“Turkish forces have killed the alleged mastermind behind a deadly Istanbul
street bombing in an operation in northern Syria, Turkey’s state-run news
agency reported on Friday. The man, identified as Halil Menci, was
‘neutralized’ on Wednesday in an operation by the Turkish intelligence agency
near the northern town of Qamishli, the Anadolu Agency reported. The Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said an airstrike by a
Turkish drone on Wednesday killed a civilian and wounded a local Kurdish police
commander. The drone attack occurred on a road linking Qamishli with the
village Qahtaniya, it said. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Observatory said
the civilian who was killed in the strike was known to smuggle people to
Turkey. The man had, however, denied accusations by Turkish authorities that he
smuggled into Turkey Ahlam Albashir, a Syrian woman who is accused of carrying
out the attack.”











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



Eye on Extremism



February 24, 2023



Associated Press: Report: Istanbul Bomb Suspect Killed In Operation In Syria
<[link removed]>



“Turkish forces have killed the alleged mastermind behind a deadly Istanbul
street bombing in an operation in northern Syria, Turkey’s state-run news
agency reported on Friday. The man, identified as Halil Menci, was
‘neutralized’ on Wednesday in an operation by the Turkish intelligence agency
near the northern town of Qamishli, the Anadolu Agency reported. The Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said an airstrike by a
Turkish drone on Wednesday killed a civilian and wounded a local Kurdish police
commander. The drone attack occurred on a road linking Qamishli with the
village Qahtaniya, it said. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Observatory said
the civilian who was killed in the strike was known to smuggle people to
Turkey. The man had, however, denied accusations by Turkish authorities that he
smuggled into Turkey Ahlam Albashir, a Syrian woman who is accused of carrying
out the attack.”



Associated Press: Gaza Rockets, Israeli Strikes Follow Deadly West Bank Raid
<[link removed]>



“Palestinian militants in Gaza launched rockets at southern Israel and
Israeli aircraft struck targets in the coastal enclave early Thursday after a
gunbattle triggered by an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank killed 10
Palestinians. The bloodshed extends one of the deadliest periods in years in
the West Bank, where dozens of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire
since the start of the year. Palestinian attacks on Israelis in 2023 have
killed 11 people. The Israeli military said Palestinian militants fired six
rockets and two anti-aircraft missiles from the Gaza Strip toward the country’s
south early Thursday. Air defenses intercepted five of the rockets and one
landed in an open field, according to the military. The missiles did not hit
their targets.”



United States



Reuters: White Supremacists Behind Over 80% Of Extremism-Related U.S. Murders
In 2022
<[link removed]>



“Mass shootings in the United States accounted for most extremism-related
fatalities last year in the country with over 80% of those murders committed by
white supremacists, data released by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) showed on
Thursday. The advocacy group labeled 25 murders in 2022 as ‘extremist-related,’
with 18 of those ‘committed in whole or part for ideological motives.’ Two mass
shootings - one in May in Buffalo, New York, wherein an avowed white
supremacist fatally shot 10 Black people, and another in November in Colorado
Springs wherein five people were killed in an LGBTQ nightclub - accounted for
most of the extremist-related murders of 2022, the ADL report showed. White
supremacists commit the highest number of domestic extremist-related murders in
most years, but in 2022 the percentage was unusually high: 21 of the 25 murders
were linked to white supremacists, according to the ADL report. ‘All the
extremist-related murders in 2022 were committed by right-wing extremists of
various kinds,’ the ADL report said.”



CNN: US Transfers Two Brothers Detained In Guantanamo Bay To Pakistan
<[link removed]>



“The US transferred two brothers detained at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to
Pakistan, the Defense Department announced Thursday, part of the Biden
administration’s ongoing efforts to close the prison facility. Abdul Rabbani
and Mohammed Rabbani were held as detainees in the US’ decadeslong war against
terror for operating safe houses used by al Qaeda members, including Khalid
Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. The brothers, who
were never charged with a crime, were repatriated to Pakistan after it was
determined that their detention was no longer needed to protect against a
‘continuing, significant threat’ to the United States, the Defense Department
said in a statement. ‘The United States appreciates the willingness of the
Government of Pakistan and other partners to support ongoing U.S. efforts
focused on responsibly reducing the detainee population and ultimately closing
the Guantanamo Bay facility,’ the Pentagon said.”



Yahoo News: Channel 2 Investigates If GA’s Power Grid Is Safe After Surge Of
Attacks By Violent Extremists
<[link removed]>



“An attack in Moore County, North Carolina left 45,000 people in the cold and
dark for days. Firearms were used to shoot and disable equipment at two
substations. The FBI called the attack intentional. ‘If your goal is to be
disruptive, taking a power grid down is an effective way to do that,’ said
Georgia State University professor Tony Lemieux, who researches terrorism and
extremists. ‘System collapse is the goal. Right? The accelerationists are
trying to accelerate the collapse of the society.’”



Homeland Security Today: High-Ranking MS-13 Leaders Arrested On Terrorism
Charges, Reward Offered To Help Find Remaining Fugitives
<[link removed]>



“A four-count indictment was unsealed Feb. 23 in federal court in Central
Islip, a charging 13 of the highest-ranking MS-13 leaders in the world with
directing the transnational criminal organization’s criminal activities in the
United States, El Salvador, Mexico, and elsewhere, over the past two decades.
Specifically, the defendants are charged with racketeering conspiracy,
conspiracy to provide or conceal material support to terrorists, and
narco-terrorism conspiracy. Four of the defendants are indicted for alien
smuggling conspiracy. On Feb. 22, Vladimir Antonio Arevalo-Chavez, aka Vampiro
de Monserrat Criminales (Arevalo-Chavez), Walter Yovani Hernandez-Rivera, aka
Baxter de Park View and Bastard de Park View (Hernandez-Rivera), and Marlon
Antonio Menjivar-Portillo, aka Rojo de Park View (Menjivar-Portillo), were
located by Mexican authorities and expelled from Mexico via the United States.
When Arevalo-Chavez, Hernandez-Rivera, and Menjivar-Portillo arrived at George
Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, they were placed under arrest by the
FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations
(HSI). The defendants had their initial appearances in the Southern District of
Texas, pending removal to the Eastern District of New York.”



Syria



Associated Press: IS Attacks On Syria Truffle Hunters Are Deadliest In A Year
<[link removed]>



“The Islamic State group has carried out its deadliest attacks in more than a
year, killing dozens of civilians and security officers in the deserts of
central Syria, even as people of northern Syria have been digging out of the
wreckage from the region’s devastating earthquake. The bloodshed was a reminder
of the persistent threat from IS, whose sleeper cells still terrorize
populations nearly four years after the group was defeated in Syria. The
attacks also underscored the extremists’ limitations. IS militants have found
refuge in the remote deserts of Syria’s interior and along the Iraqi-Syrian
border. From there, they lash out against civilians and security forces in both
countries. But they are also hemmed in by opponents on all sides: Syrian
government troops as well as Kurdish-led fighters who control eastern Syria and
are backed by U.S. forces. American raids with their Kurdish-led allies have
repeatedly killed or caught IS leaders and, earlier this month, killed two
senior IS figures.”



Iraq



MENAFN: 5 'Terrorists' Arrested In Iraq: Official Source
<[link removed]>



“Baghdad, Feb 24 (IANS) Iraq has arrested five 'terrorists,' who were charged
with crimes, including killing, imprisoning and torturing citizens, in the
country's northern province of Salahudin, an official source said. During
several pre-emptive operations, the Interior Ministry's intelligence agency
'was able to arrest five wanted terrorists for their affiliation with the
Islamic State (IS) gangs,' said a statement issued by the Security Media Cell
(SMC), a media outlet affiliated with Iraq's armed forces. The SMC didn't
reveal details about the time of the arrests, Xinhua news agency reported. Over
the past months, Iraqi security forces have conducted operations against
extremist militants to crack down on their intensified activities.”



Pakistan



Dunya: Security Forces Foil Terrorists' Ambush In Balochistan, Kill 8
Terrorists
<[link removed]>



“Security forces on Thursday gunned down eight terrorists when militants
attempted to ambush a convoy of security forces in Kech, Balochistan on
Wednesday night. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on
the evening of February 22, 2023, terrorists had attempted to ambush a convoy
of security forces in District Kech of Balochistan. While alert and combat
ready troops not only foiled this cowardly attempt without any loss of life
they also immediately commenced a follow up operation to hunt down the fleeing
terrorists using ground and aviation assets. Resultantly on Thursday morning, a
suspected hideout of terrorists was identified in Mazaaband Range where a
sanitisation operation was launched. In the ensuing heavy exchange of fire,
eight terrorists were killed while a large cache of arms and ammunition,
including explosives, has also been recovered. The security forces will
continue to thwart any attempt by inimical elements on behalf of hostile
intelligence agencies to disrupt hard-earned peace in the province.”



The Print: Six TTP Militants Killed In Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province
<[link removed]>



“Pakistan’s security forces gunned down six Tehreek-i-Taliban militants on
Thursday in an intelligence-based operation in the country’s restive Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province, police said. The operation was jointly conducted by the
Counter Terrorism Department and the police in the Lakki Marwat district of the
province after information on the presence of terrorists in the area was
received. According to a police official, the militants were planning an attack
at the Abbassa Khattak police post in the district. Acting on the tip-off, an
operation was launched, in which six TTP militants were killed following a
shootout that ensued between the security squad and the terrorists. Weapons,
ammunition, and grenades were recovered from the possession of those killed.
The Counter Terrorism Department has launched a search operation in the area.”



Middle East



Jewish News Syndicate: Hezbollah’s Elite Radwan Force Trains To Invade
Northern Israel
<[link removed]>



“The Hezbollah terrorist group’s ‘Radwan Force’ rehearsed an assault on
northern Israel on Feb. 16, according to a video shared by the Al-Harb Al-Silm
Telegram account and unearthed by MEMRI. The first film features mountain
warfare training as well as audio of a statement by Hezbollah leader Hassan
Nasrallah in which he says that this terrorist outfit ‘has a peculiar quality
that dread marches before it.’ Another video showed terrorists demonstrating
marksmanship and hand-to-hand combat ability, and concluded with a verse from
the Book of Jeremiah: ‘From the north, disaster will be poured out on all who
live in [Israel].’ Other videos depicted a simulated a broader assault of
northern Israel. Last week, Nasrallah warned that Hezbollah would not allow
Israel to continue pumping gas from its Karish field ‘if there is
procrastination regarding the drilling for oil and gas in Lebanese waters.’”



MSN: Kashmiri ISKP Commander, Mastermind Of 2020 Bombing At Kabul's Gurdwara,
Killed By Taliban
<[link removed]>



“The Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) has confirmed the death of Ejaz Amin
Ahangar, known as Abu Usman Al-Kashmiri, a senior member of the group in
southern Afghanistan. In a statement, IS-K said Al-Kashmiri was killed on
February 14 during a clash with the Taliban. However, the exact location where
he died was not mentioned. Before joining IS-K, Al-Kashmiri was a member of
Harakat Al-Mujahedin in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). He then joined
al-Qaeda and in 2015, announced that he had joined the ISIS. Al-Kashmiri is
believed to have been the first Amir of the ‘Indian province’ of ISIS. Afghan
intelligence had identified him as the mastermind of the suicide bombing in
March 2020 which claimed the life of a security guard and 24 worshippers at the
Gurdwara Kart-e Parwan in Kabul.”



The Jerusalem Post: Defense Minister Gallant Vows To ‘Exterminate’ Terrorism
In West Bank <[link removed]>



“Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said terrorism must be ‘exterminated’
during a tour of the Nablus Sector and the IDF’s Samaria Regional Division on
Thursday. Gallant, who was joined by brigade commander Lt. Col. Shimon Siso and
Golani patrol commander Lt. Col. Matan Feldman, praised IDF forces for a
Wednesday operation that ended in the compromise of wanted terrorists – despite
facing heavy resistance and gunfire during the operation. ‘I congratulate the
security forces who acted yesterday in Nablus, under pressure and heavy fire,
against terrorists who planned to carry out attacks on Israeli territory,’ said
Gallant at the tour, ‘The combination between the intelligence operations, the
planning and execution of the fighters brought an impressive achievement to our
forces, who successfully completed their mission and prevented harm to the
citizens of Israel,’ said Gallant. ‘We will be crippled by terrorism everywhere
until we exterminate it,’ Gallant continued in his remarks. ‘The IDF and the
security forces will act hard against terrorists… This was the case a few weeks
ago in Jenin and Jericho, this was also the case in Nablus, and this will be
the case whenever we are required to act.’”



Nigeria



The Guardian: Military Arrests Abuja-Kaduna Train Blast Mastermind, Kills 133
Terrorists
<[link removed]>



“Troops of Operation Whirl Punch have arrested three terrorists at Damba
community in Chikun Council of Kaduna State, one of which is the mastermind of
the March 28, 2022 terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train. Briefing
newsmen, yesterday, on military activities and operational successes being
recorded in the various operational theatres within the six geo-political zones
of the country, Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami,
noted that in the past two weeks, both kinetic and non-kinetic operations were
conducted and significant results recorded. He said: ‘Troops of Operation Whirl
Punch on February 14, 2023 responded to information on presence of Boko Haram
terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province kingpins at Damba community in
Chikun Council of Kaduna State. Subsequently, troops mobilised to the location
and arrested three terrorists.’ ‘One of the terrorists arrested was identified
as one of the masterminds of the March 28, 2022 terrorist attack on the Abuja
Kaduna train service. Following the operation, troops recovered two
motorcycles, two mobile phones, $5,000, as well as some other currencies and
sundry items.’”



Daily Trust: Militants Attack Convoy Of PDP Reps Candidate In Enugu
<[link removed]>



“Oforchukwu Egbo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives
candidate for Enugu North/South Federal Constituency, has been attacked by
suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Daniel
Ndukwe, police spokesperson in Enugu, said the incident happened at Eke-Otu in
Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu south LGA of the State. The attack happened hours
after gunmen killed Oyibo Chukwu, candidate of Labour Party (LP) for Enugu East
Senatorial District in Saturdays election. The statement reads, ‘The
Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Ahmed Ammani, fdc, has ordered
the intensification of the discreet investigations and manhunt of the
subversive criminal elements, suspected to be IPOB/ESN renegades, who in the
night hours of 22/02/2023 at different locations, ambushed and simultaneously
attacked and murdered People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP)
members, and also attempted to attack the convoy of the All Progressive
Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate’. The Commissioner stated this after
visiting the scenes of the incidents the same night at Topland by Ebony Paint
Road and Eke-Otu both in Amechi-Awkunanaw, Enugu.”



Somalia



Mehr News Agency: 20 Al-Shabaab Terrorists Killed In Airstrike In Somali
<[link removed]>



“The sources reported that the Somalian intelligence forces, in cooperation
with international allied forces, carried out an air strike against al-Shabaab
terrorists in the region of Hiran. According to the report, the air attack
targeted a vehicle belonging to al-Shabaab terrorists, leaving 20 of them
killed. Earlier on Tuesday, media sources reported that at least 10 people were
killed and several others were injured when al-Shabaab terrorists stormed a
residential building in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. Meanwhile, the Somali
government announced on Tuesday that the army, backed by international
partners, carried out a 30-hour operation against terrorists in the Middle
Shabelle region, killing 42 al-Shabaab militants. The ministry said in a
separate statement that the military, backed by the central state of Galmudug
regional forces, killed over 80 al-Shabaab terrorists in Shabeelow, Mudug
region.”



Mali



Reuters: Gunmen Kill At Least 12 Civilians In Central Mali Village
<[link removed](Reuters),area%20rife%20with%20jihadist%20activity.>



“Gunmen have killed at least 12 civilians in an attack on a village in
central Mali, two officials said on Friday, the latest reported attack in an
area rife with jihadist activity. The West African nation is battling a violent
insurgency with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State that took root in its arid
north following a Tuareg separatist rebellion in 2012. Militants have since
spread to other countries in the Sahel region south of the Sahara and more
recently to coastal states, seizing territory, killing thousands and uprooting
millions in the process. The latest attack took place on Thursday evening in a
village in the Bankass Circle, in Mali's Mopti region, said the mayor of the
nearby town of Bankass, Moulaye Guindo.”



Africa



AFP News: Burkina Faso To Recruit 5,000 Soldiers To Battle Jihadists
<[link removed]>



“Burkina Faso announced Thursday a recruitment drive for 5,000 soldiers to
serve in the army for at least five years to aid the country in its fight
against jihadists. The country, one of the world's poorest, has been battling a
deadly insurgency since 2015. ‘An exceptional recruitment of 5,000
non-commissioned soldiers for the national armed forces, to serve for at least
five years, in their military region of recruitment, will take place throughout
the national territory,’ Defence Minister Colonel Major Kassoum Coulibaly said
in the statement. The recruitment of young male soldiers will extend from
February 28 to March 7, and enlistees must have been born between January 1,
1988, and December 31, 2003, the minister said. Of Burkina Faso's 13 regions,
those that are hotspots for violence will have higher quotas for recruitment --
including the western Boucle du Mouhoun region and the Sahel in the north.”



Anadolu Agency: US Demands All Armed Groups In Eastern DR Congo Cease
Hostilities, Withdraw From Region
<[link removed]>



“The US demanded Thursday that all armed groups causing insecurity in eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo cease hostilities and unconditionally withdraw
from the region. UN radio in DR Congo reported that Washington has expressed
concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the east and condemned
the human rights violations committed by armed groups, particularly the M23,
Daesh-DRC, CODECO and FDLR. In a press release, the US State Department said
the US welcomes the Feb. 17 communique of the 1140th meeting of the African
Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) on the situation in eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo. ‘We are encouraged that the PSC underscored the importance
of implementing the outcomes of the February 17 EAC mini-summit communiqué, the
Luanda and Nairobi processes and the November 23 Luanda Communiqué; supporting
the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism and the UN Organization Stabilization
Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO); and addressing the issue of ex-combatants and the
voluntary return of internally displaced persons and refugees,’ the statement
said.”



Germany



Associated Press: German Court Convicts Man Over Deadly 2014 Attack In Syria
<[link removed]>



“A German court on Thursday convicted a Palestinian man from Syria of a war
crime and murder for launching a grenade into a crowd of civilians waiting for
food in Damascus in 2014. He was sentenced to life in prison. The 55-year-old,
identified only as Moafak D. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested in
2021 in Berlin, where he had been living as a refugee. His trial opened in
August. The German capital’s district court found that the defendant on March
23, 2014, fired a grenade from an anti-tank weapon into the crowd in the
Yarmouk district of Damascus, killing four people and seriously wounding two
others. It said that he was the commander of a checkpoint for a Palestinian
group, probably the Free Palestine Movement, and on the day in question also
was supposed to be overseeing a distribution of food packages by the U.N.
Relief and Works Agency, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.”



Europe



Reuters: Northern Irish Police Arrest Four Over Shooting Of Detective
<[link removed]>



“Northern Irish police have arrested a fourth man early on Friday in relation
to the attempted murder of a senior detective shot in front of his son in the
town of Omagh. Northern Ireland police chief Simon Byrne said on Thursday three
men had been arrested following the shooting of the senior detective. Detective
Chief Inspector John Caldwell is in critical condition having undergone surgery
overnight. He was shot a number of times by two gunmen while putting footballs
in his car after finishing a coaching session with an under-15 soccer team.”



India



Dawn: Gujrat ATC Issues Arrest Warrants For Rana Sanaullah In Terrorism Case
<[link removed]>



“An anti-terrorism court in Gujrat issued bailable arrest warrants for
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday for allegedly threatening the
judiciary and government officials in his public speeches. The directives were
issued by Accountability Judge Rana Zahid. A terrorism case was registered
against Sanaullah in August last year. The first information report (FIR)
stated that during his speeches on April 15, 2021, and January 29, 2022, the
interior minister had threatened to stop the judiciary from doing its job and
kill the children of the Punjab police officials. The case was taken up by the
ATC in Gujrat today.”



Southeast Asia



The Meghalayan: Gangster-Terrorist Case: Khalistani Terrorist Among Six
Arrested By NIA
<[link removed]>



“The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested six persons, including
a close associate of Canada-based designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias
Arsh Dalla, in connection with the Gangster-terrorist case, an official said on
Thursday. The arrested Khalistani terrorist has been identified as Lucky
Khokhar alias Denis. Recently, raids were conducted at 76 locations across the
nation which led to the arrests. According to the central counter terrorism law
enforcement agency, the arrested were identified as Lucky Khokhar, Lakhvir
Singh, Harpreet, Dalip Bishnoi, Surinder alias Chiku Chaudhary and Hari Om
alias Titu.”



Times Of India: Al Qaeda Suspect Gets 8-Year Jail Term In Arms Act Case
<[link removed]>



“The court of ADJ-I, Sanjay Kumar Upadhyay, sentenced Al Qaeda suspect, Ahmed
Masood Akram Sheikh alias Monu, 42, to eight years rigorous imprisonment in
Arms Act case. Further, the court has imposed Rs 10,000 fine on him. Monu, a
Dhatkidih resident, was arrested by the Bistupur police on January 24, 2016,
from his residence on the basis of the intelligence shared by the special cell
of the Delhi police. Earlier, the court of ADJ-I had convicted Monu in the Arms
Act on February 13, the quantum of punishment was pronounced on Thursday. In
the same judgment, the court has acquitted Naseem Akhtar alias Raju, 35, due to
lack of evidence.”



Rising Kashmir: SIU Attaches Immovable Properties Of 3 Persons Involved In
Militant Activity In Ramban
<[link removed]>



“Immovable properties of three persons who were allegedly involved in the
terrorist activity were attached by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday. The accused were booked for allegedly
hurling a grenade at the Police Post, Gool on August 2, 2022, officials said.
The immovable properties include a single-storey house of Abdul Majid Lone at
Sesal, a house of Mohammed Farooq, and a chemist shop of Shahdin Padyar. These
properties were attached in the presence of a Magistrate, on the orders of DGP,
Dilbagh Singh under the Explosive Substance Act, Unlawful Activities Prevention
Act 1967 and PDPP Act, said officials.”



Canada



CBC: Accused Extremist Recruiter Awso Peshdary Pleads Guilty To
Terrorism-Related Charges
<[link removed]>

“An accused recruiter for the Islamic State group has renounced his previous
extremism and pleaded guilty to terrorism offences in an Ottawa courtroom. Awso
Peshdary was sentenced to 14 years but is being credited with time served. He
is expected to serve 21 months in prison followed by three years of probation
with conditions. Justice Julianne Parfett said she had ‘no difficulty’ finding
him guilty on each of the indictments and that some of the evidence heard
during the nearly five-year court case was ‘horrific.’”



Belize



Daily Mail: EXCLUSIVE: Al Qaeda Terrorist Majid Khan - Who Planned To Poison
US Water Supplies And Couriered Cash For Hotel Bombing - Insists He's No Longer
A Threat As Biden Resettles Him In Belize Under Taxpayer-Funded $300,000 Deal
Following His Releas
<[link removed]>
e From Gitmo
<[link removed]>



“A Baltimore schoolboy-turned-terrorist freed from Guantanamo Bay to start a
new life in the Caribbean on the US taxpayers' dime, insists he's no longer a
threat to the West – telling DailyMail.com: 'My motto is live and let live.'
Majid Khan ran errands for 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, plotted to
blow up a Pakistani President and couriered al Qaeda cash to Indonesia for a
2003 hotel bombing that slaughtered a dozen people. But after two decades in US
custody Khan was quietly transferred to Belize on February 2, becoming the
first 'high value detainee' to be released from the secretive Navy base and the
first inmate resettled by the Biden administration. The 42-year-old is one of
the few GTMO prisoners allowed to live in the Western hemisphere thanks to a
confidential relocation deal which will pay the Belizean government enough
money to fund Khan's first six months of freedom, DailyMail.com can exclusively
reveal.”



Bangladesh



Dhaka Tribune: Militant Group Threatens To Bomb Ekushey Book Fair
<[link removed]>



“A supposed militant organization, claiming to be Ansar al Islam, has sent a
letter to the Bangla Academy director general threatening to bomb the Amar
Ekushey Book Fair. The letter, signed by one Md Saidul Islam, arrived by post
on Thursday, Bangla Academy security official Jahangir Alam said. The academy
had informed Shahbagh police about the matter, and they suggested filing a
general diary, he said. Later, the Rapid Action Battalion and the Counter
Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police took
copies of the GD, the Bangla Academy official added. Shahbagh police station SI
Md Jabbar, the investigating officer, said the police were looking into the
matter.”



Technology



The Jerusalem Post: Online Terrorism Has Reached A Tipping Point
<[link removed]>



“…The argument for YouTube’s liability for the rise of ISIS and the subsequent
death of Nohemi is based on the platform’s recommendations systems, which
algorithmically suggest content similar to that liked or regularly watched by
users. In its brief, the Counter Extremism Project detailed that these
algorithms are built with the idea that “edgy” content is more
attention-grabbing. This leads to inundation and the radicalization of users.
Petitioners contend that this process was monetized by Google through ad
programs, which didn’t take the necessary action to remove the wave of jihadist
content it was suggesting.”



The Counter Extremism Project depends on the generosity of its supporters. If
you value what we do, please consider making a donation.

DONATE NOW
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