Eye on Extremism
August 6, 2024
Reuters: UK’s Starmer Vows Speedy Punishment To Quell Violent Disorder
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said violent protesters who had targeted Muslim communities would swiftly face the "full force of the law" as he sought to quell days of anti-immigration rioting. The fatal stabbing of three young girls in the northwest English town of Southport last week has been seized on by anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim groups, with disinformation spread online and amplified by high-profile far-right figures to spark disorder in towns and cities. "Whatever the apparent motivation, this is not protest, it is pure violence and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities," Starmer said on Monday after an emergency meeting with police and prison chiefs. "The full force of law will be visited on all those who are identified as having taken part." Police chiefs said they had arrested 378 people since the start of the unrest and warned of "lengthy prison terms" for those found guilty of violent disorder.
The Washington Post: U.S. Troops Withdraw From Strategic West African Base As Militant Threat Grows
“The last U.S. troops flew out of their sprawling base in Niger’s northern desert on Monday, marking a closing chapter in the American military relationship with this West African country and a substantial strategic setback for Washington. The withdrawal of the U.S. forces, which had numbered 1,100 in Niger at their peak, follows more than a decade of investment in Niger — and months of fruitless efforts to put the country back on a democratic path after its military seized power in a coup a year ago. The U.S. military presence here has been a linchpin of American efforts to address rising Islamist militancy in this part of Africa. The pullout comes at a moment when extremist violence in West Africa is reaching record highs and Russia’s influence in the region is growing.”
CEP Mentions
Channel 4: UK Doesn’t Have Enough Officers Or Prison Places To Curb Riots, Says Former Prison Officer And Governor
“Krishnan Guru-Murthy spoke to former prison governor Ian Acheson, who is now the Senior Advisor to the Counter Extremism Project. We began by asking him if the police and security services should’ve seen these riots coming.”
World Socialist Web Site: New Zealand Pseudo-Lefts Double Down On Support for US-NATO Imperialism In Ukraine War
“... Allison dismisses as Russian propaganda the abundant evidence of fascists in Ukraine’s military leadership and the state apparatus. Her article declares that “the significance of Nazi symbols and ideology appears to have been greatly overstated.” To back up this assertion she quotes Alexander Ritzmann from the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), who says Ukraine “is not a cesspit for Nazi sympathizers.” The CEP is another pro-imperialist think tank based in the US, Germany and the UK. Its president Mike Wallace was a senior US State Department official and supporter of Republican President George W. Bush. As well as producing propaganda for the war against Russia, the CEP has issued many statements endorsing Israel’s genocide in Gaza.”
The Spectator: Can Our Prisons Take These ‘Thugs’?
“Keir Starmer will be chairing his first Cobra meeting, as the government continues to grapple with the rioting that has broken out across the country. The weekend saw numerous examples of violence, including at hotels thought to be hosting asylum seekers. We had a statement from the prime minister condemning the ‘right wing thuggery’, but do we need a more complete approach to extremism? And will our prisons and our courts be able to accommodate the huge influx of offenders? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and Ian Acheson, senior advisor to the Counter Extremism Project.”
The Guardian: Revealed: US Neo-Nazi Terror Group Aims To Revive Activities Ahead Of Election
“While far-right extremists from all corners of the internet are targeting vice-president Kamala Harris as she takes the reins of the Democratic ticket, one of the longer standing US-based neo-Nazi terror groups is also attempting to continue its covert activities as the presidential election season begins in earnest. […] Joshua Fisher-Birch, an analyst at the Counter Extremism Project who has kept tabs on the Base since its inception, says the group maintains several American members and that Nazzaro often talks of having poured thousands in personal finances into the group. “Nazzaro has claimed that he has supported the accelerationist movement with over $10,000 through his ‘personal stash of crypto,’ and he has claimed that he has spent over $20,000 on the Base, not including land in Washington state he purchased,” said Fisher-Birch, who pointed out records he reviewed in the past showing Nazzaro receiving over $3,000 in Bitcoin donations.”
Iran
Associated Press: What Iran’s Attack Against Israel Could Look Like With The Support Of Regional Allies
“As Iran threatens to respond to the suspected Israeli assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, the regional militias that the Islamic Republic has armed for decades could play a role in any attack. Here’s a look at Iran’s history of arming militias, its allies in the region and what part they could play. In April following an Israeli attack on the Iranian Embassy compound in Syria, Iran launched 170 bomb-carrying drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles toward Israel. Israel, the U.S. and other nations shot down many of the projectiles, some of which came from Yemen. Iran could launch a similar assault, but this time Hezbollah may get involved as the militia seeks revenge for the Israeli strike last week killing senior commander Fouad Shukur.”
Iraq
Reuters: US Personnel Wounded In Attack Against Base In Iraq, Officials Say
“At least five U.S. personnel were injured in an attack against a military base in Iraq on Monday, U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Middle East braced for a possible new wave of attacks by Iran and its allies following last week's killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Two Katyusha rockets were fired at al Asad airbase in western Iraq, two Iraqi security sources said. One Iraqi security source said the rockets fell inside the base. It was unclear whether the attack was linked to threats by Iran to retaliate over the killing of the Hamas leader. The U.S. officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said one of the wounded Americans was seriously injured. The casualty count was based on initial reports which could still change, they said. "Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment," one of the officials added.”
Afghanistan
Associated Press: The Taliban Says People In Afghanistan On Previous Government’s Visas Can Stay For Now
“Afghanistan’s Taliban government said Monday it would allow people in the country on visas issued by the former Western-backed government to stay for now, but that they wouldn’t be allowed back in without documents from a Taliban-approved diplomatic mission. The announcement by the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry on the social media platform X clarified its July 30 announcement that it would no longer accept documents from consulates and diplomatic missions abroad staffed by member of the former government. The move is part of the Taliban’s efforts to gain control of Afghanistan’s representation abroad since returning to power in 2021. The Taliban’s blacklisting of diplomatic missions in Canada, Australia and several European countries means that many people may have to travel hundreds of even thousands of miles to get documents issued, renewed, or certified.”
Lebanon
Associated Press: Israel-Hamas War Latest: Hezbollah Says It Launched A Drone Attack On Northern Israel
“The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said it launched a drone attack early Monday on northern Israel that the Israeli military said wounded two Israeli troops. The violence came amid fears of an all-out regional war following the killings last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader in Iran. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah said it targeted a military base in northern Israel in response to “attacks and assassinations” by Israel in several villages in southern Lebanon. The attack did not appear to be the more intense retaliation that’s expected from Iran and its allied militias. Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged near-daily strikes for the past 10 months during the war in Gaza. But last week’s assassinations of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran’s capital and Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur in Beirut sent regional tensions soaring.”
Reuters: Lebanon Aims To Ensure Hezbollah Response To Israeli Attack Does Not Cause Wider War
“Lebanon is working to ensure any response to the Israeli killing of a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut does not trigger total war in the Middle East, its Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said on Tuesday. Tensions in the region have spiralled in the last week following the killing in Tehran of Palestinian militant group Hamas' leader, and an Israeli strike on Beirut's suburbs that killed the senior commander Fuad Shukr. Hezbollah said last week that the Iran-backed group will respond in a studied manner. Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct.7 and ignited a war in Gaza.”
Somalia
Associated Press: Hundreds Gather At Somalia Beach To Condemn Attack That Killed 37 And Demand Stronger Security
“Hundreds gathered Monday at a Somalia beach hotel, the site of an attack claimed by al-Qaida’s East Africa affiliate that left 37 people dead and dozens wounded, to condemn the violence and demand stronger security measures. Al-Shabab said on its radio station that its militants carried out Friday’s attack at the popular Lido beach in the capital, Mogadishu. Witnesses said they saw an attacker wearing an explosive vest moments before he blew himself up. Security forces said they killed four other militants. Adar Sabriye, who lost her son in the attack, joined the protest to call on authorities to ensure public safety. “Abdikani was a quiet, obedient young man who devoted his life to his studies,” she said of her son. She said he died along with several of his friends. Another protester, Ahmed Mohamed, said the country’s security was the responsibility of every citizen and urged young people to join the fight against al-Shabab.”
Africa
Voice Of America: Terror Groups Poised To Fill Void With US Forces Gone From Niger
“The U.S. abandonment this week of its $110 million drone base in Niger, once seen as a key hub for counterterrorism efforts, adds to a growing list of Western withdrawals, all steadily ceding ground to terror groups affiliated with Islamic State and al-Qaida. Officials with U.S. Africa Command announced the final departure of troops from Air Base 201 in Agadez on Monday, completing a process that began last year when a military junta overthrew Niger’s democratically elected president and demanded U.S. forces leave. The U.S. withdrawal follows the pullout of French forces from Niger late last year and from neighboring Mali in 2022. A five-country alliance to fight terror groups across the Sahel, likewise, collapsed in recent years. And intelligence gathered by United Nations member states suggests the terror groups those Western forces were hoping to curtail have made the most of their growing absence.”
Reuters: Uganda Charges Opposition Lawmakers, Supporters Over Protest
“Police arrested 14 Ugandan opposition officials and supporters on Monday as they marched through their capital towards the Kenyan embassy to protest against Nairobi's decision to detain and deport a group of their colleagues, local media said. The arrests and last month's deportations come as both Kenya and neighbouring Uganda have been rocked by anti-government demonstrations by youth and opposition activists - though the streets of Uganda's capital were otherwise quiet on Monday. Kenyan authorities on July 23 detained 36 members of Uganda's opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) who had travelled there for a training course, lawyers for the group said.”
United Kingdom
BBC: Ex-Police Chief Likens Riots To Terrorism
“The former head of counter-terrorism policing says some violence during the riots has “crossed the line into terrorism”. Neil Basu, who held the top counter-terror job between 2018 and 2021, said: “I hope my successors are looking at that very closely.” He told the BBC: “I think we have seen serious acts of violence designed to cause terror to a section of our community." Mr Basu said “people should look very carefully” at the legal definition of terrorism when considering some of the violence and actions seen since last week. He said the current wave of violence had been triggered by “lies spread through social media” and “we need to do something about that”. On X far-right activist and convicted criminal Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, spent the weekend posting inflammatory messages to thousands of followers, all from the safety of a sun lounger in Cyprus.”
Technology
The Wall Street Journal: Meta Restores Malaysian Leader’s Posts About Hamas
“Meta Platforms has restored social-media posts by Malaysia’s prime minister concerning Hamas’s late political leader, saying their removal last week was in error. The owner of Facebook and Instagram on Tuesday apologized for the removal of content posted to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s accounts. The posts have since been restored “with the correct newsworthy label,” a Meta spokesperson said. Meta cited an operational error, without elaborating. The technology giant regularly blocks posts it deems as violating community standards on both Facebook and Instagram but allows some exceptions if an internal review determines that keeping such content visible is in the public interest. In May, Facebook removed and later restored posts by Malaysian media covering Anwar’s meeting with Ismail Haniyeh, then the top political leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.”
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