The Extremism Roundup

Islamist Extremism

A billboard showing a portrait of newly appointed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Tehran, August 12, 2024 - ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images. 

DOJ Charges Hamas Leaders for Americans' Deaths in Oct. 7 Attack

• The U.S. Department of Justice announced terrorism charges against senior leaders of Hamas for carrying out the Oct. 7 massacre.

• U.S. attorney general Merrick Garland said that Yahya Sinwar and other Hamas leaders oversaw “a decades-long campaign to murder American citizens and endanger the national security of the United States.” Read More

Radicalized Las Vegas Teen Arrested for Plotting ISIS-Inspired Attack

• Joshua Robles, a 17-year-old from Las Vegas, was arrested for allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired terror attack. He had previously been suspended from school for threatening a school shooting and was found with bomb-making materials.

• Authorities discovered a range of incriminating evidence at Robles' home, including bomb-making guides, ISIS-inspired writings, and materials related to terrorism. This included components similar to those used in the Boston Marathon bombing.

• Robles' bail was set at $10,000 with conditions for house arrest, but prosecutors argued for a $1 million bail due to the severity of the threat. Read More

• Clarion Project produced a short film, Avatar,  documenting how a normal American teenager becomes a radicalized ISIS fighter.  Watch Now

Hamas, Hezbollah Flags Flown in New York City

• On Labor Day, thousands of anti-Israel protesters marched through New York City, with some participants openly displaying flags of Hamas and Hezbollah, both designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S.

• The demonstrators engaged in various acts including lighting flares and setting off smoke bombs, highlighting the intensity and scale of the protest. The route included significant Manhattan landmarks, starting from Union Square to Washington Square Park.

• This march comes in the wake of the execution of an American citizen by Hamas. Read More

  Militant-Right & Militant-Left Extremism

Teak Brockbank - U.S. District Court via CBC News screenshot

Man Who Threatened to Kill Elected Officials Arrested

• Teak Brockbank, a 45-year-old from Cortez, Colo., was arrested on charges of transmitting interstate threats after making detailed death threats against election officials, a state judge, and law enforcement on social media platforms.

• Brockbank's threats included claims that it was time to put state election officials to death and that he was obligated to kill a Colorado state judge. He also expressed intentions to shoot federal law enforcement if they approached his home.

• Brockbank has a history of illegal firearm possession, which complicates his case further. His threats were part of a broader context of increased threats against election officials, which the Justice Department has been actively addressing through a task force established to combat such threats. Read More

Nazi Flyers Found Across Several Cities in California

• Antisemitic flyers and packets have been found across several East Bay California cities such as Walnut Creek, Lafayette, and Concord.

• The flyers contained messages designed to instill fear within the Jewish community, often promoting conspiracy theories and blaming Jews for various societal issues. Read More

  Hate Crime

U of Pitt student tells reporter, “Antisemitism has no place here” - via  CBS News video screenshot

Jewish Students Attacked on Campus

• Two Jewish students were attacked on the University of Pittsburgh campus near the Cathedral of Learning. The assailant used a glass bottle, striking one student on the neck and the other on the cheek. The attack occurred as the students were heading to a service at the campus Hillel.

• The suspect, identified as 52-year-old Jarrett Buba from Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood, was arrested at the scene. Buba had no known affiliation with the university and was wearing a keffiyeh, often associated with Palestinian solidarity. Read More

Park Ranger Stabbed

• A Philadelphia City Park Ranger was stabbed in the head during a confrontation with an individual in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia. Authorities have labeled it a hate crime due to the assailant's reported comments about the ranger's ethnicity.

• The attack occurred on a Sunday afternoon, with the ranger being stabbed near his right eye with a pair of scissors.

• The suspect, identified as Thomas Riceman, 34, from University City, was apprehended and charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and ethnic intimidation, among other charges. Read More

  School Threats

East Rowan (N.C.) High School promo photo - via East Rowan High School website screenshot

North Carolina Juvenile Arrested in Connection to Bomb Threat

• A juvenile was identified and charged with making a bomb threat against East Rowan High School in North Carolina.

• The threat was reported to have been emailed to school staff. The juvenile was apprehended based on a tip received by deputies, confirming the individual's involvement. Read More

Two Florida Teens Arrested

• Two 13-year-olds in Broward County, Fla., were arrested for making separate threats against Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) on Snapchat. One threat involved a mass shooting at BCPS offices due to dissatisfaction with a new cell phone policy, while the other targeted Cooper City High School.

• Both individuals face felony charges for written threats to kill, conduct a mass shooting, or an act of terrorism. Read More

Hostile Foreign Influence Operations

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul attends the 2024 NYC Pride March on June 30, 2024 in New York City - Gotham/Getty Images

Former High-Ranking New York State Government Employee Charged With Acting as Undisclosed Agent

• Linda Sun, previously a deputy chief of staff for New York Governor Kathy Hochul, was charged with acting as an undisclosed agent of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). She allegedly engaged in activities to further the interests of the PRC and CCP while holding her position in the New York State government.
• Sun's actions included blocking Taiwanese government representatives from meeting with New York officials, altering state government messaging to align with Chinese interests, and facilitating trips for high-level New York politicians to China. These activities were conducted without proper disclosure of her foreign affiliations.
• The charges against Sun include money laundering, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and misuse of identification. Read More

Research and Trends in Extremism

Minouche Shafik, former president of Columbia University, testifies during the House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing titled "Columbia in Crisis: Columbia University's Response to Antisemitism," on April 17, 2024 - Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

New Columbia University Antisemitism Report

• A report by Columbia University's Task Force on Antisemitism details numerous instances where Jewish and Israeli students at Columbia University faced harassment, ethnic slurs, and physical threats. These incidents were not isolated but part of a broader pattern of antisemitic behavior on campus exacerbated during pro-Palestinian protests.
• The Task Force recommended the adoption of a specific definition of antisemitism, which includes discrimination based on perceived ties to Israel and double standards applied to Israel. They also suggested implementing anti-bias training, revising the university's conduct guidelines, and creating a new Office of Institutional Equity to handle harassment complaints more effectively.
• The report highlights a failure to create an inclusive environment where Jewish students feel valued and safe. It points out that the university has not met its standards of civility, respect, and fairness toward these students, leading to a significant breakdown in campus climate. Following the report, Columbia's interim president acknowledged the need for systemic changes to combat antisemitism and improve the overall campus climate. Read More

Hate Crimes in New York Surge

• A report by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli highlights a significant increase in hate crimes across New York State, with a 69 percent surge since 2019, totaling 1,089 reported incidents in 2023. This marks the highest number of hate crimes since the state began mandating annual reporting under the Hate Crimes Act of 2000.

• Jewish individuals were the most targeted group, accounting for 44 percent of all hate crimes in 2023, with 88 percent of religious-based hate crimes directed at Jewish victims. 
  

• There was a notable increase in anti-Asian hate crimes during the height of the pandemic, though these numbers have since halved but remain significantly higher than pre-2019 levels.

• The report calls for comprehensive action from community leaders, law enforcement, and policymakers to address this rising tide of hate. Read More

QUOTABLE 

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

- Benjamin Franklin

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.