“Survivors of a deadly attack in Nigeria’s northwest said Sunday the death toll
has reached 200, but authorities said that only 58 people were killed

 

 


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Eye on Extremism


January 10, 2022

  

Associated Press: Nigerian Locals, Authorities Give Varying Attack Death Tolls
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“Survivors of a deadly attack in Nigeria’s northwest said Sunday the death
toll has reached 200, but authorities said that only 58 people were killed in
the three days of bloodshed — the latest attack in a cycle of violence in the
West African nation. Locals had earlier reported that at least 100 were killed
in the attack by hundreds of gunmen which lasted from Tuesday till Thursday in
northwest Zamfara state. On Sunday, as residents told The Associated Press that
bodies from at least eight affected communities have reached 200, authorities
and police insisted they have an upper hand in the fight against extremism in
Nigeria’s troubled northern region. The Zamfara governor’s office and police
said 58 people were killed in the attack in Bukkuyum and Anka local government
areas of Zamfara, citing accounts of local chiefs given during a visit to the
affected communities on Saturday.”

 

The National: Sweden And France Launch Joint Task Force To Prosecute ISIS
Fighters Over Yazidi Genocide
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“Authorities in Sweden and France have launched a joint team to investigate
atrocities committed by ISIS against the Yazidi community. Europe's crime
agency, Eurojust, has set up the team to prosecute foreign terrorist fighters
for their persecution of the Yazidi population. More than 10,000 Yazidis were
killed when ISIS swept through northern Iraq in 2014 and about 7,000 women and
girls were enslaved, many of whom are still missing. “The main aim of the team
will be to identify foreign terrorist fighters who were involved in core
international crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes,
primarily perpetrated against members of the Yazidi minority during the armed
conflict in Syria and Iraq, in view of potential prosecution,” Eurojust said.
“The team will also focus on identifying victims and witnesses of these crimes
committed by foreign terrorist fighters in Syria and Iraq.” The joint
initiative aims to share information and evidence more swiftly and avoid
several interviews of the same victims. Investigations in the two countries are
ongoing and are co-ordinated by Eurojust through the Swedish and French
authorities, with the support of the Genocide Network Secretariat, hosted by
Eurojust.”

 

United States

 

Fox News: Navy Adding Weeks To Boot Camp To Include 'Extremism' And Sexual
Assault Training
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“The U.S. Navy is adding two weeks to its formerly eight-week boot camp
program this year to focus on improving recruits' emergency skills and war
readiness, as well as equipping them to handle issues related to suicide
prevention, sexual assault, hazing, and racism. The news comes as the Navy
deals with a series of shipboard crises in recent years, including fatal fires
and collisions. Suicides, sexual assaults, and other objectionable behavior
have also risen, according to The Associated Press. “We're telling our recruits
... here are all of the things that we expect you to do, and here's how we
expect you to behave and act,” said Rear Adm. Jennifer Couture, according to
the AP. She added that the training involves treating people with respect and
holding peers accountable. “We believe very strongly that those types of
behaviors are directly impacting our fighting readiness and the performance of
our sailors.” In 2017, Navy commanders suggested changes regarding how sailors
are trained following two fatal collisions that year, which killed 17 sailors.
Dozens of recommendations were laid out in a report regarding how to improve
seamanship training, navigation, and use of ship equipment. Sleep and stress
management were also included.”

 

Syria

 

The National: Extremist Jailed For 12 Years After ‘Amateurish’ Trip To Fight
In Syria
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“An extremist who spent months trying to cross the Syrian border from Turkey
to join a terrorist training camp has been jailed for 12 years in the UK. Mamun
Rashid, 28, of East London, was arrested by the Turkish authorities in February
2019 within walking distance of the north Syria border. He had spent six months
plotting his route over the border after flying to Istanbul from London with
the ambition of dying a martyr. Rashid was deported to the UK where he pleaded
guilty to preparing acts of terrorism and was jailed on Thursday. He has since
claimed that he is no longer an extremist but judge Andrew Lees sentenced him
to 12 years in prison, with a further five years of being monitored. The court
heard that Rashid had signed up to a university course to secure a student loan
to fund his mission to Syria to fight against the regime of Bashar Al Assad. He
had taken an interest in the plight of Muslims in Syria and told a friend “I
hope I can be the best martyr.” The court heard Rashid was briefly kicked out
of his family home by his father, who suspected him of being a terrorist,
before relenting and allowing him to return. He flew to Istanbul in July 2018
and started trying to find a way into Syria.”

 

Turkey

 

Daily Sabah: Turkey To Fight Against Terrorism With New Concept, Akar Says
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“Turkey will eradicate terrorism at its source, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar
said Saturday, adding that the country has no interest in the territory of
other countries. The minister met with representatives of the press in the
capital Ankara at the annual assessment meeting. Expressing that Turkey is
working intensively in its region and in critical geographies, Akar, aware of
the country's geopolitical and geostrategic importance, said that it is seeking
to maintain its national security and foster peaceful relations with its
neighbors and allies. Turkey entered the new year with increased motivation,
Akar stressed, emphasizing that it has adopted the method of ending terrorism
at the source in accordance with the new security concept, and in doing so, has
no eye on other countries’ territorial integrity and sovereignty. From July 24,
2015, up until today, 33,275 terrorists have been eliminated, whereas this
number from Jan. 1, 2021, is 2,795, Akar noted. “Turkey has torn apart the
terror corridor that was intended to be created in Syria, and the terrorists
have been buried in the pit they dug,” Akar said, who also added that more than
1 million Syrians have voluntarily returned to terror-free areas to date.”

 

Afghanistan

 

The Wall Street Journal: Taliban Detain Prominent Critic, Intensifying
Crackdown On Dissent In Afghanistan
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“The Taliban have arrested a Kabul university professor who gained national
fame for berating a senior official on live television, a sign of the
intensifying crackdown on critics of Afghanistan’s new regime. Faizullah Jalal,
a professor of political science and law at Kabul University, was arrested
Saturday, weeks after he confronted a Taliban official in a debate on
Afghanistan’s largest television network, Tolo. Lashing out at the Taliban’s
extremist rule, he called Mohammad Naeem, the spokesman for the Taliban’s
political office in Doha, a “terrorist” and a “calf,” an Afghan insult for
people of low intelligence. Taliban chief spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed
the arrest of Mr. Jalal on Twitter, calling the professor a “fanatic” who used
social media to incite people. Mr. Mujahid posted screenshots of a social-media
account posting anti-Taliban messages in the professor’s name. Mr. Jalal’s
family members, who run his official Twitter account, said the account in the
screenshots was fake. Mr. Jalal’s daughter, Hasina, told The Wall Journal that
the family hadn’t been able to contact the professor since Saturday afternoon
local time. In the weeks after seizing power in August, the Taliban repeatedly
said that they supported free media and mostly refrained from jailing critics,
even as scores of former government officials and security force members were
gunned down, often by unknown assailants.”

 

Washington Examiner: Defense Officials Fear ISIS-K And Al Qaeda Threats In
Afghanistan Growing As Months Go By
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“The growth of the Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K, and al Qaeda in the
months since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan could result in both groups
having the capacity to launch international attacks in a matter of months,
officials said. This continues a pattern of warnings that began just weeks
after the withdrawal. Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, said during his Sept. 29 testimony on Capitol Hill that either terror
group could reconstitute within six to 36 months. That timeline remains
accurate, a spokesperson from the Joint Chiefs office told the Washington
Examiner, meaning that the groups could return as soon as three months from
now. The United States withdrew from Afghanistan after nearly 20 years of war,
just weeks after the Taliban overthrew the U.S.-backed Ghani government. With
the Taliban now in control, officials at the Department of Defense expressed
concern about the possibility that the groups could become operational and an
international threat at some point in the future. “It's a real possibility in
the not too distant future, six, 12, 18, 24, 36 months, that kind of time
frame, for reconstitution of al Qaeda or ISIS,” Milley said, with Secretary of
Defense Lloyd Austin agreeing with his assessment.”

 

Pakistan

 

Associated Press: Pakistani Police Say They Killed 6 Militants In Southwest
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“Pakistani counterterrorism police killed six militants from the Islamic State
group in an overnight raid at a hideout in the southwestern city of Quetta. A
police statement issued Sunday said the raid was carried out in the provincial
capital's Manzoor Shaheed precinct area. It said the raid was based on strong
intelligence the militants were preparing to stage an attack in the city. The
militants opened fire when the police arrived and lobbed grenades. The ensuing
exchange of fire continue for well over an hour and six militants were killed,
the statement said. Some managed to escape in the dark and they were being
sought, it said. One of the dead militants was identified as Asghar Sumalani,
who had a bounty on his head. The counterterrorism police provided no further
details. Pakistani authorities have denied any organized presence of the
Islamic State group in the country but the group strikes sporadically in
southwestern Baluchistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, both on
the border with Afghanistan.”

 

Yemen

 

The National: Saudi Arabian Military Says Houthis Make Yemen’s Ports Bases For
Terrorism
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“The Arab Coalition has condemned Yemen’s Houthi rebels for using civilian
ports in the country’s west for warfare. Hodeidah, Al Saleef and Ras Isa have
become staging areas for attacks on global maritime trade, as well as hubs for
weapons smuggling and production. “The Houthi rebels have been practising
piracy in the international waters of the Red Sea and Bab Al Mandeb, which
threatens maritime security and poses a big threat to global trade,” the Arab
Coalition spokesman Gen Turki Al Malki said on Saturday. “The act of piracy,
which was committed by the Houthi rebels against the Emirati-flagged Rawabi
ship last week is a severe violation of international laws and threatens
maritime security.” The Houthis have used long-range ballistic missiles, which
can strike oil infrastructure in the region. Last week, they hijacked the
Emirati-flagged Rawabi in the waters near Ras Isa. The coalition said this
constituted an act of terrorism. “The rebels orchestrated and executed the
attack which targeted the Rawabi,” Gen Al Malki said. He said the attack
originated “from Hodeidah port, using fishing boats, and redirected it [the
ship] to Al Saleef port”. Gen Al Malki said the rebels were using Ras Isa,
Hodeidah and Al Saleef ports to import and assemble Iranian ballistic missiles,
and for the covert manufacture of explosive-laden boats used to attack
commercial ships.”

 

United Kingdom

 

BBC News: Crook Teacher Banned Over Terrorist Funding
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“A woman who supported terrorism has been banned from teaching for life.
Miriam Sebbagh, who worked at Hunwick Primary School in Crook, County Durham,
was found to have given money to people she knew were involved in terrorism. A
teacher misconduct panel also heard she tried to radicalise a friend. Ms
Sebbagh was arrested in 2017 and investigated by police but the Crown
Prosecution Service concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal
charges, the panel heard. Counter Terrorism Policing North East (CTPNE)
“maintained a high level of concern regarding Ms Sebbagh's state of mind, the
opinions which she espoused and her actions within the teaching arena”, its
report said. The panel heard CTPNE had received information that Ms Sebbagh had
given £2,500 to an individual linked to a proscribed terrorist organisation.
She had made “numerous” other payments to individuals, charities, overseas
accounts and crowd-funded donation sites. The panel heard CTPNE was concerned
Ms Sebbagh was funding travel from the UK for people wanting to join ISIS or
other extremist groups. It told the Teaching Regulation Authority that some of
the payments were made to people who had been investigated or arrested for
suspected terrorism related offences.”

 

Arab News: Fight Against Terrorism ‘Greater Challenge’ Than Ever Before, Says
UK Police Official <[link removed]>

 

“Britain’s fight against terrorism has become more challenging than ever
before, a senior police official has told The Independent newspaper. Changing
methods in planning, targeting and execution meant that authorities were
struggling to detect potential attacks, said Dean Haydon, senior national
coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing. Lone attackers have carried out the
majority of terror incidents in Britain since 2017. And although the majority
of incidents, including failed attacks, are carried out by Islamists, a growth
in the number of far-right terrorists has concerned police. “The main threat we
currently see is from people within this country that are being
self-radicalised,” he added. “The timelines have been shortened. You can go out
and buy a kitchen knife in a supermarket and decide, ‘This afternoon I’m going
to commit an attack’ in the name of whatever ideology, and it’s a terrorist
attack. “Would we see that coming? That’s really difficult to detect. Our
collective challenge is far more difficult than it has ever been. The profile
of a terrorist has completely changed, and that comes back to how the threat
has changed.” He said the radicalization leading up to an attack had altered
significantly since the 1990s.”

 

France

 

Reuters: France Says Dakar Rally Blast “Perhaps” Terrorist Attack
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“The explosion that went off under a French vehicle involved in the Dakar car
rally in Saudi Arabia last week may have been a terrorist attack, France's
foreign minister said on Friday. “We told the organisers and the Saudi
officials to be very transparent on what had happened because there were
hypothesis that it was a terrorist attack,” Jean-Yves Le Drian told BFM TV and
RMC Radio on Friday. “There was perhaps a terrorist attack targeting the Dakar
rally.” His comments are likely to irk Saudi Arabia. Its Public Security on
Jan. 1 said that “preliminary evidence-gathering procedures found no criminal
suspicion”. Dakar rally director David Castera ruled out ending the ongoing
competition in Saudi Arabia. “The question is not being raised at the moment,”
he told franceinfo radio. Sufficient safety measures have been put in place
thanks to Saudi authorities to ensure the safety of the rally, he said. Saudi
authorities have not responded to Reuters queries about the incident or the
French investigation and did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for
comment on Friday. French prosecutors said on Tuesday they had opened a
terrorism investigation into the matter. The blast, which seriously injured one
of the rally competitors, hit a support vehicle belonging to the French team
Sodicars soon after it left its hotel in Jeddah for the race route, according
to accounts from the team and race organisers.”

 

Germany

 

The Jerusalem Post: Iran's ‘Long Terrorist Arm’ In Germany Ousted From Islamic
Group Board <[link removed]>

 

“A controversial Islamic organization has removed Iran’s Hamburg Center from
its Shura executive board after German intelligence sources revealed that the
Iranian entity in the city-state supports the late Qasem Soleimani, who was a
designated terrorist according to US and EU law. The Hamburg Shura Council is
an association of Muslim organizations. The German daily paper Die Welt
reported that the Islamic Center of Hamburg (IZH) is “Iran’s long arm in
Europe” and has “links to a terrorist organization,” including being controlled
by Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. However, the Shura Council’s executive
board did not eject the radical revolutionary Islamic Center and its Blue
Mosque from the organization. There has been growing pressure on the Social
Democrat and Green parties coalition in Hamburg to pull the plug on its
agreement with the Shura Council because of the Islamic Center’s membership.
The new head of the Shura executive board, Fatih Yildiz, told the German Press
Agency that an evaluation of the state treaty played a subordinate role in the
restructuring. Hamburg’s intelligence agency has monitored the Islamic Center
and its Blue Mosque over the decades and concluded that the mosque is “directly
connected” with Khamenei and receives “instructions” from him.”

 

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