“About 60 people including the mayor have been killed in an attack on the
village of Banibangou in southwest Niger, two local officials told Reuters.

 

 


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Eye on Extremism


November 5, 2021  

 

Reuters: Sixty Killed In Attack On Village In Southwest Niger -Local Officials
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“About 60 people including the mayor have been killed in an attack on the
village of Banibangou in southwest Niger, two local officials told Reuters.
Details of Tuesday's raid on a remote area near the border with Mali were
sparse and no group has claimed responsibility, said Zakari Karidjo, a senior
official in Banibangou department (county). He said there was a clash and that
there were losses on both sides. Karidjo and Marsadou Soumaila, prefect of the
neighbouring department of Ouallam, said the mayor of Banibangou was killed.
The attack occurred in an area overrun by militants associated with a local
affiliate of Islamic State that has killed hundreds of civilians in attacks on
rural communities this year. A poverty-stricken, arid zone of West Africa
encompassing the borderlands of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso has been racked by
violence in recent years as armed groups, some linked with al Qaeda, have
sought to establish control over communities and rid the region of local and
international military forces. Thousands of civilians have been killed and
millions have been displaced. Not including Tuesday's violence, Islamist groups
have killed more than 530 people in attacks on civilians in the frontier
regions of southwest Niger this year, over five times more than in all of 2020,
according to data provided by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project
(ACLED), a consultancy which tracks political violence.”

 

ABC News: Newly Released FBI Tapes Show White Supremacist Members Of 'The
Base' Plotting Terror Attacks
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“For a month, FBI agents listened in as two members of a white supremacist
group discussed their sinister plans: a plot to use a pro-gun rights rally in
Richmond, Virginia, to engage in mass murder and attacks on critical
infrastructure, which they believed would mark the start of a racial civil war.
Patrik Mathews, a former Canadian Army reservist illegally in the U.S., and
Brian Lemley, a Maryland resident and self-described white nationalist,
fantasized about the brutal murders they'd soon carry out against law
enforcement and Black people, all with the goal of bringing about the
“Boogaloo,” or the collapse of the U.S. government in order to prop up a white
ethno-state, according to recordings of the pair's discussions. “We need to go
back to the days of ... decimating Blacks and getting rid of them where they
stand,” Mathews said in one recording. “If you see a bunch of Blacks sitting on
some corner you f***ing shoot them.” “I need to claim my first victim,” Lemley
said in another recording. “It's just that we can't live with ourselves if we
don't get somebody's blood on our hands.” The two men were each sentenced in
late October to nine years in prison, and ABC News has now obtained newly
released audio from the FBI's secret recording of Mathews and Lemley at their
Delaware residence in late 2019.”

 

Afghanistan

 

Al Jazeera: Afghanistan: Taliban Leader Warns Of Infiltrators
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“The supreme leader of the Taliban, Haibatullah Akhunzada, has warned the
group that there may be “unknown” entities among their ranks who are “working
against the will of the government”. The warning came in a statement attributed
to Akhunzada that was circulated widely on Taliban social media accounts on
Thursday. The Taliban’s supreme leader has not been seen in public since the
group seized power nearly three months ago, capturing the Afghan capital of
Kabul on August 15 and declaring an Islamic emirate as US forces withdrew
following a decades-long occupation. Since the Taliban took control of the
country, its leadership has repeatedly warned of impostors and criminals
joining the group in an effort to harm its image. In September, acting Defence
Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob raised concerns in an audio message. “There are
some bad and corrupt people who want to join us … To fulfil their own interest
or to defame us and make us look bad,” he said. Yaqoob, the son of Taliban
founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, added that any rogue elements among the ranks
would be dealt with. In recent months, the Taliban has expanded its recruitment
as it seeks to fulfil a pledge to maintain security in the country. But the
group has faced a series of deadly attacks from rivals, including the Islamic
State in Khorasan Province, ISKP (ISIS-K) armed group, an ISIL-affiliate.”

 

The National: Afghanistan: Nine Family Members Killed In Explosion
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“Nine members of one family, including four girls and two boys, were
reportedly killed on Wednesday morning when a mortar round exploded in an
Afghan home in Kunduz, Unicef and local officials said. Three young girls were
injured in the blast, two of them critically, Afghanistan's Tolo news reported,
citing the head of the Kunduz regional hospital. “Reportedly, one of the
children unknowingly brought the unexploded device into the home after finding
it in the field next to their house,” said Unicef’s acting representative in
Afghanistan, Alice Akunga. “Children are especially vulnerable to explosive
remnants of war ... children continue to pay the price of a conflict not of
their making,” she said. Unicef estimates that more 460 children were killed in
the first six months of 2021 in Afghanistan. “These are only the deaths that
the UN has been able to verify,” Ms Akunga said. “All forms of violence against
children must immediately come to an end.” A local ISIS branch known as the
Islamic State Khorasan Province (IKSP) is known to carry out attacks in Kunduz.
In early October, IKSP killed or injured at least 100 people in a suicide
attack at a Shiite mosque, the UN said.”

 

Saudi Arabia

 

Associated Press: FBI Releases Declassified Documents On Sept. 11 Attacks
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“The FBI released hundreds of pages of newly declassified documents Wednesday
about its long effort to explore connections between the Saudi government and
the Sept. 11 attacks, revealing the scope of a strenuous but ultimately
fruitless investigation whose outcome many question to this day. Agents for
years investigated support given to several of the hijackers upon their arrival
in the U.S., focusing in particular on whether three Saudi nationals —
including a Saudi Embassy official in Washington — had advance knowledge of the
attacks. Ultimately, investigators found insufficient evidence to charge any of
the three with illegally supporting the hijackers, according to an FBI memo
from May that closed out the probe and was among the more than 700 pages
released Wednesday. The FBI noted in the memo that al-Qaida compartmentalized
the roles within its major attacks and “did not make the attack plans known in
advance to others” for fear of word getting out.”

 

Lebanon

 

Arab News: Lebanon Cannot Be Saved While It Is Controlled By Hezbollah
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“I have always been puzzled by Lebanese political talk shows. These shows go
on for hours and hours, with the same guests — politicians and analysts —
discussing the hot topic of the week. In reality, the hot topic is the same, as
nothing really changes in the dynamic of Lebanon, and so they end up repeating
the same analysis over and over again. They have talked for so long that they
have stopped looking at the changes the world around them is going through.
There is a mix of denial, narcissism and nostalgia in Lebanese political media
content. Regardless of their political affiliation, all the guests still assume
Lebanon is the No. 1 priority of regional, global and world leaders. They keep
expecting a miraculous outside intervention to come and end the political
deadlock and catastrophic humanitarian situation the country faces. And so,
every time world or regional leaders meet, they assume they will be discussing
Lebanon as a matter of urgency. It is as if Emmanuel Macron will rush off his
plane after landing in Scotland for the COP26 climate change meetings and run
to Joe Biden and tell him, out of breath, “we must find a solution for
Lebanon.” Even worse is that the Lebanese political media still thinks that
France and the US can bring about a solution for the country.”

 

Libya

 

Asharq Al-Awsat: Libyan, Turkish Officials Discuss Cooperation In ‘Fighting
Terrorism’
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“A meeting has been held at the office of the Libyan Ministry of Interior with
a Turkish delegation to discuss security cooperation in “fighting terrorism”
and organized crime in addition to addressing the issue of the coast guard.
According to the Libyan News Agency, Wednesday’s meeting was attended by the
Director of the General Department for Security Operations, Ali Al-Nuwaisri,
head of Relations and Cooperation Salah al-Din bin Suleiman, General
Directorate of Police Aviation chief Brigadier General Taher Al-Qerbai and
Osama Dhaideh from the General Administration for Coastal Security (GACS). The
meeting reviewed the security cooperation and the exchange of expertise and
training in the fight against terrorism and organized crime, said the agency.
The Libyan and Turkish officials also discussed topics related to the coast
guard, police aviation, and forensic laboratories. They agreed on supporting
the Libyan Ministry of Interior by putting security expertise and training at
its disposal.”

 

Mali

 

The North Africa Post: Mali: Algerian Intelligence Services Vow Protection To
Terrorist Iyad Ag Ghali At A Meeting In Tinzawaten
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“The deputy director general of the Algerian intelligence services met
Wednesday evening in northern Mali with Iyad Ag Ghali, the leader of the
terrorist GSIM group (Support Group for Islam and Muslims), the local branch of
Al Qaeda. The official of the Algerian intelligence services reportedly flew
Wednesday evening by helicopter to a spot located some 21 km east of
Tinzawaten, in northern Mali, some news outlets have reported. The meeting with
Iyad Ag Ghali was organized by emissaries of the Algerian secret services,
dispatched last week to Tinzawaten, a Malian locality located on the border
with Algeria. During the 4-hour meeting, held at the request of the Algerians,
discussions tackled several topics, with focus on the occupation of all of
northern Mali by the GSIM. The deputy director general of the Algerian
intelligence services assured the terrorist leader that Algeria will put at his
disposal all the financial means and military support he needs, according to
the press reports. The meeting between the Algerian senior spy and the
terrorist Iyad Ag Ghali also discussed how to consolidate the GSIM’s control
over the Coordination of Azawad movements (CMA), an alliance of rebel groups
created in 2014 during the war in Mali.”

 

United Kingdom

 

The Independent: Teenager Charged With Planning Far-Right Terror Attack
Targeting Police, Drag Queens And ‘Muslim Rape Gangs’
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“A teenager has been charged with planning a far-right terror attack against
potential targets including police stations, drag queens and “Muslim rape
gangs”. Luke Skelton appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with
preparing acts of terrorism on Thursday. The court heard that the 18-year-old,
from Washington near Sunderland, had written a draft manifesto and “final
note”. He is also accused of researching explosive ingredients and identifying
people and locations as potential targets. The alleged preparation started on 1
October 2020 and continued until his arrest last month. Mr Skelton was refused
bail by Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring, the chief magistrate of England
and Wales, and remanded into custody. He is due to appear at the Old Bailey for
a preliminary hearing on 19 November. Counter Terrorism Policing North East
said Mr Skelton was arrested on 28 October as part of an investigation into
extreme right-wing terrorism and charged on Wednesday.”

 

France

 

AFP: Mother Of Bataclan Attacker Faces Trial In Paris For 'Financing Terrorism'

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“The mother of one of the 2015 Bataclan concert hall attackers is facing trial
in Paris, accused of “financing terrorism”. Fatima Hajji, 53, is charged with
sending €13,000 to her son and his partner while they were in Iraq and Syria,
between 2014 and 2015. She was due to appear before the Paris Criminal Court on
Thursday but the case has now been adjourned to March 2022 to give her more
time to prepare her defence. Hajji's son -- Foued Mohamed Aggad -- was one of
three suicide bombers who stormed the Paris theatre during the November 2015
terror attacks. His partner Hajira Belkhir -- who is presumed dead -- is also
being prosecuted for “terrorist criminal association”. 'The first to stand up,
I'll shoot': Bataclan audio played in court at Paris attacks trial Prosecutors
say that Aggad left France for left for Syria in December 2013 with other
members of the so-called Strasbourg network. But he maintained regular contact
with his mother and other family members in northeastern France, officials say.
Six of his relatives, including his mother and aunt, were arrested in June as
part of a preliminary investigation by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's
Office for “financing terrorism”. “In his exchanges with his mother, he
indicated that, if he were to return to France, it would only be to commit an
attack,” investigators said.”

 

Germany

 

Deutsche Welle: German President Praises Norway's Response To Terror Attacks
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“Speaking on Thursday, the German president said that, while a brutal attack
in the Norwegian town of Kongsberg had “deeply shocked us all,” Norway's
response to terror incidents remained an inspiration.

Steinmeier also drew parallel with far-right murders that took place in
Germany, as he was welcomed at a dinner in Oslo, hosted by Prime Minister Jonas
Gahr Store of the Labour Party. Why did Steinmeier praise Norway? The
president, on a two-day visit to the Nordic country, said he admired the
strength “with which Norwegians defy the hatred and violence that have shocked
and saddened the entire country and the entire continent.” Steinmeier singled
out the far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik, whose bomb and shooting
spree 10 years ago killed 77 people in Oslo and at a Labour Party youth camp on
the island of Utoya. “They will not allow terror to wound our values of
democracy, freedom, and solidarity,” German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier
said, speaking of the Norwegian people. An expression of the strength of
democracy, he said, was the recent appointment of two survivors of the Utoya
attack to posts in the new Norwegian prime minister's recently appointed
Cabinet. Store's center-left minority government took power last month. Norway
was shaken by further bloodshed in mid-October when a man murdered five people
in an attack involving various weapons — including a bow and arrow — in
Kongsberg.”

 

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