“The sister of a slain federal officer is suing Facebook’s parent company Meta,
alleging it bears responsibility for her brother’s killing during raci

 

 


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Eye on Extremism


January 7, 2022

  

The Washington Post: Slain Officer’s Sister Sues Facebook In ‘Boogaloo’
Murder, Alleging It Pushed Extremist Content
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“The sister of a slain federal officer is suing Facebook’s parent company
Meta, alleging it bears responsibility for her brother’s killing during racial
justice protests in 2020. Facebook facilitated the hateful far-right “boogaloo”
movement, leading an adherent to murder officer Dave Patrick Underwood, the
lawsuit filed in a California Superior Court late Wednesday alleges. The
Homeland Security protective security officer was fatally shot in May 2020 when
a van pulled up outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland and a
gunman inside the vehicle sprayed bullets at Underwood and his partner, who was
wounded in the shooting. Federal authorities identified the shooter as Steven
Carrillo, an adherent of the “boogaloo boys,” an online extremist movement that
has sought to capitalize on racial justice protests to usher in a race war.
Underwood was killed as racial justice protests were underway nearby following
the murder of George Floyd. An officer was gunned down. The killer was a
‘boogaloo boy’ using nearby peaceful protests as cover, feds say. Now
Underwood’s sister, Angela Underwood Jacobs, is accusing Facebook of “knowingly
promoting extremist content” and connecting individuals who “planned to engage
in acts of violence against federal law enforcement officers,” according to the
suit.”

 

The National: France Bans Far-Right Group Linked To Violence At Zemmour Rally
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“France has banned an extremist right-wing youth group which was blamed for
causing violence at a raucous rally by far-right presidential candidate Eric
Zemmour. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said a group called Zouaves Paris,
an old word for elite French troops who fought in Africa in the 19th century,
had been shut down for inciting hatred and violence. A decree published by Mr
Darmanin’s office described it as an ultranationalist group known for violent
agitation, overtly racist ideology and the use of Nazi and Ku Klux Klan
symbols. The group’s public statements had promoted ideas of white supremacy
and sought to link immigrant arrivals to “threats that the French have to
fight”, the decree said. It said the group’s supporters had sought out “street
battles” targeting their opponents and undermining the rule of law. Some of its
members had previously armed themselves with tear gas, firecrackers and
baseball bats. The violence culminated in the messy brawl at Mr Zemmour’s rally
last month, where some of the Zouaves were accused of attacking members of an
anti-racism group called SOS Racisme. Chairs were hurled and punches thrown at
the chaotic rally in Villepinte, near Paris, in which Mr Zemmour suffered minor
injuries after he was grabbed and put in a headlock by an unknown assailant.”

 

United States

 

Al Jazeera: US Judge Rejects Torture Claims By ISIL ‘Beatles’ Defendant
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“Incriminating statements made by a British national charged with a
significant role in the torture and beheading of American and British hostages
held by ISIL (ISIS) can be used against him at trial, a judge in the United
States has ruled. El Shafee Elsheikh sought to have statements admitting his
role in the scheme tossed out, claiming they were obtained through torture
after he was captured. But US District Judge TS Ellis, in a ruling issued this
week, said his claims were unsupported by testimony taken during a three-day
hearing last year. Elsheikh also objected to the fact that defence
interrogators questioned him 26 times before he was advised of his right to
remain silent. But Ellis said interrogators used a legally permissible two-step
interrogation process, in which a “clean team” of interrogators came in after
those 26 interviews, advised him of his rights, and collected information only
from those subsequent interviews. Elsheikh is one of four ISIL members
nicknamed “the Beatles” by their captives because of their English accents. The
indictment charges him with hostage-taking resulting in the deaths of Americans
James Foley, Kayla Mueller, Steven Sotloff and Peter Kassig.”

 

Syria

 

Al Monitor: Islamic State Ramps Up Activities In Eastern Syria
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“The Islamic State (IS) carries out almost daily operations in Deir ez-Zor
against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the civilians it
accuses of cooperating with the Kurdish forces. IS is also imposing taxes on
shop owners, doctors and others by threatening them with murder and kidnapping
via WhatsApp messages. Furthermore, IS is constantly attacking Kurdish forces'
checkpoints and barricades, forcing the SDF to retaliate with large-scale
security and military operations against its cells in eastern Deir ez-Zor. On
Dec. 14, 2021, IS claimed responsibility for separate attacks that targeted SDF
checkpoints in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, in addition to a command
headquarters in al-Jarthi east of Deir ez-Zor. On Telegram, IS said its forces
targeted two SDF checkpoints — one in Dhiban and the other in Suwaidan east of
Deir ez-Zor — with grenades and machine guns. IS also targeted several
positions on the bridge road in Darnaj with machine guns. The group claimed
responsibility for several previous attacks on SDF military headquarters in
al-Busaira in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor with machine guns and
rocket-propelled grenades. On Dec. 13, 2021, the SDF — supported by the US-led
international coalition — carried out a security operation in the east of the
country, killing five people.”

 

Iraq

 

The Jerusalem Post: Iran-Backed Militant Targeted By Shooting Near Baghdad -
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“A member of the Kata'ib Hezbollah militia, part of the Iran-backed Popular
Mobilization Forces, was targeted by a shooting attack at his home near Baghdad
on Thursday, in which five members of his family were killed, according to the
Iraqi News Agency. An investigation into the attack has been opened by security
forces. The PMF militant was identified as Ahmad al-Muttalib. A security
official had told Rudaw news earlier that the militant was shot and injured in
the attack and that his wife and three of his children were killed. It is
unclear who conducted the shooting attack against the militant and his family.
No group had taken responsibility as of Thursday night and no suspects had been
arrested. The incident comes amid an uptick in rocket attacks against bases
housing the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria. At least some of the rocket
attacks have been blamed on Iran-backed militias. On Wednesday night, an
unidentified UAV was intercepted by air defenses near the Ain al-Assad base
where members of the US-led coalition are housed. Earlier on Wednesday evening,
five rockets were launched towards Ain al-Assad. The rockets fell short of the
base, according to the coalition.”

 

Afghanistan

 

Foreign Policy: The Taliban Pick Fight Over Border With Pakistan
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“Last August, prominent Pakistanis celebrated after the Taliban seized power
in Kabul, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, leaders of Islamist political
parties, media personalities, and retired military officers. The group had long
received Pakistani backing, and its victory delivered some strategic triumphs
to Islamabad: It ensured a friendly government in Kabul and a reduced role for
New Delhi, a close partner of non-Taliban governments after 2001. But recent
days show that Pakistan’s engagements with the Taliban regime won’t be a
cakewalk. Taliban fighters have clashed with Pakistani soldiers putting up
fencing along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, known as the Durand Line.
Pakistan began the fencing in 2014 to reduce cross-border militancy and
smuggling. It says 94 percent of the border has been fenced. On Dec. 19,
Taliban members seized barbed wire put up by Pakistani troops in Nangarhar
province, Afghanistan, and warned them not to do more fencing. On Dec. 30, a
similar incident took place in Nimroz province. Taliban officials played down
the significance of the first clash, but the second incident produced a
stronger reaction.”

 

Foreign Policy: Taliban Pressing For Prisoner Swap With U.S.
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“Leaders of the Taliban are pressing Washington to free an Afghan drug lord
serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison in exchange for the release of an
American engineer, Mark Frerichs, held in Afghanistan for two years now, Afghan
and American security, legal, and diplomatic sources said. The group is also
threatening to block the evacuation of tens of thousands of Afghans who hold
U.S. citizenship or are eligible for resettlement in the United States until
the drug lord, Bashir Noorzai, can go home to Kandahar, according to Steve
Brooking, a former official with the British government and United Nations in
Afghanistan. Noorzai helped fund and arm the Taliban’s insurgency with proceeds
from heroin trafficking. He was arrested in New York on drug trafficking
charges in 2005 and has been serving two concurrent life sentences since 2009.”

 

Saudi Arabia

 

The Times Of Israel: Saudis Say Hezbollah A Threat To Arabs After Nasrallah
Calls King A ‘Terrorist’
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“Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Beirut said Thursday that Hezbollah was a threat
to Arab security after the leader of the Iran-backed Lebanese movement branded
King Salman a “terrorist.” The latest exchange of insults follows a crisis
between Lebanon and Gulf Arab states over the war in Yemen, and Saudi
accusations that Hezbollah was meddling in the conflict. “Riyadh hopes that the
political parties will give priority to the supreme interest of Lebanon… and
end Hezbollah’s terrorist hegemony over every aspect of the state,” ambassador
Waleed Bukhari said in a statement to AFP. “Hezbollah’s terrorist activities
and regional military behavior threaten Arab national security,” he added.
Bukhari’s statement comes after Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Shiite terror
group, described King Salman as a “terrorist” and accused Saudi Arabia of
exporting Islamic extremism in a televised speech earlier this week.
Accusations have flown between the two sides since a Saudi-led coalition
intervened to prop up Yemen’s government against Iran-backed rebels in 2015, in
a conflict that has cost hundreds of thousands of lives according to the United
Nations.”

 

Nigeria

 

Sahara Reporters: Boko Haram Attacks Another Borno Community, Burns Church,
Houses
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“The Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa
Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah
wa'l-Jihād, has attacked Wultihiya, a town in Borno State. Wultihiya, a
predominantly Christian community, is located in the Askira Uba Local
Government Area of the state. SaharaReporters learnt that the gunmen also burnt
down the community’s church, some houses and two cars. The attack, which
occurred on Thursday was not repelled, residents told SaharaReporters.
Residents who had retired into their homes were forced to flee into the bushes
as the gunmen stormed the village, shooting sporadically. Since the death of
JAS leader, Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has been consolidating its grip in locations
around Lake Chad. Just recently, it appointed Wali Sani Shuwaram, a 45-year-old
as the new Leader (Wali) of ISWAP in Lake Chad. The sect’s membership has
swollen with the defection of hundreds of Boko Haram fighters under Shekau. The
Nigerian Army has repeatedly claimed that insurgency had been largely defeated
and frequently underplays any losses. The terror group has caused over 100,000
deaths and displaced millions of individuals mainly in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe
States.”

 

Pulse Nigeria: Military Kills 950 Terrorists In 7 Months, Over 24,000 Surrender

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“DHQ spokesperson, Major General Benard Onyeuko, said at a press conference
that the death toll includes high profile commanders and amirs operating in the
north east region. A total of 79 terrorists were also arrested by Operation
Hadin Kai troops who rescued 113 kidnapped civilians from their captors. “A
total of 195 assorted arms including AK-47 rifles, GPMGs, PKT guns and locally
fabricated guns were recovered from terrorist elements in the course of the
operations. “In addition, a total of 2,385 rounds of different calibres of
ammunition and 253 rustled livestock were recovered, while a total of 14 gun
trucks of the terrorists were destroyed in the course of the operations, while
16 gun trucks were captured by own troops within the period,” Onyeuko said.
Military troops have been fighting Boko Haram terrorists in the north east
since 2009. The group is responsible for the death of over 35,000 people and
displacement of millions in the past decade. The UNDP estimated in a report
last year the death toll is over 350,000 when deaths caused indirectly by the
group's activities are factored in. The Islamic State West African Province
(ISWAP), which broke away from Boko Haram in 2016, gained the upper hand this
year when Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau, was killed in the battle for
control between the two groups.”

 

Africa

 

Reuters: Benin Army Vehicle Strikes Land Mine As Security Fears In North Grow
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“A Benin army vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in a national park
near the border with Burkina Faso on Thursday, the park's management said, the
latest in a series of security incidents as fears rise about widening Islamist
violence. Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported that two soldiers were
killed in the explosion. Reuters was not immediately able to confirm that
report. African Parks, the South African non-profit group that manages Pendjari
National Park, said in a statement that the explosion had occurred near a hotel
that has been closed since 2019. It made no comment on casualties. Benin is
among the West African coastal countries considered most vulnerable to a
spillover of Islamist violence from the landlocked Sahel countries, where
groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State exert influence over vast tracts of
territory. The government confirmed two attacks by jihadist fighters near the
Burkina Faso border last month, including one that killed two soldiers and
wounded several more. Additional attacks have been reported in the local and
French media since then but have not been confirmed by the authorities.”

 

United Kingdom

 

BBC News: Terror Threat Teen Wanted To Attack Mosque And Kill 10,000
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“A 17-year-old boy who wanted to “shoot up a mosque” and kill 10,000 people
has been given a rehabilitation order. The teenager, from Wiltshire, was given
the 24-month order at Southampton Youth Court. He had pleaded guilty to
possessing material likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an
act of terrorism. Counter-terror police said they were having to deal with an
increase in right-wing terror threats. A spokesman for Counter Terrorism
Policing South East (CTPSE) said “concerned” members of the public had reported
the boy after he had made “numerous racist comments” in online forums. “[He]
had talked about wanting to kill Muslims by 'shooting up a mosque',” they
added. The teenager was arrested on 18 June and during a property search
detectives uncovered a handwritten note called 'The Big Plan'. “This contained
details of how to make a bomb, a number of named locations and individuals who
were believed to be aspirational targets, and an intention to kill in excess of
10,000 people,” the spokesman added. Detective Ch Supt Kath Barnes, head of
CTPSE, praised the people who had contacted the anti-terrorism hotline to
report the behaviour. “I know this case may be concerning to certain members of
the community who were the target of the atrocious hatred,” she said.”

 

France

 

AFP: Paris Attacks Trial Resumes With Main Suspect Back In Court
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“A marathon trial of suspects in the November 2015 Paris attack resumed
Thursday after a negative COVID-19 test allowed the main suspect to attend.
Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the 10 assailants, had not appeared in
court since November 25 and tested positive at the end of December. He is set
to take the stand for questioning next Thursday and Friday, an event long
awaited by families of the 130 people killed on November 13, 2015. In the
meantime, there was a tense standoff between the presiding judge and another
defendant. Osama Krayem, 29, a Swedish national, informed the court through his
lawyer that he would remain silent “until the end of proceedings” and refused
to even attend the trial, calling it “an illusion.” But when it was Krayem's
turn on Thursday to be questioned about his role in the series of jihadi
attacks on bars, restaurants, the Bataclan concert hall and the national
stadium, chief judge Jean-Louis Peries said that he would be made to show up.
“I will have no option but to use force to make him appear on the stand,” he
said. That turned out to be unnecessary, as Krayem made his way to the bench
uncoerced, and sat down next to Abdeslam. “It's good of you to come willingly,”
the judge commented.”

 

Southeast Asia

 

Eurasia Review: Terror Threat In Asian Countries Declined In 2021
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“Terrorist threats in Southeast and South Asian countries declined in 2021, a
Singapore think-tank said in its annual threat assessment published this week,
noting that COVID-19 movement restrictions had “flattened the curve of
terrorism.” There were fewer terror-related incidents in Indonesia, Malaysia,
the Philippines and Bangladesh as governments battled the pandemic, according
to the Counter Terrorist Trends and Analysis report published by researchers at
the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. In Thailand in 2021,
meanwhile, violent incidents connected to an insurgency in the far south were
similar to those in the previous year, the researchers found. “Ultimately, the
2021 survey underscored the continuing imperative for states to address the
longer-term underlying grievances that fuel violent extremism,” the analysis
said. In Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest country, the number of attacks and
plots by violent extremist Islamic militant groups dipped during the past two
years compared with before the outbreak of COVID-19, according to the report.
Jamaah Ansharut Daulah’s (JAD) relatively stagnant activities in 2020-2021 and
the decline of Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen’s (MIT) terror activities in 2021,
it said, “can be partly attributed to movement restrictions and higher costs
associated with domestic travels due to the pandemic.”

 

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