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Eye on Extremism
March 22, 2022
Reuters: Man Accused Of Killing UK Lawmaker Had Plotted Attack On Minister, Court Hears
“The British lawmaker David Amess who was murdered last year was “assassinated for terrorist purposes” by a man who had carried out surveillance on other targets, including cabinet minister Michael Gove, a London court was told on Monday. Ali Harbi Ali, 26, a British citizen and son of an ex-media adviser to a former prime minister of Somalia, denies the murder of Amess, who was knifed to death in a church in Leigh-on-Sea, east of London. Prosecutors said the killing was revenge for the lawmaker's support for air strikes on Syria after parliament approved the bombing, which began in 2015 targeting Islamic State. Ali had hoped police would shoot him dead at the scene so he would become a martyr, the court was told. Ali had spent years planning an attack and had previously carried out reconnaissance on the home of Gove and the office of Conservative lawmaker Mike Freer, the court heard. Amess was murdered “because of a warped and twisted” Islamist ideology, Tom Little, a lawyer for the prosecution, told the court on the opening day of the trial. “This is a case involving a cold and calculated murder.” The killing of 69-year-old Amess, a married father of five children, sent shockwaves through Westminster and led to calls for better security for members of parliament, coming five years after another lawmaker was murdered on the street.”
“The man who allegedly discharged bear spray while brandishing a hatchet at a mosque in the Canadian city of Mississauga is now facing multiple charges for what is “believed to be a hate-motivated incident,” Peel Regional Police said in a news release Monday. The charges against Mohammad Moiz Omar, a 24-year-old Mississauga resident, include assault with a weapon; administering noxious substance with intent to endanger life or cause bodily harm; possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; utter threat to cause death or bodily harm; carrying concealed weapon; and mischief to religious property, according to the release. The attempted attack took place Saturday around 7 a.m. local time at Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre during the dawn prayer of Fajr, police said. The mosque said in a Facebook post the suspect who walked in was also armed with “numerous other sharp edged weapons.” Noonrani Sairally, who's been attending the mosque for more than a decade, told CNN Monday he heard a noise about seven to 10 minutes after the congregation started morning prayers. “I heard a hissing noise over the sound system followed by a scream and when I turned around, I saw this man with a can of bear spray and a hatchet in his hand,” he said.”
Iran
“The effort to revive the 2015 nuclear deal agreement now hinges on perhaps the most politically sensitive issue in the negotiations: whether to remove the U.S. terrorism designation for Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards, the country’s powerful security force, diplomats said. The issue is galvanizing opposition to the nuclear deal in Washington and among Middle East allies such as Israel, where the government issued stinging public criticism of any attempt to remove the terrorism designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Senior U.S. officials say a failure to find a compromise with Iran on the issue quickly could cause a breakdown in negotiations that—over almost a year—have resolved nearly every other disagreement. The U.S. has accused the Guard of killing hundreds of Americans, while its elite Quds Force has arranged weapons and support for proxy forces throughout the region and for pro-Iranian groups that fought in Syria. The Guard has long faced U.S. sanctions for its ballistic-missiles programs and alleged human-rights violations and was placed on the counterterror sanctions list in 2017. Those backing compromise argued that other sanctions on the Guard would still keep foreign companies away from dealing with Guard-linked Iranian firms, damping the economic benefits of any nuclear deal for Iran.”
Iraq
Asharq Al-Awsat: Turkey To Pull Out Hundreds Of Soldiers From Syria To Fight PKK In Iraq
“Some 400 Turkish forces deployed in the de-escalation zone in northwestern Syria would likely redeploy in northern Iraq to fight the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), reliable sources told the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Sunday. “Four hundred Turkish troops have packed up and finished their preparations to withdraw from the de-escalation zone as part of an initial batch that will exit the area,” the sources said. There are more than 13,500 Turkish soldiers deployed in 60 military points across the de-escalation zone in Idlib and the countryside of Aleppo, Hama and Latakiya. Last year, the Turkish army carried out ground and air raids against the PKK in northern Iraq. Meanwhile, Syrian regime forces have targeted areas in Al-Fatirah, Safuhan, Fulayfil and Baynnin in Jabal Al-Zawiyah in the southern countryside of Idlib and they fired heavy artillery shells on Al-Ankawy and Al-Fatatra villages in Sahl Al-Ghab area. Also in the past three days, the Turkish military and the Syrian National Army (SNA) factions, loyal to Ankara, escalated their attacks on the countryside of Tal Tamr in the north of Hasakah, an area controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The shelling damaged cables and caused electricity outages in the area.”
Pakistan
Associated Press: Army: Militants In NW Pakistan Kill 2 Soldiers, 3 Civilians
“Militants armed with assault rifles attacked security forces in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border Monday, triggering a shootout that killed two soldiers, three civilians and four insurgents, the army said. The attack happened in Bajur, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Bajur which is a former militant stronghold. In a statement, the military said the three civilians were killed by militant fire. The statement said the Pakistani army was “determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and (that) such sacrifices of our brave soldiers and innocent citizens further strengthen our resolve.” Pakistan's northwestern tribal regions, which share a lengthy porous border with Afghanistan, for years served as a safe haven for militants until the military carried out massive operations to try to clear the area. That forced the militants to escape into Afghanistan or hide in other areas near the border. But such militant attacks on troops have continued in recent years in the region.”
Middle East
Asharq Al-Awsat: Israel Arrests Hezbollah Cell Plotting To Kidnap Israelis
“Four Arab Israelis arrested last month were indicted on Sunday over their ties to Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Four of them are residents of northern Israel's Galilee, the Shin Bet security service and the police disclosed. According to the Shin Bet, they were asked to smuggle weapons into Israel and to establish a terror cell to kidnap Israelis, provide information on targets for missile attacks, and locate possible locations for crossing the border from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Israeli officials have pointed toward a senior Hezbollah official by the name of Hajj Khalil Harb as the one responsible for coordinating weapons smuggling attempts into northern Israel. Harb is accused of personally directing a Hezbollah operative who met with two of the suspects in Turkey in November. “This affair illustrates the efforts of Iranian and other terror elements to exploit the Arab and Druze citizens of Israel,” a senior Shin Bet official said. “Citizens who receive inquiries from terror elements are called upon to report this to authorities and to avoid a situation in which they find themselves involved in serious security activities.” The military said in a separate statement that “Israel’s security forces will continue to operate to maintain security in the region and act against any attempt to violate the sovereignty of the state of Israel.”
Egypt
“Egypt's Supreme Emergency State Security Court (SESSC) has set May 15 as the date for delivering its verdict in the case of eight suspects accused of collaborating with the terrorist ISIS group and plotting attacks against state institutions. The Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) had ordered the defendants to be referred to the SESSC. They are accused of committing crimes in Egypt and abroad between 2012-2018, including collaborating with ISIS and agreeing with other terrorists abroad to fund members of an extremist group associated with the group in Egypt. Investigations revealed that the defendants agreed to collect data concerning vital facilities in the country, such as the Gargoub Port, Sidi Gaber Railway Station, and Ramsis Railway Station. In addition, they provided funds for terrorist operations targeting them. According to investigators, the defendants used Telegram for money transfer and for sending information. Furthermore, the defendants are accused of membership to a terrorist group that targets the nation's national security and public order as well as the safety and interests of the community. They face charges of disturbing public order, endangering the safety and security of society, disrupting the law, and causing social unrest.”
Nigeria
The Defense Post: At Least 16 Villagers Killed In Attack In Nigeria
“Police in northwest Nigeria said gunmen from gangs of cattle thieves on Sunday killed 16 people in an attack on a remote village, in the latest raid by the militants in the region. Northwest and central Nigeria are a hub of criminal gangs of cattle thieves and those kidnapping for ransom who raid villages, killing and abducting residents after looting and burning homes. The criminals who are known as bandits and who maintain camps in a vast forest, straddling Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states have recently intensified mass abductions of students in schools for ransom. Dozens of bandits on motorcycles invaded Ganar-Kiyawa village in Bukkuyum district, shooting dead 16 residents, according to Mohammed Shehu, the Zamfara state police spokesman. “The terrorists killed 16 people in the attack and fled before the deployment of police personnel,” Shehu said Monday. “The police and the military are in the area to forestall further attacks and pursue the bandits.” A statement from the Zamfara state governor’s office confirmed the attack, saying “many lives were reportedly lost and many others got injured”, without giving details. However, local media put the death toll as high as 37, including the village chief, with dozens kidnapped from the village which has been repeatedly targeted by the gangs.”
Somalia
“The United States has announced a $ 5 million reward for information leading to the capture of Jehad Serwan Mostafa, also known as Ahmed Gurey, a senior member of the Somali militant group al-Shabab. The U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement that Mostafa, a former California resident, had been involved in al-Qaeda-linked attacks in East Africa, including in Kenya and Somalia. The United States says Mostafa, 41, a member of the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorist List, graduated from a college in San Diego, California, before moving to Somalia in 2005. He is believed to have taken part in attacks against Ethiopian forces before joining al-Shabaab in 2008. “Mostafa who is a Al-Shabaab member worked in a number of sensitive positions, including as a military trainer in the group's training camps, leading foreign fighters, and working in the media wing of the group, working as a mediator between al-Shabaab and other terrorist organizations and leading a terrorist attack team, “said the State Department's Justice Department. The U.S. State Department designated al-Shabab a terrorist organization in 2008; in 2012, the organization merged with al-Qaeda.”
Africa
Associated Press: Suspected Militants Kill 13 Soldiers In Eastern Burkina Faso
“At least 13 soldiers were killed and eight others wounded in Burkina Faso’s eastern Gourma province in an ambush by suspected Islamic extremists, the army announced Monday. A number of the attackers were killed in the incident, according to the army statement. With air support, the military has secured the area, it said. The army has for several days been carrying out large-scale operations to regain control of several areas that had been held by Islamic extremists, including Pama, Madjoari and Foutouri, said the statement. Burkina Faso's military seized power in a coup in January, overthrowing President Roch Marc Christian Kabore saying that he had failed to stem growing jihadi violence in the once peaceful West African nation. Kabore has been under house arrest in the capital, Ouagadougou, since his ouster. The junta has vowed to secure Burkina Faso from growing jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group that’s killed thousands and displaced more than 1.5 million people.”
Voice Of America: International Community Trains Ivorian Forces In Preparation For Terror Threat
“While much of the world is focused on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, analysts warn that nations should not ignore Islamist militants, who are increasing attacks in Africa's Sahel region and spreading to West Africa's coastal states. Since 2020, terror groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaida have carried out attacks against Ivorian forces. In response to the threat, French security forces are training the region's militaries. One Ivorian commando, who declined to give his surname, said the threat is real and they are preparing to face it in every way possible. “In Ivory Coast, we are really, really focused on terrorism, because in the north part of our country, we are facing terrorism, so we're talking about sea, air and land. That's why we are here,” William said. International Community Trains Ivorian Forces in Preparation for Terror Threat Security analysts say terrorism is spreading to the north of coastal states like Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin and Togo — the next phase in the western Sahel's decade-long conflict. Large parts of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are experiencing daily attacks targeting military and civilians alike. Since 2020 began, there have been 17 incidents — including gun battles and roadside bombs — in the north of Ivory Coast linked to al-Qaida-affiliated groups, according to the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.”
The North Africa Post: Tunisia: Terror Attack On National Guard Barrack Foiled
“A group of terrorists Saturday exchanged shots with members of Tunisia’s National Guard in Kairouan, North of the North African country. The police said in a statement that gunmen in a car opened fire but were repelled by a “massive” retaliatory barrage, without any casualties reported in the exchange. Those responsible for “this cowardly attack were probably … part of a terrorist cell,” operating between Kairouan and Sousse in eastern Tunisia, that had been dismantled with arrests made, the police added in the statement. The attack came on Tunisia’s independence day and with the country plunged in political crisis. Also, counter-terrorism forces arrested Tuesday six men forming a terror cell, in Tataouine, southern Tunisia. The cell, led by a terrorist not known to the security services, indoctrinated youth in the region and had plans to manufacture explosives and poisons to be used in terror operations. Tunisia has been in a state of emergency since November 2015 after the country suffered its bloodiest attacks in history. Three terror attacks that year claimed by the Islamic state group killed over 70 people, mostly foreign tourists.”
United Kingdom
BBC News: St Albans Boy, 15, Denies Five Terror Charges
“A 15-year-old boy has denied five charges of terrorism, including sharing a bomb-making video in an online chat group. He is alleged to have twice posted a video titled “must fight them or move ahead” in a chat group on the Discord platform in February. The video contained instructions on how to make a homemade explosive, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard. The schoolboy was arrested in St Albans, in Hertfordshire, on 7 March. He is also charged with one count of possessing the video and two counts of possessing documents titled “cooking recipes” and “explosive 111”. Scotland Yard previously said the charges relate to alleged Islamist extremism. The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, was remanded into secure accommodation ahead of his next appearance for an interim hearing at the same court on 13 April.”
Technology
Reuters: Russia Finds Meta Guilty Of 'Extremist Activity' But Whatsapp Can Stay
“A Moscow court said on Monday that Meta (FB.O) was guilty of "extremist activity", but the ruling will not affect its WhatsApp messenger service, focusing on the U.S. firm's already-banned Facebook and Instagram social networks. Meta did not respond to requests for comment after Moscow's Tverskoi District Court said in a press statement that it had upheld a lawsuit filed by state prosecutors on banning the company's activities on Russian territory. Meta's lawyer Victoria Shakina had earlier told the court that the company was not carrying out extremist activities and was against Russophobia, the Interfax news agency reported. It was not clear whether Meta would appeal the outlawing of the activities of Facebook and Instagram in Russia "on the grounds of realising extremist activity", a ban TASS cited judge Olga Solopova as saying would be enforced immediately.”
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