Eye on Extremism
February 24, 2023
Associated Press: Report: Istanbul Bomb Suspect Killed In Operation In Syria
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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 Release From Gitmo
“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
“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
“…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.”
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