Eye on Extremism
June 3, 2022
Reuters: Two Red Cross Workers Killed In Attack In Western Mali
“Two Red Cross workers were killed on Wednesday when their car was attacked by unidentified armed men in western Mali, the global humanitarian organisation said on Thursday. Armed men on motorcycles opened fire on the vehicle in the region of Kayes, the Malian Red Cross said in a statement. The driver, who was Malian, and a staff member of the Netherlands Red Cross were killed, it said, while two colleagues survived the attack. The area where the team was driving was considered relatively safe, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement said in a separate statement, although large swathes of the West African country are overrun by Islamist militants. “The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is deeply concerned about the worsening security situation in the Sahel region,” the statement said. “This violence, and the specific targeting of humanitarian workers, makes it hard for Red Cross teams to provide the needed assistance to vulnerable communities in the region.” An Islamist insurgency that started in Mali a decade ago has since spread to neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso. Some of the groups fighting have links to al Qaeda and Islamic State.”
Associated Press: UN: Taliban Faces Threat From Islamic State, New Resistance
“Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers are maintaining close ties with al-Qaida as they consolidate control over the country, and their main military threat is coming from the Islamic State extremist group and guerrilla-style attacks by former Afghan government security personnel, U.N. experts said in a new report. The experts said in the report to the U.N. Security Council that with the onset of better weather, fighting may escalate as both Islamic State and resistance forces undertake operations against Taliban forces. But neither IS nor al-Qaida “is believed to be capable of mounting international attacks before 2023 at the earliest, regardless of their intent or of whether the Taliban acts to restrain them,” the panel of experts said. Nonetheless, it said the presence of IS, al-Qaida, and “many other terrorist groups and fighters on Afghan soil” is raising concerns in neighboring countries and the wider international community. Since their takeover of Afghanistan last Aug. 15 as U.S. and NATO forces were in the final stages of their chaotic withdrawal from the country after 20 years, the Taliban “have favored loyalty and seniority over competence, and their decision-making has been opaque and inconsistent,” the experts said.”
United States
Associated Press: Buffalo Gunman Pleads Not Guilty To Domestic Terror Charge
“The white gunman who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket pleaded not guilty Thursday to hate-motivated domestic terrorism and other charges. A prosecutor called the evidence against him overwhelming. A lawyer entered the plea for Payton Gendron, 18, in the first case to make use of New York’s domestic terrorism hate crime law. Gendron didn’t speak during the brief hearing with a heavy security presence. Witnesses, police and Gendron’s own writings and livestreamed video have incriminated him as the gunman who used an AR-style semi-automatic rifle May 14 to target shoppers and employees of a Tops Friendly Market, and he surrendered at the crime scene after putting his rifle to his neck. Authorities said he chose the store because of its location in a predominantly Black neighborhood. “There is overwhelming proof of the defendant’s guilt,” Assistant District Attorney John Fereleto said. “The defendant was caught at the scene of the crime with the weapon in his hands.” Gendron has been held without bail since the shooting and is due back in court July 7. He was charged with murder shortly after the attack. On Wednesday, a new indictment expanded the case to include the domestic terrorism charge, along with 10 counts of first-degree murder, 10 counts of second-degree murder as a hate crime, criminal possession of a weapon and three counts of attempted murder as a hate crime.”
Syria
Associated Press: Militant Attack On Bus Kills 3, Wounds 21 In Eastern Syria
“Militants attacked a civilian bus in eastern Syria on Thursday, killing three people and wounding 21, Syrian state TV reported. The TV said the bus was attacked near a village in a desert area of the province of Deir el-Zour, which borders Iraq. It did not say whether the bus was attacked with machinegun fire, a missile or a roadside bomb. The report gave no further details and there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Large parts of Deir el-Zour were once controlled by the extremist Islamic State group, which in 2014 proclaimed a so-called “caliphate” in a third of both Iraq and Syria. In the past, Syrian authorities have blamed such attacks on IS and its sleeper cells, which have been active in eastern and central Syria, despite IS militants losing areas they once controlled in 2019.”
Turkey
Daily Sabah: NATO Members Should Work In Harmony To Combat Terrorism, Turkey Says
“NATO members should work in harmony to combat terrorism, Turkey's communications director said Thursday. Turkey wants to see concrete and permanent steps taken to prevent activities of terrorist groups that threaten its statehood and citizens, Fahrettin Altun said in an interview with the Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat. On the NATO bids of Finland and Sweden, he said: “It is our most fundamental right to expect the countries that we would pledge to assist in times of war not to support or tolerate organizations targeting our nationals.” Turkish people no longer value words, but deeds, he said. “For instance, we obtained a written assurance on Cyprus from Finland, the European Union's term president at the 1999 Helsinki European Council. And then, EU authorities stated that if Greek Cypriots did not agree to the Annan Peace Plan (in 2004), they could not become an EU member. However, all this was forgotten. The current situation is evident,” Altun exampled. NATO membership is a privilege, not a right, he said, adding: “The current problem is not because Turkey does not comprehend Finland, but rather because Finland does not take Turkey's security concerns seriously.”
Pakistan
Associated Press: Pakistani Taliban Extend Truce With Government In Islamabad
“The Pakistani Taliban said Thursday they have indefinitely extended a cease-fire with the government in Islamabad, following two days of talks with a delegation of Pakistani tribal elders that were hosted by the Afghan Taliban. According to Mohammad Khurasani, a spokesman for the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan group or TTP, the decision was made after “substantial progress” in the talks with the 50-member team of elders. He did not elaborate and there was no immediate confirmation from the Pakistani government about the extension of the truce. The Pakistani Taliban are a separate group but allied with the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in their country last August as the U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout from Afghanistan. The TTP has waged an insurgency in Pakistan over the past 14 years, fighting for stricter enforcement of Islamic laws in the country, the release of their members who are in government custody and a reduction of Pakistani military presence in the country’s former tribal regions. Khurasani, the TTP spokesman, said the talks in Kabul would continue in the coming days. There was no statement from the Afghan Taliban, who in the past have only said they offer neutral ground for the talks.”
Middle East
Associated Press: Israeli Troops Kill 2 Palestinians Amid West Bank Violence
“Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinians in the occupied West Bank during what the army described as violent confrontations on Thursday. They are among four Palestinians who have been killed in the last two days at a time of heightened Mideast tensions. The Israeli military said forces operating in the Dheisheh refugee camp in the West Bank city of Bethlehem opened fire after being pelted with rocks and makeshift bombs. The Palestinian Health Ministry said Ayman Mheisen, 29, was killed. The health ministry later said a teenager was shot by Israeli troops near the separation barrier west of the city of Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority is headquartered. The Wafa news agency, run by the Palestinian Authority, identified the deceased as Auda Sadaqa, 17. The Israeli military said three suspects hurled a firebomb at forces operating near the barrier, who responded with live fire. No soldiers were wounded. Late Wednesday, Israeli forces entered the village of Yabed, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, to destroy the family home of a slain Palestinian attacker who had methodically gunned down five people in the Israeli city of Bnei Brak in March. The military said Palestinians attacked the soldiers with stones and firebombs, and that the troops exchanged gunfire with Palestinian militants.”
NPR: A Look At Jewish Extremism In Israel
“After violence by Jewish nationalists in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem on Sunday, Israel is debating who is an extremist. MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: Events over the weekend have prompted a new look in Israel at how it should handle Jewish extremists. UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: (Chanting in non-English language). KELLY: That is from Sunday. The chant there, death to Arabs, rang out from nationalists marching through the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem's Old City. They went on to harass and assault Palestinians who live there. NPR's Daniel Estrin witnessed this. He is in Jerusalem and joins us now to talk about whether Israel might take new steps to control these extremists. Hey, Daniel. DANIEL ESTRIN, BYLINE: Hi, Mary Louise. KELLY: I want to hear a little more. I want to understand more what exactly you saw on Sunday. ESTRIN: I saw groups of Israeli teens roaming the Muslim quarter of the old city of Jerusalem. They assaulted Palestinians. They taunted them. I also saw some Palestinians curse at Israelis, too. And that was for hours even before the flag parade began. I then saw tens of thousands of Israelis marching through an area that's usually a bustling gathering place for Palestinians. There were all kinds of people, mainly fairly mainstream orthodox Jewish groups, chanting religious songs.”
The Jerusalem Post: Jerusalem Day Terrorist Attack Thwarted, Israel Police Reveals
“A young Palestinian man intending on carrying out a stabbing attack in Jerusalem ahead of Jerusalem Day was arrested this past weekend, Israel Police revealed on Thursday. The 21-year-old attempted attacker, a resident of Nablus, was arrested at the entrance to the Old City when he was thought to be behaving suspiciously. He had a knife in his possession. The suspect, according to preliminary findings from the investigation, had intended to carry out a terror attack on the Temple Mount on Jerusalem Day. A prosecutor's statement was filed against the suspect on Thursday at the end of the police investigation and an indictment is expected for next week. His arrest has been extended until Monday. Jerusalem District Police claim to have thwarted three terror attacks in the past week. On Sunday, a suspect who had been reported to the police for intending to carry out a terror attack, was arrested by the Temple Mount. On Monday, a 15-year-old resident of Jabal Mukaber who was known to the police was arrested in the Damascus Gate area, near the Temple Mount. He fled into the Old City, leading to a short police chase through the area. He had a knife in his bag, which he had thrown into a store as he ran past it.”
Nigeria
Premium Times Nigeria: Hunters Kill Boko Haram Commander, Deputy In Borno; Retrieve Weapons
“A group of hunters, popular in Borno for fighting armed robbers and kidnappers, earlier in the week shot and killed a Boko Haram commander and his deputy during a gun duet in Shafa Taku village, in the southern part of the state. The two commanders were known for leading a gang of the proscribed group to perpetrate terror on rural communities in the area. From Shaffa Taku, the Islamist militants set out every day to terrorise folks in Mandaragirau in Biu local government, Sabon Gari in Damboa and other fringe villages in Askira-Uba council areas. Residents said they forcefully collect taxes, loot foodstuff and rustle livestock in these communities. They have killed many villagers as well, PREMIUM TIMES was told. To put an end to the unbridled act of terror, the community contacted the hunters’ group under the leadership of a man, Yohanna, to come to their aid. The hunters reportedly stormed the Shafa Taku axis of Sambisa Forest, where they confronted the insurgents. “Yes, we acted on intelligence about the movement of insurgents given residents,” Mr Yohanna said. Mr Yohanna, said he and his men moved into action upon receiving the information about the terrorists. “I mobilised my team and stormed the spot at Shaffa Taku, a deserted community in Damboa and luckily we sighted the terrorists numbering more than 20, riding on motorcycles,” he said.”
Daily Post Nigeria: Boko Haram, ISWAP: Nigerian Troops Eliminate 14 Terrorists, Rescue 100 Family Members
“The Defence Headquarters has said troops of Operation Hadin Kai, had, in the past two weeks, eliminated 14 terrorists and arrested 15 others. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, said this on Thursday while briefing journalists in Abuja. Onyeuko disclosed that the achievement followed military operations across Nigeria’s North-East region between May 19 and June 2. He also said 100 family members of terrorists in the North-East, comprised of 67 children and 33 women, were also rescued by the troops. He explained that troops in conjunction with the Civilian Joint Task Force, in May 22, dealt a deadly blow to the terrorists at Ndakaine, Jango, Sabah, Amdaga, Balazola, and Gobara in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno. The Boko Haram and the Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists’ hideouts in the area were levelled and cleared during the encounter, Onyeuko informed. He said troops also recovered a dump truck belonging to the Borno State Road Maintenance Agency. The terrorists fled due to the troops’ superior firepower, while troops recovered 40 sheep. “Cumulatively, troops recovered 10 AK-47 rifles, five AK-56 rifles, two FN rifles, 227 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, seven AK 47 magazines and one PKM gun.”
Africa
All Africa: East Africa: Terrorism Threat High On Agenda As East African States Ready Themselves For Joint Military Drills In Uganda
“The UPDF deputy Chief of Military Intelligence, Brig Abdul Rugumayo has reminded East African armed forces of the threat caused by terrorism to the people and economies. “Terrorism is making the world less safe for everyone,” Brig Rugumayo told a combination of military, police, prisons and key civilian components from the EAC partner states. This was during the start of a joint military drills at the 12th East African Community armed forces field training pre - exercise clinic at the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Center in Jinja, eastern Uganda. The deputy chief of military intelligence in Uganda noted that failure to understand each other has led to the radicalization of some people, hence leading them to commit terrorist acts. Citing terrorist groups like Al Qaeda, Al - Shabaab and ADF, he said all of them begin with violence which later turns into illegal immigrants, insecurity at border points and unemployment due to government heavy expenditure in combating them, as opposed to investing in infrastructure projects. He noted that terror acts create insecurity, fear and uncertainty, lead to mass displacement and loss of property and lives, among others. Maj Gen Don Nabasa tours the camps.”
All Africa: Mozambique: Over 400,000 Children Displaced By Terrorism In Cabo Delgado
“Over 400,000 children are currently displaced due to the terrorist attacks that have been plaguing parts of the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, since October 2017. The data were revealed on Wednesday by the national director for children in the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Angélica Fulano. She was interviewed by Radio Mozambique, on the occasion of International Children's Day. “Due to the difficult moments that the children went through before they arrived in the regions where they are accommodated now, there is a specific follow-up that is being carried out to discover the psychological impact of the war on the children”, she stated, stressing that “we know that in war zones there are negative events that mark children for the rest of their lives.” “Right now”, she explained, “we are carrying out permanent monitoring actions to help these families, providing social assistance to them”. “After the humanitarian assistance that took place when the attacks were still very intense, social welfare provision was extended so that the affected families could have a minimum for their livelihood in their new areas of residence”, said the director.”
United Kingdom
BBC News: Anti-Extremism Prevent Strategy 'Failing To Engage Muslim Communities'
“The government's flagship counter-extremism Prevent strategy is failing to engage with Muslim communities, a government adviser has said. Dame Sara Khan said a “vacuum” of information about its purpose had been left by the government, which was then being filled by Islamists. She added the government must address the concerns of Muslim communities. Dame Sara also said fears of racism accusations made some local authorities uncomfortable with tackling extremism. The controversial Prevent scheme was launched in 2007 and was designed to stop people becoming terrorists and to reduce the terror threat to the UK by stopping people from being drawn into terrorism. In the year to March 2020, just over 6,000 people were referred to the Prevent scheme in England and Wales, because of concerns they were at risk of radicalisation. However, it has long been criticised by some Muslim groups for what they see as an unfair focus on their communities. Speaking on the BBC's Political Thinking podcast, Dame Sara said the government had failed to explain what the counter-terror strategy is to Muslim communities, which “in essence... left a vacuum” about the purpose of the scheme to be “dominated” by Islamists.”
NewsChain: Londoners United In Face Of Terrorism, Says Mayor On Attack’s Fifth Anniversary
“…Sir Ivor, from the Counter Extremism Project, and former head of counter-terrorism in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said the attack could be attributed “in significant part, to the failure of the intelligence community to monitor appropriately subjects of interest”. In a statement on the anniversary, he said: “The 2017 London Bridge attack can be attributed, in significant part, to the failure of the intelligence community to monitor appropriately subjects of interest. “The primary perpetrator of the attack, Khuram Shazad Butt, was known to both the police and MI5 from as early as 2015. At that time he was investigated, but the investigation was quickly ‘moved into the lower echelons’ and his file was classed as ‘low priority’. “While the monitoring of peripheral subjects like Butt can often be a tedious and thankless task, it is also often the difference between life and death. The Government’s subsequent official enquiry into the numerous terrorist attacks which occurred in the UK in 2017 specifically identified this as an area of counter terror policy in need of significant reform.” He referred to the case of Malik Faisal Akram, originally from Blackburn in Lancashire, who carried out an attack on a Texas synagogue in January.”
Southeast Asia
Associated Press: Philippine Troops Kill Suspected Bomber, Capture Another
“Philippine troops killed a suspected militant and captured another in a brief gunbattle with rebels aligned with the Islamic State group who are blamed for recent bombings in the south, military officials said Thursday. Army troops and police clashed briefly with fighters of the Daulah Islamiyah group on Wednesday in M’lang town in Cotabato province while searching for the people behind recent bombings believed aimed at extorting money from bus companies and other businesses in the south, military officials said. A suspected militant, Monir Lintukan, was killed in the clash and another, Randy Saro, was arrested, army battalion commander Lt. Col. Rommel Mundala said. Several others escaped. Lintukan and Saro are among the suspects in bombings last month of a bus in Koronadal city and a bus parking lot in Tacurong city, army officials said. One person was injured in the Korondal explosion. “Due to our intensified intelligence gathering, we immediately tracked down those suspects and launched manhunt operations,” said Col. Jovencio Gonzales, a regional army infantry brigade commander. Despite a 2014 government peace pact with the largest Muslim separatist group and years of military offensives, pockets of armed insurgents, some aligned with the Islamic State group, still pose a threat in the south, the homeland of minority Muslims in the largely Roman Catholic nation.”
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