At least seven people were killed in a Boko Haram attack on the
majority-Christian village of Pemi in Nigeria's Borno state on Christmas Eve, a
local

 

 


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Eye on Extremism


December 28, 2020

 

CNN: Boko Haram Kills At Least Seven In Christmas Eve Attack In Nigeria, Local
Official Says
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“At least seven people were killed in a Boko Haram attack on the
majority-Christian village of Pemi in Nigeria's Borno state on Christmas Eve, a
local official said. “Boko Haram attacked Pemi village, killed seven people and
abducted another seven, including a pastor,” Kachallah Usman, secretary of the
Chibok local government area, told CNN on Friday. “They also burned down a
church, a dispensary and several houses,” he added. Pemi is located
approximately 20 kilometers from Chibok, where Boko Haram kidnapped more than
200 schoolgirls six years ago. Along with your genetic health assessment,
AncestryHealth® gives you your ethnic origins and genetically influenced
personal traits. A man purporting to be Abubakar Shekau, a leader of one of
Boko Haram's factions, also said the group was responsible for the kidnapping
of more than 300 schoolboys in the country's northwest earlier this month,
though governor Aminu Bello Masari refuted this claim, saying that “local
bandits” were responsible. Audu Chiwar, a former secretary of the Chibok
community in Abuja, told CNN he received a call on Thursday from a local
resident reporting that gunmen had opened fire in the village. The witness told
Chiwar that several houses in the area had been burned down, as well as the
Evangelical Church of the Brethren in the village of Pemi.”

 

CNN: Seven Killed In Knife Attack In Northeast China
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“At least seven people were killed Sunday morning by a knife-wielding attacker
in northeast China, according to state media. Seven other people were also
injured in the attack in the city of Kaiyuan, in Liaoning province, state
broadcaster CCTV reported. A single suspect surnamed Yang has been arrested and
police are investigating the case, the Kaiyuan municipal public security bureau
said in a statement. The police did not mention the motive of the attack, or
details on the suspect or the casualties. CCTV reported that a police officer
who helped subdue the suspect was among the injured. A video posted by the
state-run Beijing News on Chinese social media showed two police officers --
one of them wielding a broom -- confronting the suspect and tackling him to the
ground. Knife attacks in public are not uncommon in China. In June, 37 children
and two adults were injured by a knife attacker at an elementary school in the
southwestern Guangxi region. In October 2018, a woman wielding a kitchen knife
slashed at least 14 children at a kindergarten in the central city of
Chongqing. Nine students were killed at a middle school in Shaanxi province in
April 2018 by a 28-year-old man who was later sentenced to death.”

 

United States

 

The New York Times: A Warning, Then A Blast: Nashville Explosion Was
Deliberate, Police Say
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“First came the warning, then came the blast, shattering the Christmas morning
silence in the heart of the city’s tourist district. Before dawn on Friday,
Nashville police officers rushed to calls of gunfire on Second Avenue, a strip
of honky tonks, restaurants and boot shops. Instead of gunfire, they found an
R.V., blaring a strange and unsettling message: There was a bomb. It would
detonate in 15 minutes. When the R.V. did explode, it sent plumes of smoke
billowing above the city, blew out windows in shops and offices for several
blocks, left three people hospitalized — and Nashville shaken. Police said the
explosion was deliberate. It was also deeply unsettling, coming in an area that
draws thousands of people nightly. But who set it off and why remained unknown
as officials began to make sense of the blast. “The whole neighborhood shook,”
said Lily Hansen, who was sitting on her couch in her second-floor apartment in
a loft building a few blocks away. She looked outside. “I just can’t get the
image out of my head.” The police released a photo of the R.V. on Friday
afternoon and said the vehicle had arrived on Second Avenue North at 1:22 a.m.
The R.V. was parked outside an AT&T transmission building, a separate building
from the landmark 33 story AT&T office tower less than half a mile away.”

 

Associated Press: Fiery Oil Train Crash Was Near Where Two Arrested, Accused
Of Attempted Terrorist Attack On Tracks: Feds Investigate
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“Federal and local authorities were investigating a fiery oil car train
derailment north of Seattle near where two people were arrested last month and
accused of attempting a terrorist attack on train tracks to disrupt plans for a
natural gas pipeline. Seven train cars carrying crude oil derailed and five
caught fire Tuesday, sending a large plume of black smoke into the sky close to
the Canadian border. There were no injuries in the derailment about 100 miles
north of Seattle. Officials were asked about recent attempts to sabotage oil
trains, but they said the investigation was just beginning. “We’ve not been
able to get close enough to the site to make an evaluation,” Whatcom County
Sheriff Bill Elfo said late Tuesday. Officials with the National Transportation
Safety Board along with the FBI and other federal, state and local agencies
were on the scene. Last month federal authorities in Seattle charged two people
with a terrorist attack on train tracks, saying they placed “shunts” on
Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks. Shunts consist of a wire strung across the
tracks, mimicking the electrical signal of a train. The devices can cause
trains to automatically brake and can disable railroad crossing guards.
Authorities said the pair were opposed to the construction of a natural gas
pipeline across British Columbia when they interfered with the operation of a
railroad in Washington state.”

 

New York Post: Internal NYPD Memo Warns Of Cops Being Targets Of IED, Vehicle
Attacks
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“The NYPD has been on the alert for weeks for possible attacks similar to
Friday’s deliberate RV explosion in Nashville, The Post has learned. An
internal NYPD memo issued earlier this month warned that law enforcement were
the “priority targets” for terror attacks involving homemade bombs and vehicle
arson. The Dec. 14 memo, obtained by The Post, said violent extremists and
“malicious criminal actors” might go after cops to exacerbate tensions,
“exploit civil unrest” and incite further violence. The document referenced
Al-Qaeda propaganda released on Nov. 26 that urged  radical jihadists to
exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to attack “priority targets.” Those targets
included retired officers, business leaders, intelligence personnel and
“soldiers and police of every brand.” Suggested attack methods were “stones,
weights, edged weapons” — as well as improvised explosive devices and the arson
of commercial buildings and vehicles. Authorities haven’t yet released a motive
for the attack in Nashville and no suspects have been identified, but retired
NYPD detective Bill Ryan told Fox News he wouldn’t rule out first responders
and police officers as the intended targets. “You have to really wonder what
the motivation of the bombers are — I don’t think this was one person; it was
probably an organized group of people,” Ryan said.”

 

Brookings Institute: 2020 Appears To Be A Good Year For Counterterrorism
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“In October, the FBI arrested over a dozen men tied to the anti-government
“boogaloo” movement and a paramilitary group, the “Wolverine Watchmen.” The men
allegedly plotted to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), put her on
trial or treason for taking tough measures to fight covid-19, and storm the
state capitol building to instigate a civil war. The alleged Whitmer plot,
along with constant disinformation claiming an election coup, bizarre QAnon
conspiracy theories and images of burning cities, seemed to embody the
extremism that appears to permeate America today. Although many Americans are
eager to put this year behind them, 2020 also had some surprising bright spots.
So far, we’ve seen no foreign jihadist attacks on U.S. soil, and despite the
grim headlines, the actual number of deaths from white supremacists and other
domestic terrorists is small. Data from the New America Foundation shows that
zero Americans died from jihadist attacks in the United States this year. For
2020 so far, New America tallies eight terrorism deaths on U.S. soil, far fewer
than the 30 Americans killed in 2019. Kyle Rittenhouse was charged with killing
Black Lives Matter protesters in Kenosha, Wis. Police believe a “men’s rights”
activist planned to attack a New Jersey judge and killed her son when he opened
the door.”

 

Syria

 

Reuters: Turkey Says It Killed 15 Kurdish Militants Preparing Attack In
Northeast Syria
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“Turkey said on Sunday its military killed 15 militants from the Syrian
Kurdish YPG militia, which it said was preparing to carry out an attack in a
region of northeast Syria controlled by Turkey and its Syrian rebel allies. In
an offensive last year dubbed the Peace Spring Operation, Turkey seized a
120-km (75-mile) stretch of border territory in northeast Syria from the YPG,
which it considers a terrorist organisation linked to the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK) militia. “Our heroic commandos dealt another heavy blow to
the PKK/YPG terrorist organisation. Fifteen PKK/YPG terrorists trying to
infiltrate the Peace Spring region from the south to carry out an attack were
neutralised with the successful intervention of our commandos,” Turkey’s
Defence Ministry said on Twitter. Turkey halted its offensive, which was widely
condemned by Ankara’s Western allies as the YPG was a key U.S. ally in the
fight against Islamic State, after striking deals with Russia and the United
States. Moscow has said the YPG withdrew to at least 30 km (18 miles) from
Turkey’s border, but Ankara has been sceptical and held out the possibility of
new attacks if militants remain. U.S. support for the YPG has been among the
main issues between Ankara and Washington, NATO allies.”

 

Voice Of America: US-Backed SDF Targets IS Militants In Eastern Syria
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“U.S.-backed forces are carrying out new raids against militants affiliated
with the Islamic State (IS) terror group in eastern Syria. The new campaign led
by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) targets remnants of IS in Deir al-Zour
province, which borders Iraq. The SDF, a Kurdish-led military alliance, said
its ongoing operations have been focused on active IS cells in the northern
part of the province. “On December 26, our Special Forces and International
Coalition Forces arrested a member of a terrorist cell north of Deir al-Zour,
during a joint raid operation,” the SDF said in a statement Sunday. The SDF
added that its forces also seized “quantities of ammunition” during the same
operation. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the SDF
Sunday carried out additional raids, which were supported by the U.S.-led
Global Coalition to Defeat IS. The war monitor has researchers across war-torn
Syria. Despite its territorial defeat in March 2019, IS continues to carry out
terror attacks against civilians and SDF forces in Deir al-Zour and other parts
of eastern Syria. In recent weeks, IS cells have intensified their activity in
the area. According to the Syrian Observatory, an SDF fighter was killed and
another wounded after an explosive device targeted their vehicle Saturday in
Deir al-Zour’s al-Shuhail town.”

 

Turkey

 

Daily Sabah: Turkey Adopts Law To Prevent Terror Financing, Weapons Of Mass
Destruction
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“The Turkish Parliament on Sunday ratified a motion banning the commercial
activities of organizations and individuals facing sanctions by the U.N.
Security Council. Accordingly, collecting or providing funds to such
individuals or organizations will also be banned in Turkey. Parliament also
adopted a law calling for the prevention of proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction (WMD). The provisions of the new law also deal with the funding of
terrorist groups. The definition of “asset” was updated to match the
internationally recognized meaning. Those who commit the crime of “funding
terrorism” will be subjected to heavier fines and penalties. Also, the assets
of individuals and organizations sanctioned by the Security Council for
“funding terrorism” will be frozen in a swifter procedure. The law also
regulates the collection of donations and funding through the internet. As
such, collecting donations and funding online will be subject to permission by
the Turkish Interior Ministry. By doing so, authorities aim to prevent the
abuse of a sense of solidarity in the public. The law will also regulate both
domestic and foreign foundations operating in Turkey. The operations of foreign
foundations working in Turkey will be inspected regularly by the ministry.”

 

Afghanistan

 

The Washington Post: Targeted Killings Of Journalists Are On The Rise Across
Afghanistan
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“Malala Maiwand sat on a television studio couch, pen and notebook in hand, a
dark red headscarf framing her face. She was hosting a morning talk show in the
city of Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan. The topic was rising insecurity in
the region, and her guest was a police spokesman. Maiwand got straight to the
point. A recent killing had taken place in broad daylight and in plain sight of
police, but the killer had escaped. “What is your answer to this?” she asked
the man. Though just 26, Maiwand was known for holding officials to account,
especially on issues of corruption, and her show on Enikass TV had become one
of the most popular in the eastern part of the country. But on Dec. 10, just a
few weeks after the interview aired, she was shot dead, along with her driver,
when unknown gunmen fired on their vehicle as she headed to work in Jalalabad,
a bustling city of some 350,000 and the capital of Nangahar province. The
brazen daytime assassination was one of the latest in a string of targeted
attacks on journalists in Afghanistan. The killings have highlighted the danger
journalists face as they report on surging violence and tense peace talks
between Afghan and Taliban representatives in Qatar that began in September.”

 

Associated Press: Afghan Army: 2 Officers Killed By Roadside Bomb In North
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“At least two Afghan army officers including a battalion commander were killed
Friday when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in the northern Balkh
province, the military said. Hanif Rezaie, a spokesman for the army in the
country's north, said Capt. Mohammad Qasim Paikar and another officer were
killed and two other soldiers were wounded in the explosion, which took place
between Balkh and Char Bolak districts. The attack was the latest amid
relentless violence in Afghanistan even as Taliban and Afghan government
negotiators hold talks in Qatar, trying to hammer out a peace deal that could
put an end to decades of war. No one immediately claimed responsibility for
Friday's bombing. Rezaie blamed the Taliban, who are active in both districts
and regularly launch attacks against Afghan security forces. Elsewhere, the
Taliban announced the release of 30 imprisoned Afghan security personnel on
Thursday in the southern Kandahar province's Panjwai district. This is the
first batch of prisoners released by the Taliban since the start of direct
peace talks with the Afghan government in September. Zabihullah Mujahid, a
spokesman for the group, did not provide further details about the freed
prisoners, but it appeared the decision was based on an order from the
Taliban's leadership.”

 

Voice Of America: Sticky Bomb Attacks Send Wave Of Fear Through Kabul
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“An apparent rise in “sticky bomb” attacks against Afghan officials and other
high-profile targets has some dreading car journeys in Kabul, with some
activists saying the violence, conducted through fixing magnetic explosives to
vehicles, is the latest tactic by militant groups to further destabilize the
country. At least one police officer was killed and two more were wounded
Wednesday in an explosion caused by a bomb attached to their vehicle. A day
earlier, a magnetic or sticky bomb explosion killed at least five people,
including four doctors. “Every time that I go out, I am worried that something
might happen to me,” said Subhan Mesbah, the deputy head of the Lawyers
Association of Afghanistan. “I have the fear that someone might attach a sticky
bomb to my car or shoot me.” The bombing in recent weeks has targeted
politicians, security officials, human rights activists and journalists. Some
officials say the tactic helps the attackers hurt high-profile Afghans without
drawing much attention. Mesbah, who regularly appears on media outlets as a
political analyst, said he now takes precautionary measures such as inspecting
his car before driving because he might be a target of violence for his public
appearances.”

 

Pakistan

 

Reuters: Seven Pakistani Soldiers Killed In Attack In Southwest
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“Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed late on Saturday in an attack in the
southwestern province of Balochistan, the military said on Sunday. Security
sources told Reuters the attack occurred in the district of Harnai. Militants
from nearby hilltops opened fire on a military checkpost using rockets and then
automatic gunfire. “[The area] has been cordoned off; escape routes have been
blocked,” the military said in a statement.The resource-rich province of
Balochistan is home to some of Pakistan’s largest coal and natural gas
reserves, including some being backed by China. But Balochistan has largely
remained undeveloped, and several armed groups have waged a decades-old
insurgency in the region that has targeted the military as well as coal and gas
projects backed by foreign investors. Islamabad has said the insurgency is
backed by rival India, and is part of an attempt to thwart foreign investment
in the country. “Our nation stands with our courageous soldiers who face
attacks from Indian-backed terrorists,” Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote on
Twitter after the attack. Ten militants and one soldier were killed on Dec. 20
in the Awaran district of Balochistan, according to the military, which
described the clash as part of an “intelligence-based” raid on an insurgent
location.”

 

Voice Of America: Videos Show Taliban Leaders In Pakistan With Followers,
Fighters
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“Afghanistan's foreign ministry issued a statement Friday expressing regret
and concern about videos showing senior Taliban leaders meeting their followers
and Taliban fighters in Pakistan. In cell phone video that surfaced on social
media in the last few days, the head of the Taliban’s political office, Mullah
Abdul Ghani Baradar, seems to be briefing a Taliban cadre on the ongoing peace
negotiations in Doha and acknowledging the presence of the Taliban’s top
leadership in Pakistan. In another video, a member of the Taliban’s political
team is seen meeting men wearing uniforms used by Taliban fighters. Although
the clothing of Taliban fighters in the video suggests it could be older. None
of the fighters are wearing a sweater or a jacket as they stand in line
outside, and some of the fighters are bare foot, indicating the weather to be
warmer rather than the current harsh winter months. “It is with deepest regret
and concern that some Taliban leaders were seen in the videos visiting training
camps,” the Afghan statement said, decrying the “overt presence and activities”
of Taliban fighters and leadership in Pakistan. “We urge the Pakistani
government not to allow its territory to be used by insurgents and elements who
insist on continuing the war and bloodshed,” the Afghan foreign ministry said.”

 

Lebanon

 

Associated Press: Hezbollah Doubled Its Precision-Guided Missiles In A Year
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“The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah said Sunday his group now has twice as many
precision-guided missiles as it had a year ago, saying Israel's efforts to
prevent it from acquiring them has failed. Hassan Nasrallah, in an end-of-year
interview with the Beirut-based Arabic Al-Mayadeen TV, said his group has the
capability to strike anywhere in Israel and occupied Palestinian territories.
Nasrallah said that when Israel threatened through a U.S. official to target a
Hezbollah facility in the eastern Bekaa region, his group warned it would
retaliate to any such attack. Israel has in recent months expressed concern
that Hezbollah is trying to establish production facilities to make precision
guided missiles. During the four-hour interview, Nasrallah said there are many
matters related to his group that Israel has no knowledge of because those are
kept in a “very tight circle.” Nasrallah also said that the last few weeks of
the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump are critical and must be
treated with care. He called Trump “angry” and “crazy.” Hezbollah is one of
Iran’s main allies in the region and is a sworn enemy of Israel, with which it
has had a series of confrontations, lastly in 2006. Nasrallah repeated vows
that Iran and its allies will avenge the U.S. killing of the commander of the
elite Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Qassim Soleimani, in a drone attack a year
ago in Iraq.”

 

Middle East

 

Asharq Al-Awsat: Kuwait Thwarts Possible ISIS Terrorist Attack On New Year’s
Eve
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“Kuwait’s security services have thwarted a possible ISIS terrorist attack
targeting compounds and places of worship on New Year’s Eve. The government
decided to close the places of worship and ban gatherings during the
celebration of religious holidays in public areas, starting Dec.24. Although it
linked the decision to the preventive measures applied to limit the spread of
coronavirus, it came amid news of a raised security alert after exposingthe
ISIS cell. Six young Kuwaitis have been arrested for contacting the terrorist
organization, sources said, adding that it recruited them through a famous
online game. Al-Qabas Newspaper reported that the Ministry of Interior’s
investigations with the juvenile cell revealed that its main operator was the
son of a former member in the National Assembly. Apparently, he was the first
to be contacted and enrolled by ISIS members, it noted. The young boy recruited
the rest of his comrades in favor of the extremist organization, the newspaper
noted, adding that they were asked to target compounds and mosques on New
Year’s Eve. Police confiscated firearms and computers that contained chats and
coordination schemes to carry out terrorist acts in the juveniles’ possession.”

 

Asharq Al-Awsat: Israeli Army Warns Of Jewish Terrorist Attacks Against
Palestinians
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“Far-right Jewish groups are planning to execute a number of terrorist attacks
against Palestinians in the West Bank, according to Israeli military sources.
They indicated that the so-called “Hilltop Youth” group could execute terrorist
operations similar to the one they carried out against al-Dawabsheh in 2015
when the terrorist settlers burned the family's home while its members were
asleep. Walla military correspondent, Amir Bohbot, reported that some Israeli
military officials and other security forces believe that a number of settlers
could pressure the political leadership to resume the implementation of the
annexation plan of Palestinian areas and impose Israeli sovereignty over the
settlements. As part of their campaign, the settlers will start with violent
protests and later carry out terrorist operations that will shock the region.
Last week, a “Hilltop Youth” member was killed following a car crash as he
tried to flee police after throwing rocks at Palestinians in the central West
Bank. Settlers took to the streets and members of the organization attacked
Palestinians, threw rocks at their cars, and punctured the tires of a car that
was transporting Palestinian workers in the Hebron area. A number of
Palestinians filed a complaint indicating that five to seven “Hilltop Youth”
terrorists threw stones and attacked a shepherd in the northern West Bank,
leaving him with severe injuries.”

 

Egypt

 

Egypt Today: Egypt’s Security Forces Thwart 90 Terrorist Attacks In 2020
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“Egyptian security forces have thwarted 90 terrorist attacks over 2020 through
launching pre-emptive operations, according to a statement from the Egyptian
Ministry of Interior on Friday. The ministry added that the banned terrorist
group of the Muslim Brotherhood has received the strongest blow by arresting
its acting guide Mahmoud Ezzat, continuing that such blow resulted in arresting
more members of the banned group. On 29 August 2020, Mahmoud Ezzat got arrested
during a security raid on an apartment in Cairo after having been on the run
for seven years. Despite misleading information regarding his whereabouts,
security services were able to locate Ezzat, 76, who is also the head of the
Brotherhood's International Organization. On December 3, the security services
arrested Al-Sweirki, for an accusation of “financing a terrorist group.” Also,
former Minister of Manpower Khaled al-Azhari and former Minister of
Transportation Hatem Abdel-Latif were arrested. Moreover, a total of 120
terrorists were shot dead in shoot-outs with security forces in 2020, mostly in
North Sinai, according to the data of the National Security Sector. “Egypt
succeeded in reducing the rates of violence and terrorist operations by 95% [in
2020] compared to 85% in the past,” the statement said.”

 

Nigeria

 

Agence France-Presse: Boko Haram Kidnaps 40 Loggers And Kills Three In
North-East Nigeria
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“Boko Haram jihadists have seized about 40 loggers and killed three others in
north-east Nigeria near the border with Cameroon, militia sources and residents
have said. The hostages were rounded up by the insurgents on Thursday in Wulgo
forest near the town of Gamboru, where they went to collect firewood, the
sources said. The jihadists have increasingly targeted loggers and farmers in
the north-east, accusing them of passing information to the military and local
militias. “A group of more than 40 loggers left Shehuri on the outskirts of
Gamboru on Thursday and never returned by evening as usual,” said militia
leader Umar Kachalla, who was involved in the search. “On Friday we mobilised
men and went deep into the forest where we recovered three bodies identified to
be among the loggers, without a trace of their colleagues.” The missing loggers
were presumed kidnapped by the jihadists, who are known to maintain camps in
the forest, said Kachalla, a view widely shared in the area. “We believe the
men were taken by Boko Haram who have been attacking loggers in the forest,”
said another militia member, Shehu Mada. “From all indication the three dead
loggers were shot when they tried to escape as they all were shot from behind.”

 

Africa

 

Reuters: Death Toll From Attack In Western Ethiopia Reaches 222, Red Cross Says
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“The death toll from a Wednesday attack in the western Benishangul-Gumuz
region of Ethiopia has risen to 222 people, a volunteer from the country’s Red
Cross told Reuters on Friday. “Yesterday we buried 207 people who are the
victims and 15 more from the attackers,” said the volunteer, Melese Mesfin. The
attack occurred in the village of Bekoji in Bulen county in the Metekel zone,
and the state-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission initially estimated
more than 100 people had been killed. More than 40,000 people fled their homes
due to the fighting, Bulen county spokesman Kassahun Addisu said. He said the
county had buried 207 people. Wednesday’s attack by unidentified gunmen was the
latest deadly assault in an area bedevilled by ethnic violence. Prime Minister
Abiy Ahmed called the attack a “massacre” and deployed federal troops there the
next day. The military killed 42 armed men accused of attacking the village.
Ethiopia has been grappling with outbreaks of deadly violence since Abiy was
appointed in 2018 and accelerated political reforms that loosened the state’s
iron grip on regional rivalries. Elections due next June have further inflamed
rivalries over land, power and resources.”

 

Africanews: Seven Troops, Four Jihadists Killed In Niger Ahead Of Sunday Vote
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“Seven soldiers and four suspected jihadists were killed Monday in fighting in
Niger's Tillabéri region, in a grip of recurrent jihadist attacks, less than a
week before the presidential election, according to a press release from the
national army. “On December 21 at around 10:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. GMT), the Niger
Armed Forces (FAN) was ambushed by heavily armed terrorist elements on
motorcycles and in vehicles in the Taroun region, located 57 km north-east of
Ouallam, “the statement read. “Motorcycles and weapons have been recovered. The
search operations are continuing” in the area, “said the Ministry of Defense.
The attack came at a time when the western African country is headed for the
poll on December 27. Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world, shaken
by numerous coups d'état, has never experienced a democratic succession between
two presidents since independence in 1960. Niger is facing attacks in the
Southeast from the Boko Haram jihadists near the border with Nigeria and
southwest by extremists from neighboring Mali.”

 

Europe

 

Deutsche Welle: Russian Agents Foil 'Islamic State' Terror Attack
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“Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said Saturday it had prevented an
attack by a terrorist group with links to the Islamic State (IS) armed group.
The FSB said it had arrested four people who were set to carry out the
offensive in the troubled southern republic of Dagestan. “Members of the group
planned to detonate an explosive close to an administrative building belonging
to security services, followed by an armed attack against interior ministry
employees in the city of Makhachkala,” the FSB said in a statement. As well as
arresting four “members of the international IS terrorist group”, investigators
found “firearms and bladed weapons, a large amount of ammunition and an
explosive device”, the FSB statement continued. The security service also
uncovered mobile phones containing “exchanges with organizers located abroad.”
Earlier this month, police killed two attackers targeting security forces in
the republic of Chechnya, which borders Dagestan. Six people were also killed
during an October “counterterrorism” operation in Chechen capital Grozny,
including two security force members. Russia's territories in the region
between the Black and Caspian Seas have been disputed for centuries.”

 

Southeast Asia

 

Daily Mail: Feared Terrorist Leader Who Is Believed To Have Orchestrated The
Bali Bombings Reveals Sick Web Of Secret Jihadist Fundraising Posing As Charity
Boxes In Normal Supermarkets
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“After 18 years on the run, an Indonesian terrorist leader who orchestrated
the Bali bombings has revealed new secrets after his arrest. Charity boxes in
food stalls and mini-marts have been helping to fund radical causes and police
believe there could be up to 6,000 active members of Jemaah Islamiah in
Indonesia. JI is the al-Qaeda-linked group which planned and orchestrated the
devastating 2002 Bali nightclub bombings which killed 202 people, as well as a
string of other bombings in Indonesia. Indonesian police have revealed that
more than 20,000 charity boxes, placed in food stalls, have been used to fund
the shady terror group's operations. The boxes have been used to collect cash
in 12 regions of Indonesia, across Java and Sumatra, and the food stall owners
had no idea the money was going to a terror group. The arrest in November of
Aris Sumarsono, known as Zulkarnaen, has thrown a new spotlight on JI and its
contemporary incarnation. In recent years, analysts had believed JI's influence
and membership had waned and that it no longer remained a potent threat in the
region. A biologist, Zulkarnaen had been on the run and eluded capture since
2002. He was arrested in East Lampung in Sumatra and is one of 23 JI suspects
locked up in the past few weeks by Indonesian counter-terror forces.”



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