The Philadelphia rally featured protesters waving Hamas flags and banners stating, "Amerika is the head of the snake."

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The Extremism Roundup
=====================


**Promoting Civil Discourse and Marginalizing the Extremes**
A weekly compilation of the most important developments in the struggle against radical ideologies

Islamist Extremism
------------------

* Pro-Hamas demonstrators rally in Philadelphia on Sept. 10, 2024 - via MEMRI screenshot*
**


**Outside the Presidential Debate, Protesters Call for Destruction of US and Destruction Israel**


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A rally in Philadelphia against the presidential debate featured protesters waving flags of Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), alongside chants and banners expressing support for Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza.


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The rally featured a banner stating, "Amerika is the head of the snake," alongside protesters chanting, "Yahya Sinwar, you make us proud!" indicating direct support for Sinwar, who is known for his role in orchestrating attacks against Israel. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**


**Pakistani National With Ties to Iran Charged in Assassination Plot**


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Asif Merchant, a 46-year-old Pakistani national with ties to Iran, has been indicted for attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries and murder-for-hire.


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Merchant sought to hire individuals for multiple tasks, including theft of documents, arranging protests, and most critically, assassinating a "political person."


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Merchant arrived in the U.S. from Pakistan in April 2024, after spending time in Iran, with the intent to orchestrate this assassination.


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He engaged with individuals he believed could assist in the plot, including paying $5,000 to undercover law enforcement officers he thought were hitmen. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**


**CAIR Submits Complaint Over Proposal to Protect Synagogues From Protestors**


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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has submitted a complaint against the Los Angeles City Council over a proposal to ban anti-Israel protesters from within 100 feet of synagogues.


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The proposal came in the wake of a **[violent anti-Israel protest]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)** on June 23, 2024 in which masked protestors intimidated and attacked worshippers who tried to enter the Congregation Adas Torah synagogue in LA.


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CAIR’s complaint says that the proposal “directly threatens the free speech and assembly rights of community members who peacefully advocate on behalf of Palestinian rights”. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**

  Militant-Right & Militant-Left Extremism
------------------------------------------

*Police forces arrest Ryan Wesley Routh, the suspect in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Florida on September 16, 2024 - Martin County Sheriff's Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images*


**Trump Targeted in Another Assasination Attempt**


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Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old from Hawaii, has been identified as the suspect in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a Florida golf course.


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The Secret Service engaged with an individual after spotting what appeared to be a firearm. The suspect was apprehended after the Secret Service fired shots. An AK-47-style rifle with a scope and a GoPro camera were found in the vicinity, suggesting premeditation in the act.


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Routh has a history of supporting progressive causes online and has made 19 donations to Democratic candidates since 2019.


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Routh has a history of legal issues, including a 2002 arrest for brandishing a firearm. He has been vocal on social media about various causes, notably expressing strong support for Ukraine against Russia, even traveling there to join the fight. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**


**Iraq War Veteran Charged With Assault After Shooting Palestine Protester Who Attacked Him**


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Caleb Gannon, 31, was shot after he attacked Scott Hayes, an Iraq War veteran, during a pro-Israel rally in Newton, Mass. The incident occurred when Gannon, not associated with the rally, crossed the street and tackled Hayes.


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The attacker, after shouting at the pro-Israel demonstrators from across the street, ran through traffic to tackle Hayes, leading to a scuffle where Hayes fired his gun. This action was captured on video, showing the attacker holding Hayes in a headlock before the shot was fired.


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Gannon’s social media activity reveals that he has called for the destruction of the United States and has expressed support for the terrorist organization Hamas.


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Scott Hayes was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and violation of a constitutional right causing injury after he shot the man in self-defense. He was released on a $5,000 bond following his arraignment. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**


**Man Sentenced for Targeting Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers**


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Caleb Freestone, from Florida, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate employees of pro-life pregnancy help centers.


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Between May and July 2022, Freestone, along with Amber Smith-Stewart and Annarella Rivera, engaged in nighttime attacks on these centers. They wore masks and dark clothing, spray painting messages such as, "If abortions aren’t safe then neither are you" and "YOUR TIME IS UP!!" on the facilities.


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Smith-Stewart and Rivera were sentenced to 30 days in prison and 60 days in home detention. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**


**Eco-Terrorist Pleads Guilty to Attacks on Electrical Substations**


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Cameron Monte Smith, a Canadian citizen, admitted to shooting at energy infrastructure in both North Dakota and South Dakota.


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Smith's actions in May 2023 caused a power outage affecting over 240 people, with damages exceeding $1.2 million.


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In South Dakota, his attack in July 2022 disrupted the Keystone Pipeline, causing nearly $500,000 in damage.


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Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of destruction of an energy facility, facing up to 20 years in prison for each count, along with potential fines. His actions were described as deliberate attacks on critical infrastructure. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**


**Neo-Nazi Pleads Guilty to Plot to Attack Maryland Power Stations**


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Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 36, from Catonsville, Md., pleaded guilty to conspiring with a neo-Nazi leader to attack power stations around Baltimore.


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Clendaniel's plan involved obtaining a high-powered rifle to shoot through substations in various locations around Baltimore, aiming to destabilize the government as part of a white supremacist ideology known as accelerationism.


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Prosecutors are seeking an 18-year prison sentence for Clendaniel, with three years of supervised release. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**

  Hate Crime
------------

* Hate crime victim Harrison Hipp shown after physical assault for being Jewish - via News 9 screenshot*
**


**Hate Crime Assault Against Jewish Man in Oklahoma**


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A Jewish man, Harrison Hipp, was attacked on Campus Corner in Norman, Okla. The incident involved a group of individuals who reportedly targeted Hipp for his hat and yarmulke, leading to a physical assault.


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The assailant was armed with a knife, and others joined in, using antisemitic slurs during the assault. Hipp suffered a concussion and brain bleed, requiring hospital treatment. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**


**Ann Arbor Police Investigate Hate Crime Assault Against Jewish Man**


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A 19-year-old Jewish man was assaulted in Ann Arbor, Mich. after he confirmed his Jewish identity to a group of men.


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The nature of the assault involved being thrown to the ground, kicked, and spat on. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**

  School Threats
----------------

*Magna Vista High School, Virginia - via the school’s website*
**


**Virginia Schools Receive Threats**


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Two juveniles have been charged for separate threats to Henry County schools, in Virginia.


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A bomb threat made against Magna Vista High School was shared via social media. Deputies and investigators traced the threat to a 17-year-old student.


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Investigators determined the threat was a hoax and the suspect has confessed. The teen has been charged with felony threat to bomb or burn buildings.


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In another incident, a threat was made to a Henry County elementary school. The juvenile, whose age is not being released, was identified and charged the next day. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**


**Ohio Teen Arrested for Verbal Threat to Shoot Up School**


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A 16-year-old girl was arrested in Lawrence County, Ohio, in connection with violent threats made against Ironton High School.


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The sheriff said the girl made a verbal threat “to shoot up the school,” but she didn’t have any weapons. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**


**Teen Arrested in Connection to Threat To Maryland Schools**


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An 18-year-old was arrested in connection to an online school threat that caused a pair of Maryland schools to go into lockout status.


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Dundalk High School and Sollers Point Technical High School were placed on lockdown while the police investigated the threat. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**


**Two Ohio Teens Charged**


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Two Ohio students, a 12-year-old girl from Lorain and a 13-year-old girl from Garfield Heights, have been charged in connection to several school threats that were made across Northeast Ohio. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**

Hostile Foreign Influence Operations
------------------------------------

*A screenshot of Alexander Yuk Ching Ma from a video by an FBI undercover employee taken of Ma in January 2019 during a meeting - U.S. Justice Department via AP via Fox News screenshot*
**


**Former CIA Officer Sentenced for Conspiracy to Spy for China**


- Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 71, of Honolulu, a former CIA officer, was sentenced for conspiring to gather and deliver national defense information to the People's Republic of China (PRC).
- Over a decade after resigning from the CIA, Ma was contacted by PRC intelligence in 2001. He was tasked with arranging meetings and facilitating the exchange of classified information, which included identifying individuals of interest to the PRC from photographs provided by the Shanghai State Security Bureau (SSSB).
- Ma pleaded guilty to the charges, admitting to his role in the espionage activities.
- Ma has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**
**Four U.S. Citizens Convicted of Conspiring to Act as Illegal Russian Agents**


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Four U.S. citizens, Omali Yeshitela, Penny Hess, Jesse Nevel, and Augustus C. Romain Jr., were convicted of conspiring to act as illegal agents of the Russian government. This conspiracy involved activities aimed at sowing discord and influencing U.S. politics under the direction of Russian intelligence.


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The group collaborated with Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov, who was linked to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).


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Their actions included staging protests, publishing petitions, and even attempting to influence local elections in St. Petersburg, Fla., under the supervision of Russian intelligence. They were funded and directed by Ionov to carry out these operations.


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Each of the convicted faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. **[Read More]([link removed] 202409-19&utm_medium=email)**

QUOTABLE
 
=

“We Americans are the peculiar, chosen people--the Israel of our time; we bear the ark of the liberties of the world."

*- Herman Melville*

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.

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