Tag Archives: terrorism

Federal Bureau of Prisons failing to properly monitor terrorist inmates

1 MarpmThu, 26 Mar 2020 13:02:04 -06002020-03-26T13:02:04-06:0001 2009 – 13:02

posted by Christopher W. Holton

This is nothing short of infuriating.

If the federal authorities can’t even properly monitor terrorists who are in their custody in prison, can they be expected to keep track of terrorist suspects who are at large?

This is yet another reason why the U.S. needs a Terrorist Offender Registry modeled after the sex offender registry so that state and local law enforcement, who tend to be more accountable, know when a convicted terrorist is living in their jurisdiction.

Federal prisons aren’t properly monitoring terrorist inmates, Justice Department IG report says…

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/federal-prisons-aren-t-properly-monitoring-terrorist-inmates-report-says-n1168616

By terrortrends | Posted in terrorist registry | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

Jihad Continues Despite Wuhan Virus

1 MarpmTue, 24 Mar 2020 14:12:26 -06002020-03-24T14:12:26-06:0002 2009 – 14:12

by Christopher W. Holton

While the overwhelming majority of the world is captivated by the Wuhan virus pandemic, not everyone is focused in that direction.

That was brought home forcefully in the past 24 hours by two significant Jihadist attacks in Africa which have received scant attention in the news media.

We’ve been pointing out for a long time that Africa is becoming the new ground zero in the global Jihadist insurgency.

It’s easy to dismiss Africa, mainly because Americans and Europeans have been dismissing Africa for centuries. But jihadist insurgencies are raging to various degrees in no fewer than 14 countries on the Dark Continent. Should Jihadists be successful in taking control of even half of those countries, it could threaten natural resource commerce and produce a humanitarian refugee crisis that dwarfs what we’ve seen so far.

Allowing Jihadists to have a safe base of operations anywhere in the world is a proven loser.

We must not forget that Al Qaeda’s war against the US pretty much started in Africa in 1998 when Osama Bin Laden was based in Sudan and launched attacks against US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

In the past 24 hours, Islamic State jihadists have struck in Nigeria and Mozambique with two major attacks.

In Nigeria, ISIS jihadis ambushed a Nigerian army unit and killed 70 Nigerian soldiers…

https://thearabweekly.com/isis-rejoices-epidemic-offshoot-group-kills-70-nigerian-soldiers

In Mozambique, ISIS jihadis captured the port city of Mocimboa de Praia in a night time amphibious raid…

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-03-24-mozambique-jihadists-capture-strategic-port-in-major-victory/

By terrortrends | Posted in Africa, ISIS, Islamic State, Jihad, Mozambique, Nigeria, Terrorist attack | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Pakistani doctor who worked at Mayo Clinic Arrested in Minneapolis trying to join the Islamic State

1 MarpmSat, 21 Mar 2020 14:13:52 -06002020-03-21T14:13:52-06:0002 2009 – 14:13

posted by Christopher W. Holton

Muhammad Masood, a Pakistani physician, who at one time had been a Mayo Clinic research coordinator, was arrested on Thursday 19 March in Minneapolis on a terrorism charge, after he told FBI informants that he had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and intended to carry out individual jihad attacks here in the United States.

This certainly is yet another case that flies in the face of the discredited theory that terrorists are driven to jihad by poverty and lack of opportunity…

This is also certainly not the first case of a physician actively joining a Jihadist organization. After all, Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is a physician by trade and a former medical school professor. Additionally on 30 June 2007, Bilal Abdullah, a British-born Muslim doctor took part in the failed attack on Glasgow airport, for which he was sent to prison for no less than 32 years.

Read more on this latest arrest…

https://www.twincities.com/2020/03/19/pakistani-doctor-working-in-rochester-accused-of-trying-to-join-isis/

By terrortrends | Posted in 5th Column, Homegrown Jihad, ISIS, Islamic State, Minnesota | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Al Shabaab Expands into Ethiopia

1 OctpmThu, 17 Oct 2019 14:30:52 -06002019-10-17T14:30:52-06:0002 2009 – 14:30

posted by Christopher W. Holton

The world seems to have mostly forgotten about the global jihadist insurgency. That’s unfortunate because jihadis are still active around the globe. It seems that attention in the US is focused on the partisan battle raging between President Trump and the Democrats in the House of Representatives.

As we have detailed for some time over the years, Africa continues to be a place that is being targeted by jihadis. One of the most dangerous groups in Africa is Al Shabaab, which originated in Somalia but has conducted operations elsewhere in east Africa, notably Kenya.

Now, there are reports that Al Shabaab has expanded into Ethiopia as well…this merits watching since there are numerous supporters of Al Shabaab here in the USA…

Is al-Shabab looking to Ethiopia?

https://www.dw.com/en/is-al-shabab-looking-to-ethiopia/a-50854924

By terrortrends | Posted in al Shabaab, Al Shahab, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Another Day of Jihad in America…and the National TV Yawns

1 MarpmWed, 07 Mar 2018 16:37:30 -06002018-03-07T16:37:30-06:0004 2009 – 16:37

posted by Christopher Holton

Don’t bother checking the television news networks for these two stories. You won’t find them.

The stories must not fit the narratives that the various 24/7 TV news networks are pushing. Or maybe they just won’t attract large audiences for ratings.

At any rate, yesterday two unrelated stories emerged in Utah and New Jersey that indicate that acts of individual Jihad continue to pose a significant threat to our public safety.

In St. George (YES, we noted the irony too), Utah, an unidentified high school student showed up to school with a backpack-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Fortunately he did not detonate the bomb, which police indicated had the potential to cause a great deal of destruction and casualties.

The police went to the student/bomber’s home and found lots of bomb-making material as well as information on the Islamic State, which evidently the kid was promoting online.

Further investigation uncovered that the junior jihadi had taken down the American flag and replaced it with the black standard often associated with the Islamic State. He also admitted to spray painting ISIS graffiti on the school.

There is an old saying about the modern news media: “if it bleeds it leads.” Because this bomb did not detonate, the national news media is essentially ignoring this story.

For more details, check out this article from a local TV station in Utah:

http://kutv.com/news/local/juvenile-arrested-admits-to-replacing-us-flag-with-isis-flag-at-hurricane-school

Meanwhile, 2,000+ miles to the east, a little known jihadi attack case resurfaced in court yesterday. Thirty-four year old Ali Muhammad Brown pled guilty in court to murdering 19-year-old Brendan Tevlin in late June 2014 near Newark.

Readers may recall when the murder occurred that authorities and the news media both played down the jihadi angle.

In court yesterday, not only did Brown admit that it was an act of jihad, he also confessed killing three other people as acts of jihad in Washington state.

Two of the victims in Washington state were leaving a gay night club, making this the second known act of jihad directed against gay Americans, along with the horrific Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando. For some reason, the mainstream news media is ignoring the fact that jihadists continue to attack homosexuals around the world.

More details are available at this link from the Associated Press:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/man-accused-terrorism-pleads-guilty-killing-student-171225105.html

By terrortrends | Posted in Bomb threat, Failed terrorist attack, Homegrown Jihad, ISIS, Islamic State, Shahada Flag, terrorist plot | Also tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Jihad is not caused by Poverty or Ignorance

1 DecpmThu, 14 Dec 2017 14:59:48 -06002017-12-14T14:59:48-06:0002 2009 – 14:59

by Christopher W. Holton

A favorite theory of TV pundits is the idea that Jihad is caused by socioeconomic problems. If only there were more educational and economic opportunities in places like the Middle East and Southwest Asia…and Europe…and New York…and Tennessee…and California…and Florida…and Texas…we wouldn’t be seeing all this “terrorism.”

The problem for the pundits is that there is no evidence to back up this theory. Study after study continues to show that the average Jihadi is above average in terms of education and economic status.

In some cases, like Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, Jihadist leaders gave up lucrative lifestyles to pursue Jihad. And time and time again, from Mohammed Atta, the notorious ring leader of the 9/11 hijackers, to the latest example linked below, the rank and file Jihadis are often not deprived either…

First picture of Sheffield dentistry student found guilty of terrorism offences

It took jurors just over a day to find Mohammed Abbas Idris Awan, of Dun Street, Sheffield guilty of one offence of engaging in the preparation of an act of terrorism and two offences of possessing a record likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

Judge Paul Watson QC adjourned the case until Wednesday, December 20 when Awan will be sentenced. The former University of Sheffield student was remanded into custody until that time.

https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/first-picture-of-sheffield-dentistry-student-found-guilty-of-terrorism-offences-1-8908313

By terrortrends | Posted in Great Britain, ISIS, Islamic State, Jihad, United Kingdom | Also tagged , , | Comments (1)

Is Europe Under Siege? The British Foreign Office Seems to Think So

1 NovpmThu, 30 Nov 2017 16:00:53 -06002017-11-30T16:00:53-06:0004 2009 – 16:00

by Christopher W. Holton

Foreign_and_Commonwealth_Office_Logo

Over the past few weeks several threatening messages from the Islamic State and Al Qaeda have appeared in social media and elsewhere. The threats have primarily been directed at European cities during the holiday season.

President Trump and Prime Minister May have entered into a pointless Twitter battle over the threat from Jihad and their respective views on how to address it.

Against this backdrop, the British Foreign Office has issued travel bulletins for its citizens traveling to the following 10 countries:

• Czech Republic

• Denmark

• The Netherlands

• Austria

• Germany

• Italy

• Belgium

• France

• Switzerland

• Sweden

The Foreign Office issued the exact same bulletin for each country:

“There may be increased security in place over the Christmas and New Year period, including at Christmas markets and other major events that might attract large crowds; you should remain vigilant and follow the advice of local authorities”

We find it ironic that, given the number of Jihadi attacks–vehicle jihad, knife jihad, and bombings–in Great Britain over the past 2 years or so, that the British wouldn’t add their own country to the list of nations for which they have issued travel bulletins.

We’d say that London and other parts of Britain are at least as dangerous as places in Switzerland, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark and the Czech Republic.

What all this adds up to is what the British government is telling travelers, but won’t come right out and say it, is that there is a severe threat of Jihad all over Europe.

If you want to feel safe this holiday season, head to Tahiti for that white Christmas experience.

By terrortrends | Posted in Europe, Great Britain, Jihad, Uncategorized, United Kingdom | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

British police arrest two Jihadis, disrupt “significant plot”

1 NovpmWed, 29 Nov 2017 14:33:10 -06002017-11-29T14:33:10-06:0002 2009 – 14:33

vl353091052_18x9

by Christopher W. Holton

Late yesterday British counterterrorism police arrested two Jihadis who were reportedly planning attacks in London and Birmingham.

Details are scarce but it has been reported that the two suspects were 20 and 21 years old and were “inspired” by the Islamic State.

More to follow as information comes available.

By terrortrends | Posted in Great Britain, Jihad, terrorist plot, Uncategorized, United Kingdom | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

The Muslim Brotherhood: the Grandfather of all Sunni Jihadist Groups

1 NovpmThu, 23 Nov 2017 16:51:42 -06002017-11-23T16:51:42-06:0004 2009 – 16:51

muslimbrotherhood2

posted by Christopher W. Holton

The Muslim Brotherhood is the forerunner of all modern Jihadist terror organizations: HAMAS, Al Qaeda, the Islamic State all can trace their origins to the Muslim Brotherhood.

In the case of HAMAS, it is in actuality THE Muslim Brotherhood in the West Bank and Gaza.

Islam provides the doctrinal basis for the Muslim Brotherhood and its modern offspring. But it is largely the Muslim Brotherhood and its ideologues–Qutb, al Banna and others–that provided the ideological underpinnings for Al Qaeda, the Islamic State and others.

Arab media is increasingly addressing the insidious role of the Muslim Brotherhood. The article excerpted and linked below would have been unheard of a dozen years ago.

The fight to uproot terrorism and extremism begins at its Muslim Brotherhood roots, with that organisation’s structure, doctrines and ideologues.

The US government has recently released to the public a large batch of documents that were recovered in the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011. What strikes one immediately, in these documents, is how the terrorist ideology that obsessed Bin Laden was rooted in Muslim Brotherhood ideology. The Al-Qaeda leader was steeped in the literature published by the Muslim Brotherhood’s founders and ideologues…

This phenomenon is hardly unique among prominent terrorists and their organisations. The Muslim Brotherhood had always served as the “incubator” and the primary school in which terrorists take their first steps towards embracing extremist thought and its violent applications. Leaders of such organisations as Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya and the Islamic Jihad in Egypt emerged directly from the folds of Muslim Brotherhood thought and practice. Among the star students were current Al-Qaeda chief Ayman Al-Zawahri, Mohamed Ata, who led that terrorist attack against the World Trade Center in New York on 11 September 2001, and the mastermind of the whole operation, Khaled Sheikh Mohamed. Although some of those individuals and organisations had their differences with the Muslim Brotherhood at some later juncture, their collective “jihadist” thought had its origins with the founders of the Muslim Brotherhood, whether in its first edition (Hassan Al-Banna) or its second edition (Sayed Qotb). While Qotb is always regarded as the father of contemporary terrorists, his ideas and outlooks can be traced to Al-Banna and the birth of the Muslim Brotherhood in 1928.

Read the rest of this important article…

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/23056.aspx

 

By terrortrends | Posted in Al Qaeda, Egypt, HAMAS, ISIS, Islamic State, Muslim Brotherhood, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

British step up counterterrorism measures as threat of jihad looms

1 NovpmThu, 23 Nov 2017 16:23:13 -06002017-11-23T16:23:13-06:0004 2009 – 16:23

posted by Christopher W. Holton

British security services are preparing a new crackdown on terrorism as the threat against the UK continues to grow.

Ben Wallace, the security minister, said a total of eight planned attacks have now been thwarted since the Isis-inspired massacre in Westminster in March, bringing the total to 21 since 2013.

“Nearly 600 investigative leads are ongoing, covering about 3,000 people and approximately another 20,000 people who we have at some stage had concern about,” he told the Westminster Counter-terrorism Conference.

Around 850 people travelled from the UK to join Isis and al-Qaeda in Syria, with 15 per cent killed and half returned home, according to Government figures.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-terror-attacks-isis-threat-rising-new-terrorism-strategy-propaganda-online-islamic-state-a8072641.html

By terrortrends | Posted in Al Qaeda, Great Britain, ISIS, Islamic State, Jihad, terrorist plot, United Kingdom | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)
%d bloggers like this: