Militants have killed at least 10 people in Nigeria by using rocket-propelled
grenades, which local officials describe as a “new trend”. Suspected Bok

 

 


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Eye on Extremism


February 25, 2021

 

BBC News: Nigeria's Boko Haram Crisis: Maiduguri Rocket Attack Kills 10
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“Militants have killed at least 10 people in Nigeria by using rocket-propelled
grenades, which local officials describe as a “new trend”. Suspected Boko Haram
militants fired from the outskirts of the north-eastern city of Maiduguri into
densely populated areas, according to Borno state governor Babagana Zulumon. He
said the use of these weapons “has to be stopped”. It is the worst attack of
its kind in Maiduguri in a year. The city is the birthplace of Boko Haram. The
militants came through Boboshe village, a known Boko Haram enclave, AFP news
agency quotes eyewitness Sama'ila Ibrahim as saying. They then crossed the
ditch fortification around Maiduguri and started shooting sporadically which
sent people scrambling for safety, he added. Explosives began to rain down near
the University of Maiduguri at around 18:00 local time on Tuesday, Reuters news
agency quotes witnesses as saying. One of the grenades hit a children's
playground, Mr Zulumon said. It is not clear if any of the children are among
the casualties. The sound of gunfire died down by 19:30 as the military fought
the attackers, Reuters reports. This strike in the heart of the capital of
Borno state is a reminder that insurgents can still cause serious harm to
civilian populations.”

 

CNN: Sri Lanka Easter Bombings Investigation Calls For Former President To Be
Prosecuted
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“An investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka has called
for the country's former President as well as senior police and intelligence
officials to be prosecuted. The commission of inquiry said Wednesday that
“criminal proceedings” should be brought against former President Maithripala
Sirisena, who left office in November 2019, for “criminal liability on his
part” over the attacks. On April 21, 2019, suicide bombers launched a
coordinated series of attacks on three Catholic churches and three luxury
hotels across Sri Lanka, killing 270 people and injuring 500 more. Shortly
after the attacks, the Sri Lankan government admitted that it failed to act on
multiple warnings from intelligence agencies, including from India and the
United States. Set up by Sirisena five months after the attacks, the commission
found that the former President knew of a possible terrorist threat but
“proceeded to India and then Singapore from April 16 to April 21 without making
any acting appointment for the post of Minister of Defense.”

 

United States

 

CBS News: Oath Keepers Member Committed “Crime Of Terrorism” In Capitol Riot,
Prosecutors Say
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“An Oath Keepers leader, Jessica Watkins, committed a “crime of terrorism”
when she “gleefully” participated in a mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol,
prosecutors said Tuesday as they argued that she should be detained as she
awaits trial. Watkins became the third Capitol rioter accused by prosecutors of
a crime of terrorism, following two Proud Boys members, Dominic Pezzola and
Ethan Nordean. Unlike involvement in a foreign terrorist organization, domestic
terrorism is not itself a criminal charge, but it is a factor that judges can
consider when deciding whether to release defendants on bail and when
determining the length of their sentence if they are found guilty. Watkins was
indicted this month on four charges, one of which was aiding and abetting the
destruction of government property — a crime that, if found to be politically
motivated, could be considered terrorism. Prosecutors argued Tuesday that
because Watkins' actions were “calculated to influence or affect the conduct of
government,” it amounted to a federal crime of terrorism and meant that she
should be detained before trial. During a hearing Tuesday, the judge delayed
making a decision on whether Watkins should remain behind bars until trial, and
questioned whether her crime qualified as a crime of violence.”

 

Turkey

 

Associated Press: Turkish Police Nab Iraqi ISIS Suspect, Rescue Yazidi Girl
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“Turkish police have detained a suspected Iraqi Islamic State group militant
and rescued a 7-year-old girl from Iraq’s Yazidi religious minority he had
allegedly been holding captive, the state-run news agency reported Wednesday.
The man, identified by his initials S.O., was detained in an early morning raid
in the capital Ankara, the Anadolu Agency reported. Another person, identified
as N.H.R., was also detained during the raid. The suspect had once served as an
officer in the Iraqi army, the agency said, adding that police and the
country’s intelligence agency had been monitoring his moves. They timed the
raid so that the child wasn't placed at risk, the agency reported. The girl was
later placed in the care of Turkey’s social services. The ISIS group attacked
the heartland of the Yazidi community, at the foot of Iraq's Sinjar mountain,
in 2014. Hundreds of Yazidis were killed and thousands of women and children
were abducted, many forced into slavery. A day earlier, police detained a
French ISIS suspect near the French Embassy in Ankara, Anadolu reported. The
woman, who was identified as Sarah Talib, was taken into custody as she
approached the embassy to allegedly seek repatriation to France. The
pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper said Talib joined the ISIS group in Syria
and is believed to have illegally crossed the border into Turkey.”

 

Afghanistan

 

Al Jazeera: Taliban Blames Kabul, Washington For Not Abiding By Doha Deal
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“The Taliban has blamed the Afghan government and its Western allies for not
living up to the agreement signed last year despite months of negotiations,
including the release of prisoners and withdrawal of foreign forces. A senior
member of the Taliban’s political office in Doha told Al Jazeera all Taliban
prisoners were to be released three months after the initiation of intra-Afghan
dialogue in the Qatari capital. “It’s been [more than] five months and they
haven’t released a single prisoner,” said the Taliban official, who did not
wish to be named, blaming the Afghan government led by President Ashraf Ghani
for the delay. The comments came as the Afghan armed group resumed talks with
the Afghan government in Doha on Tuesday after weeks of delays and a change in
US leadership. The Taliban official also raised concerns over the delay in the
withdrawal of remaining US forces as the new US administration of President Joe
Biden has been reviewing the February 2020 Doha agreement. Biden has backed
political solution for the conflict but may not honour the troop withdrawal
deadline agreed to by his predecessor, Donald Trump. “We have an agreement with
the legal government of the United States and we expect them to abide by their
deal.”

 

Voice Of America: Afghan Taliban Ask Fighters Not To Harbor ‘Foreign’
Militants As US Reviews Peace Deal
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“Afghanistan’s Taliban have ordered their members not to harbor “foreign”
fighters in their ranks in an attempt to dispel allegations the Islamist
insurgency continues to maintain close ties with al-Qaida and other terror
groups in breach of a February 2020 peace deal with the United States. The
U.S.-Taliban pact, sealed in Qatar a year ago, requires all American and allied
troops to leave Afghanistan by May 1, provided the Taliban are also honoring
their commitments, including cutting ties with terrorist groups that threaten
the United States and its allies. U.S. President Joe Biden’s new administration
is reviewing the deal to decide whether to withdraw the remaining 2,500 U.S.
troops in Afghanistan by the May deadline to close what has been the longest
war in U.S. history. NATO-led U.S. partners have fewer than 10,000 troops in
the country. “All commanders and mujahideen (fighters) are directed that they
are barred from bringing foreign nationals into their ranks or giving them
shelter,” the Taliban’s so-called military commissions said in an order
reportedly delivered to insurgent fighters. The Taliban statement, circulating
on social media, warned that violators will face punitive action, including
disbandment of their groups.”

 

Egypt

 

Arab News: Egypt Pledges Commitment To War On Terror In Call With US Secretary
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“Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry on Wednesday pledged his
country’s commitment to the war on terror during a phone conversation with US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The call from Blinken was the first official
contact Egypt had received from the new American administration of President
Joe Biden. Shoukry told Blinken that Egypt was keen to build on the progress
made over recent decades to develop cooperation between the two countries.
According to an official statement, their talks focused on regional and
international issues of joint interest. They also discussed the latest
developments in Libya and Palestine, and the need to continue working together
to combat terrorism and other challenges and security threats facing the
region. Highlighting the historic partnership between the US and Egypt, the
officials agreed to further develop political, economic, and cultural ties
while promoting issues related to human rights. US State Department spokesman,
Ned Price, said that Blinken’s call to Shoukry showed the importance that
America attached to its strategic partnership with Egypt, especially in the
areas of security, combating terrorism, and the exchange of views on regional
matters.”

 

Nigeria

 

Vanguard: Nigeria: Troops Kill Scores Of Terrorists, Recapture Marte
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“Nigerian Troops have successfully charged through Marte Local Government
Area, LGA, of Borno State, killing scores of ISWAP/ Boko Haram terrorists who
seized the area few days ago. This came as heavy explosions and sound of
gunshots late which yesterday engulfed parts of Maiduguri, the Borno State
capital, reportedly claimed several lives with many others sustaining different
degrees of injuries. A Military Officer while confirming the successful
operation said troop successfully and safely detonated series of IEDS laced
along the routes and finally dominated the general area. According to him, “new
Marte is effectively in our hands since 3pm. Our will and determination are
unshaken. We are ever determined not to let our Service Chiefs and the nation
down.” Recall that after insurgents captured Marte Local Government Area, and
allegedly hoisted their flag in the area, weekend, Chief of Army Staff, COAS,
Major General Ibrahim Attahiru on Sunday, gave troops of the Nigerian Army,
'Operation Lafiya Dole' 48 hours to clear insurgents off Marte LGA. General
Attahiru also directed troops to clear off terrorists from Kirenowa, Kirta,
Wulgo, Chikingudo communities of Marte and Ngala LGA in the state.”

 

Australia

 

Australian Associated Press: NSW To Watch Uni Student For Terror Threat
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“A Sydney university student with extensive connections to violent extremists
will be monitored for three years, despite a finding that he hasn't shown a
current desire to become a terrorist. The NSW Supreme Court this week ordered
Marsfield man Maywand Osman submit to 46 supervision conditions until 2024,
including electronic monitoring, a nightly curfew and restrictions on him
changing his identity or appearance. Even though Osman has not committed a
terrorism offence “or demonstrated a current inclination or tendency to do so”,
he had what might be considered to be a well-documented history of associations
with people who have, Justice Ian Harrison said. That may be considered of no
particular significance in many circumstances, the judge said, but there was
evidence suggesting Mr Osman was particularly vulnerable to the influence of
extremists, including his currently jailed brother Milad. Osman in November
finished a five-year prison sentence for recklessly causing grievous bodily
harm after driving a car into a person in 2013. His passenger at the time was
Mustafa Dirani, who was later jailed for assisting in the Islamic
State-inspired shooting of NSW Police employee Curtis Cheng in 2015.”

 

The Guardian: Far Right 'Exploiting' Anger At Lockdowns To Radicalise Wellness
Community, Police Say
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“Rightwing extremist groups have “exploited” anger at Covid-19 lockdowns to
radicalise Australians in wellness and alternative medical circles into
adopting white supremacist ideologies, Victoria police have warned a
parliamentary inquiry into extremism. The inquiry into extremist movements and
radicalism has separately been warned by the Australian Security Intelligence
Organisation that Australians as young as 13 are involved in onshore terrorism,
both in Islamist and rightwing extremist circles, and that encrypted online
communication channels are preventing authorities from intervening before “lone
actors” become radicalised and carry out attacks.”

 

Southeast Asia

 

The Straits Times: Indonesia Steps Up Measures To Curb Terrorism Financing
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“Indonesia will soon approve a regulation to stem money laundering and
terrorism financing by requiring fintech players to report suspicious
transactions. Providers of peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, equity crowdfunding and
other financial technology services will have to report such transactions to
the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) under the new
regulation, which amends one issued in 2015, its chief Dian Ediana Rae told The
Straits Times.”

 

Technology

 

Newsweek: Democrats Say Facebook 'Knowingly' Allowed Extremists To Promote
Capitol Attack
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“A collection of Democratic representatives has called on Facebook to do more
to prevent far-right extremist organizing on the world's largest social media
platform, accusing CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his team of “knowingly” hosting
content promoting the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Energy and Commerce
Committee Chairman Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., Oversight and Investigations
Subcommittee Chair Rep. Diana DeGette, Communications and Technology
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mike Doyle, and Consumer Protection and Commerce
Subcommittee Chair Rep. Jan Schakowsky wrote to Zuckerberg on Tuesday,
demanding more information on Facebook's anti-extremism measures. The letter
cited multiple reports that even Facebook staff were concerned about the “rapid
spread of extremism and disinformation” on the platform, but their fears were
ignored by Zuckerberg and other executives. “This deadly attack on the Capitol
laid bare the dire consequences of hyperpolarization and extremism in our
current political discourse—much of which is occurring on your platform,” the
four lawmakers wrote.”



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