|
Eye on Extremism
April 26, 2022
Associated Press: Prosecutor: NJ Man Eyed US Targets For Terror Attack
“A prosecutor told jurors in an opening statement Monday that a New Jersey software developer was actually a highly trained terrorist scoping out U.S. landmarks for attack from 2000 to 2005. Alexei Saab, 45, of Morristown, New Jersey, had a double identity while he worked for Hezbollah’s Islamic Jihad Organization, ready to attack Americans at popular locations if Iran was attacked by the U.S., said Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Adelsberg. By day, Saab was a software engineer working for technology companies who fit in enough that he became a U.S. citizen, the prosecutor said. By night, he was “a terrorist and spy” scoping out potential terrorism targets in New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., and abroad in France, Turkey and the Czech Republic, Adelsberg said. Saab was arrested in July 2019 after being questioned during 11 sessions over several weeks with FBI agents. Saab’s lawyer, Marlon Kirton, said all the evidence in the case was from Saab himself and could not be considered reliable. And he noted that Hezbollah had never attacked Americans in the United States. In court documents, investigators said Saab told agents he took photographs of buildings and locations including Quincy Market and the Prudential Center in Boston and the Capitol Building, Congress and the White House in Washington, D.C.”
Reuters: Park Rangers Enter Fray In West Africa's Battle With Militants
“When a dozen suspected Islamist militants from a neighbouring country were spotted riding motorcycles through the W National Park in northern Benin armed with AK-47 assault rifles, park rangers snapped into action. From an operations room at their base, the park director and two senior ranger officers sent anti-poaching units to pursue the men who eventually fled into Nigeria, according to a confidential incident report reviewed by Reuters. They also directed Benin's army and police where to position their forces and deployed an airplane and helicopter belonging to the park as part of a broader operation to surveil and "neutralise" the target, the undated park report said.”
Iraq
Al Monitor: Islamic State Announces 'Revenge' Attacks During Ramadan
“The Islamic State (IS) has taken responsibility for a rash of attacks in recent days as part of their “Battle of Revenge for the Two Sheikhs,” announced on April 17 and seen as global in scope. Multiple attacks this week in Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria, Libya, Uzbekistan, and other locations have been claimed by the group since the announcement of the campaign, which comes amid Ramadan, the Muslim holy month. In the first three days of the campaign, 42 attacks were reported in nine countries. A large number of casualties resulted from at least four attacks on April 21 in Afghanistan, including at a Shiite mosque in the northern city of Mazar al-Sharif near the border with Uzbekistan. The two sheikhs referred to in the IS campaign are the former leader of the international terrorist organization, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, and its former spokesman, Abu Hamza al-Quraishi. Abu Ibrahim reportedly blew himself up early Feb. 3 during a US Special Forces raid on his hideout in northwestern Syria. It is unclear exactly when Abu Hamza was killed, but his death was announced in early March by the group. The prior leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, also reportedly blew himself up after being cornered by US forces during an Oct. 26, 2019 raid in northwestern Syria.”
Middle East
The Times Of Israel: Shin Bet Says It Busted West Bank Terror Cell That Planned Bomb Attack
“The Shin Bet security service said Monday that it recently foiled an attempt by the Gaza-based Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group to enlist residents of the West Bank to commit attacks against Israeli targets. The agency said several Palestinians from the Jenin area — including Yasmin Shaaban, a 40-year-old mother of four — were detained for planning a bombing attack against Israeli farmers in the area. It accused Islamic Jihad operatives in Gaza of directing the cell to build explosive devices to use in an attack. Footage released by the agency allegedly showed the members testing out an explosive device that was shaped similarly to a rocket. Shaaban was accused of passing information between Islamic Jihad members in Gaza and members of the cell in the West Bank. Her interrogation led to the arrest of seven others, who were allegedly part of the cell, the Shin Bet said. According to the agency, Shaaban was an Islamic Jihad operative who was previously jailed for involvement in planning a suicide bombing, under the direction of members of the terror group in Gaza. On April 20, Shaaban was formally indicted in the case. Five others have also been indicted since, over what the Shin Bet said were “serious security offenses.”
The Jerusalem Post: Israel Police Apprehend Armed Terrorist In Givat Shaul
“Israel Police arrested an armed terrorist that was walking around Givat Shaul, Jerusalem on Monday afternoon, according to the Israel Police Spokesperson Unit. The man is a resident of Rahat in his late 20s, and security forces were scanning the area looking for him for two hours before finding him. Security guards at all businesses in the area had been instructed to stay alert and double-check everyone going past them.”
“Despite “inflammatory rhetoric and violent clashes” between Palestinians and Israeli Security Forces (ISF) at the Holy Sites, Tor Wennesland said that the situation in Jerusalem, remains “relatively calm.” However, rocket launching in Gaza is “undermining the fragile stability that has prevailed since last May,” he continued. “Let me be clear: there is no justification for acts of terrorism or violence against civilians. Violence, provocations, and incitement must stop immediately and be unequivocally condemned by all”. Moreover, all political, religious and community leaders must “do their part to reduce tensions, uphold the status quo at the Holy Sites, and ensure their sanctity is respected”. Meanwhile, Palestinian leaders have made some commendable efforts to ease tensions, condemn attacks and rein in violence that “should continue,” Mr. Wennesland told the Ambassadors, citing regional and international partners’ help in restoring calm at the Holy Sites and ensuring continued access for Muslim worshippers. Daily violence has escalated sharply in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and in Israel, the senior UN official stated.”
Nigeria
“At least one person has been killed following an attack by fighters of 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 in Kangara village, Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State. Sources said that the insurgents invaded the community on Monday morning, while many residents ran into nearby bushes to seek refuge. My villagers were also injured during the attack. Gubio Local Government Area is about 70km away from Maiduguri, the state capital, which has been living peacefully in recent times. Recently, Dr Geidam Bulama, who is the only medical doctor serving in the council area, was abducted by terrorists. The kidnapping of Bulama, according to residents, took place when the gunmen rode in a camouflage Hilux vehicle and motorcycles and freely entered the residence of the medical doctor located a few metres away from security formations. They took him away at about 2 am without confrontation, as the insurgents did not touch anyone else nor loot property. Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISWAP have become more ferocious in recent times. The Nigerian Army has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency has been largely defeated.”
“No fewer than 20 suicide bombers equipped with Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) are on the loose during the last 10 days of the Muslim fast, Ramadan, counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad has said. According to a tweet by the counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, the killing spree during the holy month of Ramadan would afford the terrorists a choice place in paradise. Makama in a tweet on Saturday that the killer jihadists, jointly operating under the aegis of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), began the suicidal mission on April 22, 2022, and that it is expected to last for the remaining 10 days of Ramadan. The joint operation of the terrorists has mapped Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State and Bama Local Government Area of the state as their primary targets, he noted. “Reliably informed that Boko Haram/ISWAP from Sambisa have prepared about 20 persons with Personnel Borne Improvised Explosives Devices,” Makama wrote. The insurgents believe that shedding the blood of ‘infidels’ (an infidel is a person accused of disbelief in the central tenets of one's own religion, such as members of another religion, or the irreligious) during Ramadan increases their rewards — the reason some of them do not fast when going for an attack.”
Mali
Associated Press: Al-Qaida-Linked Group In Mali Says It Has Captured Russians
“Islamic extremist rebels in Mali linked to al-Qaida said they have captured mercenary fighters from Russia’s Wagner Group in fighting earlier this month. It’s the first time that Mali’s extremist rebels known as JNIM have claimed to capture Russian fighters. The Wagner Group fighters were seized in the first week of April in the mountainous Segou region of central Mali, said the JNIM statement, which called the fighters “criminals.” Since the beginning of the year, several European countries have denounced the presence of Wagner’s Russian mercenaries, estimated to be about 1,000, who fight alongside Malian soldiers. They have been blamed for killing about 300 civilians in the central town of Moura. They have also been blamed for staging burials of bodies near the Gossi military base and trying to blame French military forces for the graves. However, Mali’s ruling junta denies that Wagner’s forces are fighting in the country, saying instead that they are training Malian soldiers as part of cooperation between Mali and Russia. It’s likely that JNIM delayed claiming responsibility for the kidnappings until the Wagner fighters could be transferred to a secure place before negotiations begin, Baba Dakono, a researcher at the Citizen Observatory on Governance and Security in Mali, told The Associated Press.”
Africa
Voice Of America: Cameroon: Separatists, Nigerian Militants Paralyze Border
“Authorities in Cameroon say anglophone separatists have joined forces with Nigerian militants to shut down nearly all trade across the two countries’ border. Cameroon depends on Nigeria for 70% of basic commodities and most of them are transported across the land border. Authorities say about 90% of trade has been halted as militants from both sides attack and abduct merchants. Njume Peter Ambang is a lawmaker from Cameroon's restive southwest region on the border with Nigeria. He said fighters within the past two months have taken control of many businesses, including palm oil plantations in Ndian, a division in the Southwest region. “Maritime business has collapsed. The oil business has all collapsed. Palm oil fields have been seized by the separatists. They harvest the crops, they mill and sell. These guys are working with area boys (armed groups) in Nigeria,” he said. Ambang was speaking in the Ndian capital, Mundemba, Sunday during a meeting to plead with local fighters to drop their guns and stop harassing merchants. Cameroon’s military says several hundred fighters chased from towns and villages during raids by government troops relocated to the border with Nigeria. The military says the fighters have killed at least two dozen merchants and abducted scores of others for ransom since January.”
Canada
CBC: Canadian Military Not Doing Enough To Detect, Prevent Extremism In The Ranks: Report
“The number of Canadian military members belonging to extremist groups is growing and it's getting harder to detect them, says a new report looking at racism and discrimination in Canada's armed forces. In its 121-page report, made public Monday, members of an advisory panel on systemic racism and discrimination found widespread problems in the military, including the presence of white supremacists and those inspired by ideologically motivated violent extremism (IMVE). “Membership in extremist groups is growing, it is becoming increasingly covert, and technological advances such as Darknet and encryption methods pose significant challenges in detecting these members,” the panel wrote. “The Defence Team is not immune to infiltration by these extremist groups and some units and departments may even be more vulnerable given their isolation from large metropolitan areas.” The panel also found that DND hasn't been very effective in detecting extremists in its ranks. Defence Minister Anita Anand and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre discuss the key findings of a report that looked at systemic racism and discrimination within the Canadian Armed Forces. “Despite local, national and international exchanges of information about IMVE, the detection of extremist pockets or individuals is still very much siloed and inefficient,” the panel wrote.”
The Counter Extremism Project depends on the generosity of its supporters. If you value what we do, please consider making a donation.
| |
Click here to unsubscribe.