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The Extremism Roundup Focused on Evidence Instead of Narratives
A weekly compilation of the most important developments in the struggle against radical ideologies
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A Word about this week's Roundup
with Richard Green |
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Dear Reader,
Violent extremism thrives where hatred, isolation and ideology go unchallenged. While the motivations behind these threats may differ, they often share common warning signs that appear long before violence occurs. Recognizing those indicators—and responding before they escalate—is one of the most effective ways to protect our communities. At Clarion Project, we remain committed to exposing emerging threats, expanding public understanding of violent extremism, and helping build a safer, more resilient society through awareness and prevention.
Sincerely, |
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RIchard Green CEO, Co-Founder Clarionproject.org |
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SECURITY TIPS FOR THE WEEK: Protecting You & Your Family Online
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Don't Trust Strangers
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Teach your kids to distrust online strangers, even those who seem friendly or claim to be peers, and only connect with real-world friends they already know in person. Routinely monitor their direct messages on any app, and remind them never to share personal information, photos, passwords, or their location with someone they have only met online. Encourage them to tell a trusted adult immediately if an online conversation becomes secretive, manipulative, or makes them feel uncomfortable. |
Protection From Financial Fraud Schemes
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Do not trust caller ID. Criminals can spoof legitimate phone numbers to make calls appear as though they are coming from your bank, a government agency, or a well-known company. If you receive an unexpected request for money, passwords, account information, or verification codes, hang up and call the official number listed on your bank card, statement, or the organization's website. Legitimate institutions will never pressure you to act immediately or demand payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
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Militant-Right and Militant-Left Extremism |
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Picture of the fire caused by an incendiary device outside 26 Federal Plaza in New York City on July 28, 2026 – FNTV via Fox News screenshot
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Suspect Named in NYC Anti-ICE Incendiary Attack
Andrew Arrabaca was taken into FBI custody after authorities said he deployed an incendiary device outside 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan on July 28. FBI Director Kash Patel said the Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the incident, which resulted in two minor injuries. According to the FBI, Arrabaca poured an unidentified liquid on the ground, placed fireworks on top of it, and ignited a small fire. Authorities said he was armed with a pellet gun, while the Department of Homeland Security stated that officers also recovered two apparent pellet guns and a manifesto from his bag. Two law enforcement sources told Fox News Digital that Arrabaca had "anti-ICE stuff" in his possession at the time of the incident. DHS described the suspect as an "anti-ICE rioter" and said he poured what was believed to be gasoline on the building's entrance before setting it on fire. A federal employee and a civilian sustained minor injuries and were treated and released. READ MORE Neo-Nazi Group Leader Settles Civil Rights Case in New Hampshire
Christopher Hood, founder of the neo-Nazi group NSC-131, agreed to pay a $2,500 fine and complete 250 hours of community service after admitting he violated New Hampshire's anti-discrimination laws in connection with a June 2023 protest outside the Teatotaller café in Concord. According to the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, approximately two dozen masked NSC-131 members disrupted a drag story hour by chanting, giving Nazi salutes, and banging on the café's windows. The state alleged the group violated anti-discrimination laws by targeting the privately owned business and its patrons. Attorney General John Formella said the settlement demonstrates New Hampshire's commitment to confronting the group's "abhorrent and disgraceful" conduct. As part of the consent decree, Hood stated through his attorney that he does not intend to continue his leadership role in NSC-131, which prosecutors said is now "essentially defunct" in New Hampshire. READ MORE
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Islamist Extremism |
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Indian-British novelist Salman Rushdie speaks at the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University on March 13, 2026 – Matthew Hinton / AFP via Getty Images |
Federal Jury Convicts Man in Salman Rushdie Terror Attack
Hadi Matar, 28, of Fairview, N.J., was convicted by a federal jury of attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah, engaging in an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries, and providing material support to terrorists. Prosecutors said Matar spent more than a year researching a fatwa calling for author Salman Rushdie’s execution before attempting to murder him during an Aug. 12, 2022, speaking event at the Chautauqua Institution in Mayville, N.Y. The fatwa was issued in 1989 by Iranian Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini, reaffirmed in 2017 by Ali Khamenei and endorsed in 2006 by Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. According to evidence presented at trial, Matar discussed the fatwa and Hezbollah’s endorsement of it with people in Iran, Australia and Canada; created videos combining material about the fatwa with Nasrallah’s endorsement; and traveled under a false name. He faces up to life in prison at his Nov. 3 sentencing. READ MORE Two Men Stabbed in Separate Upper West Side Attacks
Raul Morales, 51, was arrested after police said he carried out two unprovoked stabbing attacks on Manhattan's Upper West Side on July 23. According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, detectives are investigating whether the attacks constitute hate crimes after victims and witnesses reported Morales yelled "Allahu Akbar" during both assaults. Police said Morales first stabbed a 57-year-old Asian man in the back near West 84th Street and Central Park West. Minutes later, he allegedly stabbed a 50-year-old man wearing a yarmulke in the torso with a screwdriver after the victim left Tisha B'Av services at the Jewish Center on West 86th Street. Both victims were hospitalized in stable condition. Authorities arrested Morales after he allegedly barricaded himself inside a nearby NYCHA apartment. Police recovered a knife and screwdriver following the arrest. Commissioner Tisch said investigators were continuing to determine motive, noting that "the initial investigation suggests that mental health may have been a factor," while the NYPD evaluates the attacks as potential hate crimes. READ MORE DOJ Files First Alien Terrorist Removal Court Case
The Department of Justice filed the first-ever application before the U.S. Alien Terrorist Removal Court seeking the removal of an Afghan national who, according to the government, supported her family's plans to carry out an Election Day mass shooting in the United States. The case marks the first use of the court since Congress created it in 1996. According to the DOJ, the respondent supported her family's terrorist plot by providing assistance to family members who planned the attack and by supporting terrorist activity as defined under federal law. The application seeks her removal under the Alien Terrorist Removal Court procedures established by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. Acting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the filing demonstrates the Department's commitment to using every lawful authority available to remove aliens who support terrorism. The removal proceedings are pending before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court. READ MORE |
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Hate Crimes |
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Christopher Wooster-Earl (L) and Jack Earl have been charged with felonies after running over a man several times and attempting to stab him - Clare County Sheriff's Office via WNEM5 screenshot |
Two Michigan Men Charged With Hate Crimes After Vehicle Assault
Christopher Wooster-Earl, 41, and Jack Earl, 20, both of Harrison, Mich., were arrested after the Clare County Sheriff's Office alleged they assaulted a 32-year-old Harrison man following an argument on July 25. Deputies responded after receiving reports that the victim had been struck by a vehicle and found him in the roadway with severe injuries. According to investigators, Wooster-Earl intentionally struck the victim with a Jeep, backed over him, and drove over him several times before fleeing the scene. The sheriff's office said Jack Earl then attempted to stab the victim, but witnesses intervened and chased him away before he could carry out the attack. Wooster-Earl was charged with assault with intent to murder and a hate crime—true threat. Jack Earl was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and a hate crime—true threat. Both men were arrested later that day, and each was held on a $100,000 bond. READ MORE New Jersey Man Sentenced for Crashing Into Chabad Headquarters
Dan Sohail, 36, of Carteret, N.J., was sentenced in federal court to six months and one week in prison after pleading guilty to intentionally damaging religious property by repeatedly ramming his vehicle into the Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters in Brooklyn on Jan. 28. Judge Eric N. Vitaliano also ordered him to pay $20,000 in restitution. According to the article, Sohail drove his car into the building's side entrance five times, knocking the door off its hinges and destroying the vehicle's front bumper. No one was injured, and the judge noted that Sohail had motioned for nearby pedestrians to move away before carrying out the attack. Prosecutors sought a longer sentence, citing the rise in antisemitic hate crimes in New York City and the need for deterrence. However, Judge Vitaliano said the case had initially been viewed as a hate crime before prosecutors ultimately charged Sohail with intentionally damaging religious property, and he concluded that Sohail's documented mental health challenges played "an important role" in the offense. READ MORE |
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School Threats |
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Crane (Texas) Independent School District – via News West 9 screenshot |
Suspect Arrested Following Social Media Threat Against Texas School District
Crane Independent School District, in Crane, Texas, said a social media post circulating Aug. 2 threatened violence against district schools, prompting an investigation by the Crane Police Department. According to police, investigators determined the threat was unsubstantiated and arrested a suspect in connection with the social media post. No suspect was identified, and no charges were specified. Crane ISD said classes would continue as scheduled and that existing security protocols would remain in place. READ MORE Former Student Charged After Threat Against Georgia Middle School
A former student is facing criminal charges after making a threat directed at both an individual and Henderson Middle School, Butts County, Ga., according to a letter sent to families by Butts County School System Interim Superintendent Will Rustin. Rustin said school administrators were notified of the threat and that the district intends to prosecute the former student "to the fullest extent of the law." The statement did not identify the suspect or specify the charges. The district did not disclose when the threat was made, how it was communicated, what it said, or whether the former student had been arrested. Rustin emphasized that student and staff safety remains the school system's top priority and thanked local public safety officials for their support. READ MORE |
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Foreign Influence |
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A mansion in Beverly Hills allegedly raided by the FBI on July 28, 2026 – Etienne Laurent via Los Angeles Times screenshot |
Chinese Influence probe Triggers FBI Raids in San Bernardino
FBI agents executed search warrants at multiple locations across Southern California, including the homes and offices of a San Bernardino County supervisor, an Ontario city council member, the offices of Chinese-language media company EDI Media in West Covina, a Beverly Hills residence, and Ontario International Airport. The FBI confirmed the searches but said the supporting affidavits remain under seal. No arrests were made. According to law enforcement sources cited by the Los Angeles Times, the raids are part of expanding federal investigations into alleged public corruption and foreign influence involving connections between local officials and agents of the Chinese government. Federal authorities declined to comment on the investigations because the warrants are sealed. The searches follow other recent federal investigations involving alleged Chinese government influence in Southern California, including the guilty plea of former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang, who admitted to acting at the direction of the Chinese government to promote propaganda in the United States, and a separate ongoing investigation involving communications between Lancaster officials and Chinese automaker BYD. READ MORE Report Examines CCP-Linked Media Outreach to U.S. Journalists
An investigation by International Business Times, citing reporting by Natalie Winters and publicly available Foreign Agents Registration Act filings, examined the China–United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), a foundation the article describes as linked to the Chinese Communist Party. According to the filings, CUSEF hired Washington lobbying firms to help generate favorable media coverage of China and disseminate "positive messages" about Beijing. The article identifies numerous current and former U.S. journalists who allegedly participated in CUSEF-funded trips to China over the past decade, including reporters and editors affiliated with The New York Times, CNN, Reuters, NPR, NBC News/MSNBC, The Atlantic, The Hill, Vox, and other major outlets. IBTimes notes that some participants publicly disclosed at the time that their travel had been sponsored by CUSEF. IBTimes reports that publicly available lobbying records support CUSEF's stated objective of cultivating favorable coverage, while noting that broader claims regarding the trips' influence on editorial decisions remain allegations made by Winters rather than independently established facts. The article concludes that the disclosures have renewed debate over transparency, foreign influence, and disclosure standards for journalists participating in foreign-funded reporting trips. READ MORE |
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QUOTABLE
"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend."
--Thomas Jefferson
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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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