“Suspected jihadists killed at least 15 soldiers in troubled northern Burkina
Faso, just three days after an ambush that claimed the lives of 51 troops,
security sources said Tuesday. A unit in Tin-Akoff in Oudalan province near the
border with Mali ‘came under violent attack’ on Monday evening, a source said,
giving a toll of "about 15 dead" with others still missing. The army mounted a
counter-attack with air support, ‘neutralising... dozens of terrorists,’ the
source added. A second source in the security forces confirmed the assault and
put the toll at 19 soldiers dead and ‘dozens of missing.’”











<[link removed]>
<[link removed]>



Eye on Extremism



February 22, 2023



AFP News: Nearly 70 Troops Killed In Two Jihadist Attacks In Troubled Burkina
<[link removed]>



“Suspected jihadists killed at least 15 soldiers in troubled northern Burkina
Faso, just three days after an ambush that claimed the lives of 51 troops,
security sources said Tuesday. A unit in Tin-Akoff in Oudalan province near the
border with Mali ‘came under violent attack’ on Monday evening, a source said,
giving a toll of "about 15 dead" with others still missing. The army mounted a
counter-attack with air support, ‘neutralising... dozens of terrorists,’ the
source added. A second source in the security forces confirmed the assault and
put the toll at 19 soldiers dead and ‘dozens of missing.’”



Iraqi News: Iraqi Security Arrests 3 ISIS Leaders
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“The Iraqi security announced on Tuesday the arrest of three ISIS leaders in
an operation in the northern part of the country. The Iraqi Directorate of
General Military Intelligence (DGMI) mentioned in a statement that three
terrorists were arrested, according to the provisions of Article 4 of the
Terrorism Law, in a security operation in Al-Zab district of Hawija town in the
northern Iraqi governorate of Kirkuk. The statement elaborated that each of the
three terrorists were responsible for preparing and transporting explosive
devices, distributing money to families of ISIS terrorists, and recruiting
young men and girls to join the terrorist group. On February 17, one Iraqi
officer and three security personnel were killed while storming a hideout in
Tarmia district, north of the capital, Baghdad, where ISIS terrorists were
hiding.”



United States



Associated Press: Judge Bars Public From Court In NYC Bike Path Terror Trial
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“A federal judge barred the general public and media from a courtroom Tuesday
where defense lawyers claim emotional testimony from victims has spoiled the
death penalty phase of the trial of a man who admits that he killed eight
people on a bike path on behalf of a terrorist group. Judge Vernon S. Broderick
issued the edict Friday at the trial of Sayfullo Saipov through a court
spokesperson, who wrote that courtroom seats would only be available to
witnesses or parties considered essential to the trial. The judge announced
late Tuesday that a few reporters might be allowed at the trial Wednesday on a
‘bench all the way in the back’ of the courtroom. The public and the media were
excluded from the courtroom in part to make room for Saipov’s family members
and numerous victims and family members of those who were killed. Victims have
attended the trial for weeks, providing tearful testimony about how their lives
have changed.”



Iran



Reuters: Iranian-German National Jamshid Sharmahd Sentenced To Death - Mizan
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“Iran's judiciary sentenced Iranian-German national Jamshid Sharmahd to death
on charges of ‘corruption on earth’, the judiciary's Mizan news agency reported
on Tuesday. Sharmahd, who also has U.S. residency, is accused by Iran of
heading a pro-monarchist group accused of a deadly 2008 bombing and planning
other attacks in the country. ‘His verdict can still be appealed in the supreme
court,’ the agency added. Sharmahd's arrest was announced in 2020 through an
intelligence ministry statement that described him as ‘the ringleader of the
terrorist Tondar group, who directed armed and terrorist acts in Iran from
America.’”



Iraq



Prensa Latina: Iraq Launches Offensive On Daesh In 3 Syrian Provinces
<[link removed]>



“A statement by the government´s security media cell stated the second phase
of Operation Swords of Truth was launched, noting that this is part of a major
offensive that has been going on for a week. According to the statement, all
security forces are participating in the operation, with the support of the Air
Force, noting that ‘the results of the operations will be announced later’. The
Joint Operations Command said in a statement, that the Deputy Commander of
Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Qais Khalaf Rahima, and the Commander of
the Ground Forces, Lieutenant General Qassem Muhammad Saleh have inspected the
mobile headquarters of each of the Operations Commands to supervise the joint
military operations. The Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, on the
other hand, indicated that there is a weakness in the intelligence work in
monitoring Daesh fighter movements.”



Afghanistan



Firstpost: WATCH: Massive Blast Hits Kabul Mosque, Sparks Tension In
Afghanistan
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“Afghanistan’s capital Kabul was shaken by yet another explosion on Tuesday.
A blast took place near the Ziyarat Mazjid Abul Fazl Shrine in central Kabul.
According to media reports, there has been no information about casualties or
possible damages from the explosion yet. The blast took place on the second
street of Kart-e- Naw, PD 8, Kabul. Kabul's police spokesperson Khalid Zadran
told the media that a bomb blast struck a vehicle in the capital Afghanistan's
capital, adding that there were no casualties.”



Pakistan



Associated Press: Gunmen Kill 2 Policemen In Attack In Southwestern Pakistan
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“Gunmen attacked a police post in Pakistan’s insurgency-hit southwestern
Baluchistan province on Tuesday, triggering a shootout that killed two
officers, police said, the latest sign of increasing violence in the country.
Barkat Baloch, a government administrator, said a search was underway for the
assailants who fled after the attack in Mastung, a district in Baluchistan. No
one immediately claimed responsibility for the shooting, but previous such
attacks have been blamed on Baluch separatists and Islamic militants who have a
strong presence in the province and elsewhere in Pakistan. Baluchistan has
witnessed a low-level insurgency by small groups demanding independence from
the central government in Islamabad. Although authorities say they have quelled
the insurgency, violence persists in the province.”



The Nation: Islamabad Police To Revamp CTD, Set Up Violent Extremism
Prevention Unit
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“The Islamabad capital police have decided to revamp the Counter Terrorism
Department (CTD) and set up a Violent Extremism Prevention Unit to curb menace
of terrorism, a police public relations officer said on Monday. He said that
the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan has
decided to revamp the CTD as per the vision of Prime Minister of Islamic
Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and following the directions of
Minister for Interior Rana Sana Ullah Khan. SP Kamran Aamir Khan has been
appointed as incharge of this department and it would have a new ‘Violent
Extremism Prevention Unit’ which will be the first of its kind in Pakistan. It
will prepare its action plan by reviewing the political, linguistic and
religious extremism content on social media or other websites.”



The Print: Militants Kill 2 Policemen In Pakistan’s Troubled Balochistan
Province
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“Heavily-armed militants attacked a police checkpost and killed two security
personnel in Pakistan’s troubled southwestern Balochistan province, an official
said on Tuesday. Assistant Commissioner Mastung Barkat Baloch said militants
attacked the checkpost of Levies personnel on Monday night in the Babri area of
Mastung district. He said a search was underway for the assailants who fled
after the attack on the checkpost, which is located near the Quetta-Taftan
highway – a notorious route used by smugglers between Pakistan and Iran. No
group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but previous such attacks have
been blamed on Baloch insurgents and Islamic militants.”



Middle East



Reuters: Netanyahu Deputy Urges Israel To Help Defend Ukraine Against Russian
'Terrorism'
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“A senior lawmaker from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party
called on Tuesday for the country to stop ‘fence-sitting’ on Ukraine and
provide it with military defences against Russia, which he accused of
‘terrorism’. The remarks by Yuli Edelstein, head of the Israeli parliament's
Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, were welcomed by Kyiv but met no
immediate response from Netanyahu. While it has condemned the Russian invasion
and provided Ukraine with humanitarian relief and protective gear, Israel has
stopped short of widening the assistance to include defence technologies like
missile interceptors. It has also been measured in its rhetoric on Russia,
mindful of the need to coordinate Israeli air strikes against Iranian targets
in Syria with Moscow's garrison in the Arab state.”



AFP: Israel Sentences West Bank Militant To 22 Months In Prison
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“An Israeli military court on Tuesday sentenced Bassam al-Saadi, a senior
member of Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad in the occupied West Bank,
to 22 months in prison, the army said. Leader of Islamic Jihad in the north
West Bank city of Jenin, Saadi was arrested on August 1 and charged by Israel
with supporting and transferring funds to a ‘terrorist’ organisation. ‘Bassam
al-Saadi was sentenced as part of a plea agreement’ and ‘was convicted of
activity in an illegal association, incitement and impersonation’, the army
said in a statement. Saadi worked ‘alongside additional suspects to advance the
Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation's activities,’ it added. ‘The military
prosecution accepted Saadi's plea agreement and sentenced him to 22 months in
prison, along with a suspended sentence and financial compensation,’ the army
said.”



Azer News: Azerbaijani State Security Service Detains ISIS Member
<[link removed]>



“On 21 February, the State Security Service of Azerbaijan detained the
accountant of the terrorist organization ISIS, Azernews reports per service.
For a very long time, the ISIS accountant has been hiding out in various
countries. The State Security Service did not disseminate official information
on this matter. The name of the detainee, his citizenship, and details of the
operation were not disclosed. Major operational and investigative efforts are
currently being made on the matter.”



Nigeria



Reuters: Ahead Of Nigeria Elections, Gunmen Kill Seven Police Officers In
Southeast
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“Gunmen have killed seven Nigerian police officers since the weekend in the
southeast, a police spokesperson said on Tuesday, in the latest violence to
rock the volatile region ahead of elections on Saturday. Widespread insecurity
is among the top concerns for Nigerians as they head to the polls to elect new
members of parliament and a successor to President Muhammadu Buhari. In the
southeast, violence by armed gangs and suspected separatist groups has killed
dozens of people this year while electoral commission offices, police stations
and government buildings have also been attacked. Ikenga Tochukwu, police
spokesperson for Anambra, said three officers were killed after gunmen used
improvised explosive devices and opened fire at a police station in Idemili
local government area.”



Sahara Reporters: Breaking: Gunmen Blow Off Kogi State Local Government
Offices With Explosives
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“Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen on Monday evening reportedly blew off the
administrative offices of the Okehi local government area of Kogi State.
SaharaReporters learnt that the administrative offices are close to the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in the local government
area. The Nigerian police, Kogi State command, has yet to react to the
incident, although it was learnt that detectives had been deployed to the
scene. Kogi State in January experienced a much fatal explosion.
SaharaReporters had reported that 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, claimed responsibility for a car
bomb explosion that killed about four people and injured several others in the
Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State in January.”



Somalia



Reuters: Al Shabaab Attack Kills 10 At Officials' House In Somalia - Ministry
<[link removed]>



“Ten people were killed in an attack in Somalia's capital claimed by the al
Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group, which said it was targeting military officials
and militia fighters involved in an offensive against it. The Tuesday attack
began with a car bomb blast followed by a gun fight that went on for hours at a
house in Mogadishu where several lawmakers were believed to be staying, a
witness told Reuters. Somalia's information ministry said late on Tuesday that
10 civilians were killed, but did not say who was targeted. Security forces
killed the four militant gunmen involved in the assault, it said. Al Shabaab
has stepped up attacks in a show of resurgence since President Hassan Sheikh
Mohamud's government launched an offensive against the group in August. A
suicide bomber first detonated a car outside the house and then al Shabaab
militants stormed in while firing guns, said witness Farah Aden.”



Mali



Reuters: Three U.N. Peacekeepers From Senegal Killed In Central Mali
<[link removed]>



“Three peacekeepers from Senegal were killed and five seriously injured after
their convoy hit an improvised explosive device in central Mali, the U.N.
peacekeeping mission in the country and Senegal's army said on Tuesday. Mali is
struggling to stem an Islamist insurgency that took root after a 2012 coup and
has since spread from the West African country's arid north. Thousands have
died and millions have been displaced across the Sahel region. Some of the
groups have links to al Qaeda and Islamic State.”



Africa



Morocco World News: Moroccan Police Arrest Terrorist Suspect Near Ceuta
<[link removed]>



“Morocco’s counterterrorist authorities and police arrested on Monday a
terrorist suspect in the region of Fnideq on the border of Ceuta. At the time
of the arrest, the 34-year-old suspect was in possession of various weapons,
including machetes and knives of varied sizes, Spanish news outlet Okdiario
reported. Morocco’s General Directorate of National Security DGSN noted that
they are treating the defendant as ‘an extremist’ due to his connection with
jihadists, as well as his implication in a crime ‘glorifying terrorism,’
threatening and being violent towards people, causing damage to property and
carrying weapons that could be a threat to the safety of citizens. In addition,
the suspected terrorist had written documents that cited extremist ideologies.
The suspect, who had also been accused of threatening his own family, was
arrested in a derelict building in the neighborhood of Sidi Boughaba in Fnideq.”



United Kingdom



BBC: Neo-Nazi Threats Probed By Anti-Terrorism Police
<[link removed]>



“Threats sent to an activist and a TV presenter are being investigated by
anti-terrorism detectives. The letters claimed to come from the ‘London cell’
of National Action, a neo-Nazi group banned by the home secretary in 2016.
India Willoughby, who is transgender, and British-Nigerian activist Dr Shola
Mos-Shogbamimu were both targeted. The latter said a death threat was posted
through her front door on Monday, which intended to ‘silence me’.”



Daily Mail: Terror Suspect, 22, Amassed Material About Roadside Ieds, Molotov
Cocktails, Nail Bombs And A File Titled 'How To Become An Assassin', Court Hears

<[link removed]>



“A terror suspect who allegedly amassed a wealth of material about bombs and
a file entitled 'How to Become an Assassin', faced court today. Mohammed Adnan
Saleem earlier denied eight counts of possessing recorded information likely to
be useful to preparing or committing terrorism at the Old Bailey. The
22-year-old allegedly kept documents such as 'The Successful Pressure Cooker
Bomb', 'Black Flags from Syria', 'Black Flags from Rome' and 'Black Flags from
Persia' in the bedroom of his Luton home. Documents also included information
about roadside IEDs, microwave oven bombs, Molotov cocktails, nail bombs,
tactics used by ISIS as well as the history of extremist groups, it was said.”



CNN: British Woman Who Joined ISIS As A Teen Loses UK Citizenship Appeal
<[link removed]>



“Shamima Begum, who left the United Kingdom to join ISIS at the age of 15,
has lost her appeal against the decision to revoke her British citizenship.
Judge Robert Jay gave the decision on Wednesday following a five-day hearing in
November. The ruling does not determine if Begum can return to the UK, but
whether the removal of her citizenship was lawful. Begum, now aged 23, flew to
Syria in 2015 with two school friends as a teenager join the ISIS terror group.
In February 2019, she re-emerged and made international headlines as an ‘ISIS
bride’ after pleading with the UK government to return to her home country to
give birth to her son.”



Europe



Reuters: Fact Check-Finnish Government Letter Accusing Biafran Separatist Of
International Terrorism Is Fabricated
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“A letter accusing a Finnish-Nigerian lawyer of ‘an act of international
terrorism’ which appears to be signed by Finland’s prime minister is a fake,
according to a government spokesperson and the addressee himself. The
fabricated letter, dated Feb. 15 and topped with the Finnish government emblem,
is addressed to Simon Ekpa (yle.fi/a/74-20018695), a Biafran separatist based
in Finland (here), (here), (here). Signed off by ‘Sanna Mirella Marin’, the
name of Finland’s prime minister, the note says Ekpa has committed ‘an act of
international terrorism’ for encouraging people to boycott the Feb. 25
presidential election in Nigeria (read more about the election (here), (here)).
It says Ekpa has 48 hours to reverse course or be arrested and charged. But a
Finnish government spokesperson told Reuters via email: ‘The image being
circulated does NOT show an authentic letter from Finland’s prime minister.’”



Globe Echo: The Netherlands Tries For The First Time A Woman Repatriated From
Syria For “Crimes Against Humanity”
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“…In Germany, the Parliament recognizes that the Yazidis suffered a
‘genocide’ in Iraq and Syria ‘It is important that we plan to try ‘returned’
women [rapatriées]not only for belonging to ISIS but for crimes against
Yazidis’, comments Sofia Koller, of the American NGO Counter Extremism Project.
In Sinjar province in northern Iraq, at least 6,000 women and children have
been captured by IS, according to the United Nations. And forcibly converted to
Islam. Women were enslaved, young boys enlisted as soldiers. Between 2,000 and
5,500 men were reportedly killed.”



Mehr News Agency: Russia FSB Detains 5 Suspected Of Funding Militants In Syria
<[link removed]>



“‘As a result of coordinated investigative measures on the territory of
Moscow as well as in the Kirov and Penza Regions, five people were detained on
suspicion of providing assistance to terrorist formation Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham
[formerly Jabhat al-Nusra], which operates in Syria,’ the FSB’s press office
said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the suspects were apprehended in
three different regions of Russia. ‘It has been established that the detainees
shared the ideology of the international terrorist organization and followed
instructions from top organizers within the terrorist organization, regularly
channeling money to the accounts of militants located in the
terrorist-controlled de-escalation zone of the Syrian Arab Republic in Idlib,’
according to the FSB. During searches of their residences, communication
equipment, payment-transfer devices as well as documents proving their illegal
activities were confiscated, the statement added.”



Southeast Asia



New Age Bangladesh: Extremist Outfit Leader Arrested In Dhaka: CTTC
<[link removed]>



“Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police
says it has arrested the Nayeb-e-Amir of the extremist group Jama’atul Ansar
Fil Hindal Sharqiya in Sayedabad area of Dhaka. The arrested was identified as
Mohibullah alias Bholar Shayekh. Acting on a tip-off, a team of CTTC unit
conducted a drive at Sayedabad bus terminal and arrested Mohibullah along with
two mobile phone sets and a laptop on Tuesday evening, CTTC unit chief Md
Asaduzzaman said at a press briefing held at DMP media centre on Wednesday.
When briefing, Asaduzzaman said Mohibullah used to deliver sermons and inspire
members of the extremist group after taking them into the hill districts. His
main target was to psychologically prepare the new recruits for jihad after
misinterpreting religious scripture, the CTTC chief said.”



Republic World: SIA Raids 5 Places In J&K, Amid NIA's Multi-State Swoopdown
Against Gangster-Terror Nexus
<[link removed]>



“Amid the comprehensive action undertaken by the National Investigation
Agency (NIA) on February 21 across India targeting the gangster-terror nexus,
the State Investigation Agency (SIA) jointly with security forces raided five
locations in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The SIA with the assistance of the local
police and the CRPF carried out raids at five locations. The searches are being
carried out in the districts of Baramulla, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam & Sopore
in the ‘Narco Terrorism’ case, ANI reported. On February 21, in order to break
the nexus of the terror organisations and the gangster syndicates, the NIA
carried out searches at various locations across the country.”



Canada



Yahoo News: Accused Extremist Recruiter Expected To Plead Guilty To Terrorism
Charges
<[link removed]>



“An accused extremist recruiter is returning to the Ontario Superior Court on
Thursday and is expected to plead guilty to terrorism offences, eight years
after he was first charged. Awso Peshdary's criminal trial had been on hold
pending a decision in Federal Court, where his lawyers were arguing that
charges should be dropped because Canada's spy agency was authorized to surveil
him based on misleading information. The Federal Court has not yet made a
ruling, but Peshdary's lawyers have now filed a motion with the criminal court
to have the matter dealt with They say their client is now prepared to plead
guilty, and the defence is submitting a joint application with the Crown to
proceed directly to sentencing. Peshdary was arrested on terrorism-related
charges in February 2015, based on allegations that he recruited and financed
homegrown terrorists and helped Islamic State militants travel to Syria.”



Technology



POLITICO: Google Tries To ‘Astroturf’ The Supreme Court
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“As Google awaits a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could dramatically upend
portions of its business model, a group of prominent online content creators
and a nonprofit for authors have rushed to its defense. In January, a number of
prominent internet influencers and the nonprofit Authors Alliance filed an
amicus brief defending the tech giant in Gonzalez v. Google. The case, which is
slated for oral arguments on Tuesday, could weaken — or even upend — the
company’s treasured liability protections under Section 230 of the
Communications Decency Act. And those same protections, the creators wrote, are
vital to them too.”



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