. The bullet-riddled bodies of the men from the Fulani ethnic group were discovered in the northern town of Djibo on April 9, shortly after they had been arrested by security forces and taken away in a convoy, 17 witnesses and people with knowledge of the situation told HRW. The defence ministry said in a statement that the minister had ordered an investigation on April 10 and that perpetrators would be sanctioned if the allegations proved to be true. The government is struggling to contain jihadist groups in northern Burkina Faso, who have stoked ethnic conflict by closely associating themselves with Fulani herders. As a result, Fulani civilians have borne the brunt of reprisals by soldiers and vigilantes, rights groups say. Since 2017, armed Islamist groups, some with ties to al Qaeda and Islamic State, have killed more than 300 civilians in Burkina Faso, while the government has killed several hundred men for their alleged support of these groups, according to HRW.”

United Kingdom

Daily Mail: Wannabe Jihadi, 22, Who Trained For Terror Attacks And Planned To Join Islamic State In Syria Was Freed 19 Months Into His Four-And-A-Half-Year Prison Sentence Despite Government Objections

“A would-be jihadist who trained for terror attacks and planned to join ISIS was handed early release from prison despite Government objections. Parole chiefs cleared ISIS conscript Ahmed Alsyed, 22, to be let out of jail less than two years into his sentence after planning to travel to Syria. The shock decision was made in November, 19 months after Sudan-born Alsyed was convicted of offences of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, possession of information relating to terrorist offences, and dissemination of a terrorist publication. It has now emerged that a team of professionals, including a psychologist, a terrorist analyst, and an Imam, recommended he should be released. Alsyed was released shortly before the London Bridge atrocity in which two people were killed by Usman Khan, and the Streatham stabbing committed by Sudesh Amman - both also released early.  Newly-published papers show that the Government appealed the decision, claiming it would be 'irrational' to release Alsyed back into society. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland argued that the parole panel had not carried out suitable risk assessments to ensure public safety. He added that they had not taken Alsyed's 'deceptive behaviour' into account.”

Germany

Long War Journal: Arrests In Germany Highlight Reach Of Islamic State’s Central Asian Network

“Last week, German authorities announced the arrests of four alleged Islamic State members. The suspects — identified as Azizjon B., Muhammadali G., Farhodshoh K. and Sunatullokh K. — are accused of planning attacks on U.S. military facilities and personnel. All four are from Tajikistan, a country the former caliphate has long targeted for recruiting purposes. And the recent arrests highlight the global dimension of this Central Asian network. According to a report by the Associated Press, German prosecutors say the quartet joined the Islamic State in Jan. 2019, well after the peak of the group’s strength. Their ringleader, another Tajik identified as Ravsan B., was jailed in Mar. 2019. But this didn’t stop their plotting. The accused first considered an attack inside their home country, but then shifted their attention to U.S. Air Force bases and “a person they deemed critical of Islam.” Their plot was allegedly financed with $40,000 Ravsan B. received for an aborted assassination in Albania. The AP reports that the cell members “are alleged to have been in contact with two high-ranking ISIS figures in Syria and Afghanistan.” If this is verified, then ISIS has retained a command and control structure that is still capable of influencing or directing international plots — even though the organization’s plans are routinely foiled.”

Europe

Asharq Al-Awsat: Poland Arrests Lebanese Man Suspected Of Planning 'Terrorist Attacks' In Europe 

“A Lebanese man was arrested in Poland on Monday on suspicion of planning to carry out terrorist attacks in Western Europe and of having ties with ISIS, Poland's special services said. Stanislaw Zaryn, spokesman for Poland's special services said the man, whose identity was not made public, was detained on April 16 after being deemed “a real threat to Polish internal security and to our country's citizens.” The suspect “was planning to set up a network in Poland and elsewhere in the EU that would carry out terror attacks in Western European countries,” Zaryn said in a statement published by Agence France Press. He had “family ties to terrorists belonging to ISIS who died in battle against the coalition forces in Syria and Iraq”, the statement added. The man had apparently been in frequent touch via the internet with ISIS and other individuals linked to the group in EU member countries while he was staying in Poland. The individual, who is now in a detention center for foreigners in eastern Poland, is also alleged to have provided financial support to ISIS members in Syria. The Polish statement did not identify the name of the man.”

Radio Free Europe: Tatar Islamic Scholar Arrested For Allegedly Running Branch Of Banned Islamic Group

“Gabdrakhman Naumov, a noted Islamic scholar in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, has been arrested on suspicion of creating and running a branch of a banned Islamic group. Naumov's lawyer, Ruslan Nagiyev, told RFE/RL that his client was apprehended about a month ago on suspicion of being the leader of the Nurcular Islamic group. Naumov is well-known in Tatarstan as a teacher at the Russian Islamic University and as the former imam of a mosque in Tatarstan’s capital, Kazan. “His arrest has been a shock for many in Tatarstan. Many religious and civil rights figures support Naumov. Nobody believes that he may be a leader of some sort of an extremist group,” Nagiyev said, adding that his client has rejected the charge. Nagiyev also said that law enforcement authorities in Tatarstan have already added Naumov to a list of extremists, although his trial is still pending. Since 2013, several alleged members of Nurcular have been arrested across Russia. Nurcular was founded in Turkey by Islamic scholar Said Nursi, who died in 1960. It has been banned in Russia since 2008. The Nurcular movement, which has millions of followers around the globe, especially in Turkey, has been banned in Russia since 2008.”

Canada

BBC News: Canada Shooting: Gunman Kills At Least 18 In Nova Scotia 

“A gunman disguised as a policeman killed at least 18 people, including a female Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer, in the worst mass shooting in Canada's modern history. The 12-hour rampage started late on Saturday and ended with a car chase. Police said the suspect shot people at different locations in Nova Scotia, many of them randomly. He was killed in a confrontation with police. He was reported to have been driving what looked like a police car. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the attack as “a tragedy”. “Violence of any kind has no place in Canada. We stand with you and we grieve with you,” he said, addressing the nation on Monday. Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil told reporters this was “one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province's history”. The RCMP said on Monday that they believe there may be more victim within the remains of homes torched as part of the weekend's attacks. Mr Trudeau said that his government was “on the verge” of introducing bans to assault style weapons before parliament was dissolved amid the coronavirus outbreak.”

Technology 

The New York Times: Take YouTube’s Dangers Seriously

“My colleague Kevin Roose excels at explaining how our behavior is shaped by the companies behind our favorite online hangouts. In the first episode of Kevin’s new audio series, called “Rabbit Hole,” he tells us how Caleb Cain, a college dropout in West Virginia, found himself watching ever more extreme YouTube videos. Caleb said he started to believe the racism, misogyny and conspiracy theories he absorbed. People believe in fringe ideas for complex reasons. But Kevin points some blame at YouTube and its feature that recommends one video after another. This can push people from relatively mainstream videos toward dangerous ideas. Our conversation about this, and more: Aren’t most of us on YouTube for cooking videos and kittens, not conspiracies? Kevin: People watch more than a billion hours of YouTube videos daily. While we can’t know how much of that is disturbing or dangerous, it’s inevitably a huge amount. And for a long time, people like Alex Jones and propaganda networks like RT had millions of subscribers and hundreds of millions of views. How much blame does YouTube deserve for people like Caleb developing extreme views? It’s a hard question.”