august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8

Combating Center at West Point CTC Sentinel Objective . Relevant . Rigorous

Contents Evaluating the Al-Qa`ida

FEATURE ARTICLE 1 Evaluating the Al-Qa`ida Threat to Threat to the U.S. Homeland the U.S. Homeland By Philip Mudd By Philip Mudd

Reports 4 The Growing Danger from Radical Islamist Groups in the By Paul Cruickshank 10 Manchester, New York and Oslo: Three Centrally Directed Al-Qa`ida Plots By Raffaello Pantucci 13 Lessons Learned from the July 2010 Norwegian Terrorist Plot By Petter Nesser and Brynjar Lia 17 American Journeys to Jihad: U.S. Extremists and Foreign Conflicts During the 1980s and 1990s By William Rosenau and Sara Daly 20 Tensions Rise Between Hizb-i-Islami and the Taliban in By Matthew DuPee and Anand Gopal

24 Recent Highlights in Terrorist Activity 28 CTC Sentinel Staff & Contacts n the nine years since the terrorist however, many of the recent terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, plotters are U.S.-born or the counterterrorism campaign converts, with few, if any, links to al- in the United States has changed Qa`ida’s central leadership. Al-Qa`ida’s Iremarkably. In the initial years after revolutionary message, starting with the 9/11, the primary counterterrorism group’s inception more than two decades concern was the presence of more al- ago and manifest in its 1998 fatwa against Qa`ida-directed terrorists on U.S. soil. the United States, has clearly reached Focus was concentrated on preventing U.S. shores. Although al-Qa`ida is About the CTC Sentinel a weapon of mass destruction strike, a often viewed strictly operationally, The Combating Terrorism Center is an second coordinated mass transit attack, its use of terrorism is only a tactic independent educational and research or a cell directed against a different and the group’s primary mission is to institution based in the Department of Social infrastructure target. As time passed, the inspire a much broader movement of Sciences at the United States Military Academy, United States was able to avoid another affiliated organizations and like-minded West Point. The CTC Sentinel harnesses al-Qa`ida-directed attack on U.S. soil as individuals to see the United States as the Center’s global network of scholars and a result of good counterterrorism work, the main target for attack. For al-Qa`ida, practitioners to understand and confront combined with a lack of capacity on the the purpose of the 9/11 attacks was contemporary threats posed by terrorism and part of al-Qa`ida’s central leadership. not only to cause a massive loss of life, other forms of political violence. but to show the world that the United Nevertheless, in recent years the United States is vulnerable. By revealing U.S. States has faced plots from individuals weakness, al-Qa`ida hoped to inspire The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and not of the U.S. Military Academy, in Texas, Illinois, New York, New more attacks, causing the United States the Department of the Army, or any other agency Jersey, North Carolina and other states. to reduce its support for governments of the U.S. Government. In contrast to the 19 hijackers on 9/11, across the Islamic world. This reduction

1 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 in support would theoretically reduce as Zazi’s—where individuals with no United States for involvement in the the capabilities of “corrupt” regimes in previous contact with al-Qa`ida seek out 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks and Muslim countries and unleash a wave of terrorist operatives on their own accord— for plotting against employees of a Islamist revolutions. show how al-Qa`ida’s revolutionary newspaper in Copenhagen, Denmark.4 ideology has spread globally. This article reviews al-Qa`ida’s present Second, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, threat to the U.S. homeland. It looks Affiliates who studied at a university in , at the evolution of the threat from Al-Qa`ida central now has a number of attempted to detonate explosives on a 9/11—including the rise of affiliated affiliated organizations that maintain Northwest Airlines commercial aircraft organizations and independent actors— links to the core leadership, yet largely just outside Detroit on December 25, and the problems faced by al-Qa`ida’s operate on their own. These affiliates 2009.5 Subsequent investigations central organization in orchestrating include al-Qa`ida in the Islamic revealed that al-Qa`ida’s Yemen attacks in the United States. Maghreb (AQIM), al-Qa`ida in the affiliate, AQAP, was behind the plot, Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), al-Qa`ida showing its intent and capability to Current Threat Pattern in Iraq (AQI), Tehrik-i-Taliban direct operations within the United Core Threat States.6 Despite rising threats from groups outside al-Qa`ida’s core leadership, the “The rise of the Third, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) risk from al-Qa`ida central persists. ideologically inspired sponsored Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistani- The recent case of and American who lived in Connecticut, to his plot against ’s subway means that even as the undertake an attack in New York City’s system clearly shows that al-Qa`ida’s strategic threat from Times Square on May 1, 2010. In July, core leadership, despite substantial video footage emerged of Faisal Shahzad losses, remains intent on striking al-Qa`ida declines, embracing Hakimullah Mehsud, the critical infrastructure—especially the number of people leader of the TTP.7 Pakistan’s interior transportation—in U.S. population minister, Rehman Malik, told reporters centers.1 Even in the case of centrally absorbing the ideology that Shahzad “visited Pakistan seven directed plots, the threat has morphed. has broadened the threat, times and he met Hakimullah Mehsud First of all, judging from recent plots, and also met other people, those so- it does not appear that al-Qa`ida is both operationally and called leaders of the Taliban.”8 planning attacks as sophisticated as geographically.” the 9/11 events. Second, in cases where These incidents represent three individuals are directly tied to al- operatives from al-Qa`ida affiliates, Qa`ida’s central leadership, they are not none directed by al-Qa`ida’s central typically directed out from the center of (TTP), among others. A significant leadership yet all operating in either the action (Pakistan/Afghanistan), but are question for the counterterrorism United States or the . instead drawn into it. Once they are community is whether members of the drawn in, they receive training from al- affiliate network will use time and safe Like-Mindeds Qa`ida operatives before being sent on havens—in locations such as Yemen, There has also been a surge in the a terrorist operation. Zazi, for example, the Horn of , or the Sahel—to third prong of plotters who represent was a legal resident of the United generate new plots. the spread of al-Qa`ida’s ideology States, and it was not until 2008 that he from the core group and its affiliates conspired with others in New York to During the past year, the ripple effect of to new recruits who are inspired travel to Afghanistan to fight with the these affiliates’ absorption of al-Qa`ida’s but not trained by the group. These Taliban.2 It was only after he arrived in emphasis on the “far enemy” (the United represent unaffiliated “like-mindeds,” Pakistan that he came into contact with States) can be seen. First, the case of individuals or clusters of individuals al-Qa`ida recruiters, who then moved David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani- on U.S. soil. Like-mindeds have played him through training camps.3 Cases such American, reveals an “A-level” plotter significant roles in the al-Qa`ida who operated in the United States. revolution elsewhere; the numbers of 1 For details on the Najibullah Zazi case, see “Najibul- Headley was involved with plotting solitary foreign fighters crossing from lah Zazi Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Use Explosives attacks for Lashkar-i-Tayyiba (LT, or into Iraq earlier this decade are Against Persons or Property in U.S., Conspiracy to Mur- LeT), a South Asian terrorist group evidence, similar to the arrival of foreign der Abroad and Providing Material Support to Al-Qae- that has at least some ties to al-Qa`ida. fighters in Chechnya, Bosnia, , da,” press release, U.S. Department of Justice, February Headley, who was born in Washington, 22, 2010. D.C. and most recently lived in Chicago, 4 Andrew Stern, “David Headley Pleads Guilty in Mum- 2 Ibid. was arrested in October 2009 in the bai Attack, Danish Plot,” Reuters, March 19, 2010. 3 Ibid. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 5 “Video Shows Christmas Day Bomber Abdulmutallab,” “Although Zazi and others initially intended to fight on weapons. During the training, al-Qaeda leaders asked CBS/Associated Press, April 27, 2010. behalf of the Taliban, they were recruited by al-Qaeda Zazi and others to return to the United States and con- 6 Ibid. shortly after arriving in Peshawar. Al-Qaeda personnel duct suicide operations. They agreed. Zazi later received 7 “Pakistan Acknowledges Faisal Shahzad Met Taliban transported Zazi and others to the Waziristan region of additional training from al-Qaeda on constructing the ex- Chief,” Dawn, July 26, 2010. Pakistan and trained them on several different kinds of plosives for the planned attacks in the United States.” 8 Ibid.

2 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 and elsewhere. There is now a similar The emergence of affiliated groups— to new problems or threats. It will also phenomenon of individuals signing up candidates might extend as far afield as remain expensive for the United States to for the cause in Texas (Hosam Smadi), AQIM or Southeast Asian remnants of conduct intelligence, law enforcement, Illinois (Michael Finton), and New Jemaah Islamiya—means that security diplomatic, and military operations in Jersey (the Fort Dix plot). services that might have previously these countries, as well as to support focused on Pakistan’s tribal areas as foreign governments with money, Broadened Threat the center of training and plotting training, technology, and equipment to The rise of the ideologically inspired for attackers headed to Europe and maintain the counterterrorism fight. means that even as the strategic threat North America must now assume that from al-Qa`ida declines—the likelihood these emergent groups are conducting Successes of a 9/11-style attack has dropped similar training, with a focus on the The years of this counterterrorism markedly as a result of security American heartland. The breadth campaign have clearly improved the operations worldwide—the number of sophisticated, resource-intensive security capabilities of the many of people absorbing the ideology has intelligence operations will have to countries that are working tactical broadened the threat, both operationally grow. Trained operatives from the threat problems regularly. Domestic and geographically. As the core group Pakistan-Afghanistan border region and international operations against suffers—and perhaps eventually dies will not be the sole, or even primary, terrorists are far more efficient and off—the broader movement is alive and source of bombing suspects. effective than they were when security well, and the sheer numbers of like- services first escalated activities after mindeds suggest that one of the plots in In the midst of global economic 9/11. One of the unwritten success the United States will succeed. Indeed, pressures, Middle East tensions, stories of the counterterrorism both the Abdulmutallab and Shahzad plots Russia’s re-emergence, the rise of China campaign in the United States is the only failed due to mistakes made creating and , and energy debates, the global evolution of threat management from or detonating the explosive devices. scope of the al-Qa`ida revolutionary inefficient coordination nine years ago to smooth processes today. Time, effort, These affiliates and like-mindeds are resources, and practice have combined harder to target with classic intelligence “The accruing numbers to make the United States better and techniques than a centrally directed of operational players safer. The same holds true overseas, organization, and the geographic breadth from Indonesia to the United Kingdom. and frequency of plots during the past eliminated, coupled with a two years are clear indicators of how far pace of operations during The pace of operations against the central the revolutionary message has spread. organization has heavily damaged its The sophistication of the attackers will the past few years that has capability to plan long-term plots from not reach what was witnessed nine years prevented the group from a safe haven. Measuring the impact ago, but if the goal of the organization of every operational takedown is not is continued recruitment—proving to finding its feet, represents productive. Yet the accruing numbers of potential donors and recruits that “al- the most significant operational players eliminated, coupled Qa`idaism” remains relevant—a strike with a pace of operations during the past on the scale of the London transit attack damage brought to al- few years that has prevented the group in 2005 would be significant to their Qa`ida to date.” from finding its feet, represents the cause. most significant damage brought to al- Qa`ida to date. Maintaining this pace of The proven presence of plotters from operations over subsequent years would affiliated groups—LT, AQAP, or the creep requires that security services, eventually cripple the core group. Pakistani Taliban—during the past two despite diversions, will have to years is perhaps the most significant maintain focus on the jihadist problem. The ideological missteps of the group evolution of the threat faced during Recent plots have implicated potential and its affiliates since 9/11 have been this period. The Detroit airliner and terrorists as far afield as North Carolina, more notable than its operational Times Square attempts represent a rare New Jersey, Colorado, New York, setbacks. Jihadists viewed the failures and significant step by an ideological Missouri, Virginia, Minnesota, Illinois, of the 1990s in Algeria and Egypt as the affiliate of al-Qa`ida to show intent and Connecticut. All of these plots have foundation for the evolution in thinking and capability to reach into the United involved overseas activities that require that led al-Qa`ida to argue that until States, the first time an affiliate has the assistance of foreign security the United States and other powers succeeded since 9/11. Meanwhile, as LT services from Western Europe through left the region, regimes would be able targeting indicates its slow move into the Balkans to Africa, the Middle to weather the Islamist surge. The al-Qa`ida’s ideological orbit, Headley’s East and South Asia. Maintenance of post-9/11 attacks, though, have been ability to operate in the United States the informal web of security service marked by the same alienation of local underscores that group’s capabilities cooperation is labor intensive, and it populations across the Islamic world should it decide to attack within U.S. grows more difficult as countries turn that Algeria and Egypt experienced borders.9 during the strife there. Attacks in Saudi group targeted Westerners, a change in the group’s pre- Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan, 9 During LT’s attacks in Mumbai in November 2008, the vious targeting pattern. and elsewhere resulted in declines in

3 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 support for the al-Qa`ida organization, Current State The Growing Danger from its leadership, and the use of suicide Today, the United States is experiencing bombing as a tactic.10 continued al-Qa`ida plotting, coupled Radical Islamist Groups in with threats from individuals and the United States The organization is aware of its missteps affiliated organizations that now but seems unable to control them. target the U.S. homeland. The spread By Paul Cruickshank The now well-publicized intercepted of the al-Qa`ida message in the United exchanges between Ayman al-Zawahiri States was inevitable, and the range of homegrown terrorism is on the rise and Abu Mus`ab al-Zarqawi had the plotters today matches the expansion in the United States. During the last second-in-charge of al-Qa`ida warning of the movement elsewhere in the 15 months, there have been 23 cases his affiliate in Iraq to focus away world, beyond individuals trained in of Americans and permanent U.S. from local casualties, a warning al- Waziristan. residents—some 56 individuals in all— Zarqawi ignored.11 Moreover, in 2008 implicated in terrorist plots inspired or al-Zawahiri publicly, in an Yet the corrosive effect of al-Qa`ida’s directed by al-Qa`ida and its affiliates.1 session, chose as the first question murder of so many innocents, This article argues that a significant to answer a request by a writer from including Muslim civilians, suggests reason behind this surge in incidents Algeria to explain the justification for that these plots are emerging even as is the presence of Islamist groups al-Qa`ida attacks that killed Muslims. the movement itself suffers, perhaps openly and legally propagating extreme Clearly, al-Qa`ida’s thinkers, with now irreparably, from its own missteps. Islamist ideology in the United States.2 20 years of experience in alienating The United States will face attacks populations in the countries they from affiliates and like-mindeds—the An emerging network of radical recruit and raise funds, understand that sheer volume of discrete plots makes preachers, demagogues, bloggers, and indiscriminate killings are undermining a successful strike inevitable—but one activists are attempting to disseminate the spread of the very revolution they strike will not herald the expansion of extremist ideas among Muslim youth want to propagate. Yet they continue to the movement, nor should it suggest in the United States. Largely excluded do just that. that the counterterrorism campaign from the country’s , they spread is losing ground. If anything, how the their message on the streets, outside the The debate about the killing of U.S. counterterrorism community , in small gatherings in private innocents has had a ripple effect on responds to these strikes will play the residences, on campuses and above all propagandists who have influence in most significant role in whether the online, taking full advantage of new the United States. Anwar al-`Awlaqi, movement’s credibility continues to social media platforms to maximize their the Yemeni-American cleric who has decline. reach. They are a loose constellation of been implicated in a number of recent individuals, but have a clear center of terrorist plots, supported the killing of Nine years into this campaign, the core gravity in two extremist groups that military personnel at Fort Hood in 2009, organization appears to be struggling; as he did the attempted bombing of an its followers, while dispersed and 1 This tally by the author includes all public announce- airliner that landed in Detroit.12 Yet in dangerous, are facing more questions ments between May 15, 2009 and August 15, 2010 of the latter case, he said that it would about their tactics. Patience is the key. terrorism charges filed in the United States or overseas have been better had the target been As the nine year anniversary of the 9/11 against U.S. citizens and permanent residents. It also in- military. Faisal Shahzad, too, obliquely attacks approaches, the United States is cludes the case of , a North Carolina resident, referred to the debate about the killing safer and the jihadist ideological wave who is suspected of having linked up with al-Qa`ida in of innocents in a quote attributed to has crested. Unfortunately, it will be the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen in October 2009. Khan him after his capture, suggesting that years before those who believe in al- has not been charged. lower-level echelons of the movement Qa`ida’s message finally die off. 2 Groups such as ITS and RM that openly promote a are well aware that their killings have radical ideology are of course just one of the concerns of raised serious questions among scholars Philip Mudd is a senior research fellow at counterterrorism officials tackling homegrown extrem- and potential recruits far down the the New America Foundation. He was the ism. Many of those charged with terrorist activity in the ideological food chain.13 senior intelligence adviser at the Federal United States have stayed clear of groups such as RM Bureau of Investigation until his departure and ITS to keep themselves off the radar screens of coun- in March 2010, and he was Deputy Director terterrorism agencies. Such “off-the grid” radicals are the of the Counterterrorist Center at the Central 10 For details, see Juliana Menasce Horowitz, “Declining ones of most concern to U.S. counterterrorism officials. Intelligence Agency until his assignment to Support for bin Laden and Suicide Bombing,” Pew Re- Young Americans are being exposed to radical mes- the FBI in August 2005. search Center, September 10, 2009. sages in a variety of ways. Some have swapped online 11 “Letter from Ayman al-Zawahiri to Abu Musab al- messages with radical clerics in the Middle East, such as Zarqawi,” U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelli­ Anwar al-`Awlaqi. Many have accessed radical propa- gence, July 9, 2005. ganda directly from a wide variety of anonymously-run 12 Patrick Goodenough, “Alleged Fort Hood Gunman a pro-al-Qa`ida websites. Much of it is more extreme than Hero, Says Islamic Cleric With Suspected 9/11 Links,” any of the postings on the ITS or RM sites. Yet the fact CNSNews.com, November 9, 2009; “Abdulmutallab: that ITS and RM have proselytized openly has arguably Cleric Told Me to Bomb Jet,” CBS/Associated Press, Feb- given them more power and reach than those doing so ruary 5, 2010. anonymously. Those interacting on social media sites 13 AOL News, May 17, 2010. presumably like to know with whom they are talking.

4 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 operate freely and openly in New York United States. This article will chart For a variety of factors, such as better City.3 how the New York groups emerged, integration into mainstream society, briefly profile their leaders, and explain American Muslims have been more The groups in question—the Islamic the danger they now pose. resistant to such messages.12 Yet recent Thinkers Society (ITS) and Revolution polling data and the growing number Muslim (RM), both affiliated with Catching the British Disease of terrorism cases in the United States the British extremist organization al- According to U.S. counterterrorism suggest that not all are immune.13 As Muhajiroun—are increasingly appearing officials, growing numbers of Americans in every Western country, individuals in counterterrorism investigations.4 In are espousing violent Islamist views.9 who feel alienated and frustrated are June 2010, two New Jersey men linked The United States, some analysts believe, more susceptible to radical ideologies. to the groups were arrested on their is beginning to repeat the experience of Even though those alienated constitute way to New York’s John F. Kennedy the United Kingdom a decade ago.10 In a smaller minority in the United States airport, allegedly to fight with the the late 1990s and early 2000s, a group than in some European countries, Somali terrorist group al-Shabab.5 In of radical Islamist clerics—including their numbers are not insignificant in July, Virginia resident Zachary Chesser, the quartet of Egyptian cleric Abu a population of more than two million a prolific RM blogger, was arrested for Hamza al-Masri, Syrian preacher Omar American Muslims.14 ITS and RM allegedly planning to do the same.6 Also Bakri Mohammed, Jordanian firebrand appear to be aggressively targeting this in July it emerged that Samir Khan, who Abu Qatada, and Jamaican extremist disaffected demographic, contributing is from North Carolina and has close Abdullah al-Faisal—helped radicalize a toward growing radicalization in the links to both groups, was suspected of generation of British youth, creating the United States.15 being the driving force behind a new largest concentration of pro-al-Qa`ida online English-language terrorism extremists in the West.11 Most followers of these groups are so- magazine called Inspire.7 In August, yet called second and third generation another link emerged when Shaker Muslims or converts.16 As in Europe, Masri, a Chicago resident who claimed to 9 For example, Homeland Security Secretary Janet some of the children of Muslim know Chesser, was arrested on his way Napolitano stated in a December 2009 interview that immigrants have struggled for identity 8 to allegedly fight jihad in Somalia. violent Islamist extremism was assumed to be a grow- and purpose in the United States, ing phenomenon in the United States. See “Napolitano: making them vulnerable to radical Although the leaders of ITS and RM are Homegrown Threats a Reality,” CNN, May 14, 2010. Ad- preachers. The same has applied with not suspected of operational involvement ditionally, in a February 2010 interview, Mitch Silber, the in any terrorist plots, a significant NYPD’s director of intelligence analysis, stated, “Radi- 12 These factors include the high skill level of many correlation has emerged between calization is definitely on the rise in the United States.” Muslim immigrants, their relative economic success, participation in the activities of these See Paul Cruickshank and Nic Robertson, “Analysis: the peaceful form of being preached in nearly all groups and U.S. homegrown terrorism. The Spread of U.S. Homegrown Terrorism,” CNN, May American mosques and the melting pot culture of the Seven of the 23 terrorism cases involving 13, 2010. That same month U.S. intelligence agencies said United States. U.S. citizens and residents to emerge that they were concerned that inspirational supporters of 13 “Muslim Americans,” Pew Research Center, May 22, in the last 15 months have seen links al-Qa`ida, such as Anwar al-`Awlaqi, “will increasingly 2007. See also Paul Cruickshank, “The Domestic Terror between the suspects and these radical motivate individuals toward violent extremism [in the Threat,” Newsweek, November 20, 2009. New York groups, suggesting that ITS United States].” See Dennis C. Blair, “Annual Threat As- 14 There are an estimated 2.4 million Muslims living in and RM have contributed to Americans sessment of the US Intelligence Community for the Sen- the United Kingdom (3.9% of the total population). See being radicalized toward violence. No ate Select Committee on Intelligence,” February 2, 2010. Richard Kerbaj, “Muslim Population ‘Rising Ten Times such correlation exists for any other 10 Personal interview, U.S. counterterrorism official, Faster than Rest of Society,’” Times, January 30, 2009. Islamist group openly operating in the July 2010. While there are no official statistics, the Pew organiza- 11 The differing experiences of Britain and illus- tion estimates that there are 2.35 million Muslims living 3 This picture is drawn from personal interviews with trate the key role played by on-the-ground radicalizers in the United States (0.8% of the total population). See U.S. counterterrorism officials between 2009-2010, the in the emergence of radicalism. While there is arguably “Muslim Americans.” Some studies estimate the U.S. author’s own investigative reporting, and personal inter- a higher level of socio-economic frustration and political- Muslim population to be as high as seven million. views with leading figures within ITS and RM. cultural alienation among French Muslims than their 15 This observation is based on the author’s own inves- 4 Paul Cruickshank and Tim Lister, “N.J. Suspects At- UK counterparts, there are lower levels of radicalism in tigations into the activities of ITS and RM, biographical tended Protests Organized by Radical Islamic Group,” France than across the English Channel, according to data assembled on their followers, and interviews with CNN, June 11, 2010. European counterterrorism officials. The reason is that U.S. counterterrorism officials. Such groups can provide 5 Paul Cruickshank and Tim Lister, “Arrested Men At- there have been fewer radical clerics present to take ad- validation for individuals who have become self-radical- tended Protests Organized by Radical Islamic Group,” vantage of such sentiment in France because of a long- ized by exposure to jihadist websites. CNN, June 12, 2010. standing zero-tolerance attitude by French authorities 16 According to the NYPD, “the Islamic Thinkers Soci- 6 U.S.A. v. Zachary Adam Chesser, “Criminal Complaint,” to such preachers because of the threat of attacks from ety (ITS) is an organization primarily composed of 2nd Eastern District of Virginia, 2010; Personal interview, Algerian terrorist groups. Until the July 7, 2005 Lon- and 3rd generation college-age Americans of South Asian U.S. counterterrorism official, July 2010. don bombings, the United Kingdom by contrast allowed and Middle Eastern descent.” See Mitchell D. Silber and 7 Paul Cruickshank, “US Citizen Believed to be Writ- radical preachers to operate relatively freely on their soil, Arvin Bhatt, “Radicalization in the West: The Home- ing for Pro Al Qaeda Website Source Says,” CNN, July judging that they did not pose a threat to British national grown Threat,” NYPD Intelligence Division, 2007. The 18, 2010. security. See Peter Bergen and Paul Cruickshank, “Cleri- author has also observed a significant number of con- 8 U.S.A. v. Shaker Masri, “Criminal Complaint,” North- cal Error: The Dangers of Tolerance,” The New Republic, verts at rallies organized by ITS and RM, an organization ern District of Illinois, 2010. August 8, 2005. whose two founders were themselves converts.

5 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 new converts because of their natural It was an approach the group al-Muhajiroun followers became zeal and lack of grounding in the tenets successfully transplanted to the United wrapped up in counterterrorism of their religion.17 The nature of those States. Until the late 1990s, most investigations. Two of its active following groups such as ITS and RM pockets of extremism in the United members in New York—Syed Hashmi was reflected in a 2007 Pew Research States had been associated with Arabic- and —were Center poll that found American-born speaking clerics such as `Umar `Abd subsequently convicted of aiding al- Muslims twice as likely to support al-Rahman, the “blind shaykh,” who Qa`ida.24 After his arrest in 2004, Babar al-Qa`ida than those foreign-born.18 in the early 1990s briefly took over the admitted to having met with al-Qa`ida According to Pew, seven percent of al-Farooq mosque in Brooklyn. The commanders along the Afghanistan- U.S.-born Muslims held a “favorable” year before 9/11, Choudary traveled to Pakistan border and to having organized view of al-Qa`ida in 2007, compared New York and the Midwest to build up terrorist training, sponsored by al- with only three percent of foreign-born al-Muhajiroun’s fledgling American Qa`ida, for a group of one-time British Muslims. wing.21 In the years that followed, al- al-Muhajiroun followers in Pakistan.25 Muhajiroun established a significant He was also connected to a number of Al-Muhajiroun America presence in the New York area, British militants spread across Pakistan, If the United States is catching this especially in the boroughs of including a cluster of al-Muhajiroun British disease, UK radical preachers and Brooklyn, helping to make al- followers in Lahore, who helped facilitate helped spread the contagion. In Qa`ida’s ideology accessible to second travel to the region for aspiring jihadists the United Kingdom, one group in generation Muslims and converts who from the United Kingdom.26 Two British particular—al-Muhajiroun, a pro-al- could not speak languages such as suicide bombers who attacked a Tel Qa`ida group founded by Omar Bakri Arabic and . “Ten years ago we Aviv nightclub in April 2003 were also Mohammed in 1996—stood out because were in the early stages, there were not followers of the group.27 of the size of its following.19 In crowded many ideological movements at the time meeting halls across the United Kingdom, in America as you find in Britain,” said The Omar Bakri Mohammed and his deputy Choudary. “They weren’t really talking In August 2004, al-Muhajiroun found a formula for about foreign policy, they weren’t followers in New York launched a new attracting hundreds of followers: speak really coming out openly, publicly and organization called the Islamic Thinkers in English with charisma about how the engaging in ideological and political Society.28 After Bakri Mohammed United States and its allies were at war struggle, whereas I think they are 20 22 with Islam. now.” 24 Anemona Hartocollis and Al Baker, “U.S. Citizen is Accused of Helping Al Qaeda,” New York Times, June 8, Al-Muhajiroun’s New York members 2006. held demonstrations and organized 25 In April 2010, Syed Hashmi pleaded guilty in a New 23 speaking events. For some, however, York court to aiding al-Qa`ida. In the summer of 2006, 17 For example, John Walker Lindh, the so-called mere protest was not enough. In the he was arrested boarding a flight at Heathrow Airport “American Taliban,” became radicalized soon after con- United Kingdom and the United States, transporting all-weather equipment for the terrorist verting to Islam. Others that followed the same trajec- group in Pakistan and was subsequently extradited to tory include , the so-called “Shoe Bomber,” 21 The radical Islamist group Hizb al-Tahrir had by the United States. See Kiran Khalid, “U.S. Citizen Gets London subway bomber Germaine Lindsay, American the end of the 1990s also established a presence in the 15 Year Sentence for Helping Al Qaeda,” CNN, June 10, al-Qa`ida operative , and American al- United States, and today has a significant following, 2010. A second New York al-Muhajiroun follower—Mo- Qa`ida spokesman Adam Gadahn. particularly in the Midwest, New York, and California. hammed Junaid Babar—pleaded guilty in 2004 to pro- 18 “Muslim Americans.” Most observers regard it as significantly less radical than viding material support to al-Qa`ida. The previous year 19 Al-Muhajiroun, which has operated under a variety al-Muhajiroun. Hizb al-Tahrir has stated it opposes al- Babar had organized a training camp for a group of young of different names in the United Kingdom such as al- Qa`ida terrorism and violence at this time. See personal British militants in Pakistan plotting to blow up targets Ghurabaa and , most recently operated interview, senior Hizb al-Tahrir representative, London, in London with fertilizer bombs. The terrorist cell, whose under the name Islam4UK before reverting back to its January 2005. See also Madeleine Gruen, “Hizb ut Tah- plans were foiled by the British police investigation “Op- original name after Islam4UK was banned in January rir’s Activities in the United States,” Terrorism Monitor eration Crevice,” were themselves one-time followers of under counterterrorism laws. For background on al- 5:16 (2007). al-Muhajiroun in the United Kingdom. See Peter Bergen Muhajiroun, see Dominic Casciani, “Profile: Islam4UK,” 22 Nic Robertson, CNN interview with Anjem Choud- and Paul Cruickshank, “Al Qaeda on Thames,” Washing- BBC, January 5, 2010. ary, London, November 2009. Segments of the interview ton Post, April 30, 2007. Al-Muhajiroun’s deputy leader 20 Al-Muhajiroun instructs followers to live their lives aired on “ 360” on November 11, 2009 Choudary knew both Hashmi and Babar, getting to know according to fundamentalist Salafist principles, -com as part of a series of reports on homegrown terrorism this the latter on one of his trips to New York. This is based on pletely rejecting Western values. It has also openly cham- author helped set up and produce. personal interview, Anjem Choudary, October 2009. pioned the al-Qa`ida terrorist organization and Usama 23 In May 2002, for example, al-Muhajiroun organized 26 See Paul Cruickshank, “The Militant Pipeline be- bin Ladin, depicting them as waging a legitimate jihad a meeting at Brooklyn College in which they showed vid- tween the Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Region and the against an oppressive West. The organization, however, eos of atrocities they claimed had been committed against West,” New America Foundation, February 2010; Dom- has constructed a novel theological construct to oppose Muslims around the world. “America is directly involved inic Casciani, “Path to Extremism: How it Started,” BBC, attacks by Western Muslims inside their own countries. in exterminating Muslims,” one of its members, Syed May 3, 2007. They argue that citizenship creates a “covenant of secu- Hashmi, subsequently convicted of aiding al-Qa`ida, 27 Bergen and Cruickshank, “Clerical Error: The Dan- rity” preventing such attacks. Several plots in the United declared at the meeting. “America is the biggest terrorist gers of Tolerance.” Kingdom, however, have been linked to one-time mem- threat in the world.” For details, see Michael Elliott et al., 28 Personal interview, U.S. counterterrorism official, bers of al-Muhajiroun. “Al Qaeda Now,” Time Magazine, June 3, 2002. September 2009. In its first posting on its website, the

6 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 temporarily instructed followers to group—Yousef al-Khattab, a Jewish helped the terrorist group plot an attack cease using the name al-Muhajiroun in convert to Islam from New Jersey— against the Long Island Railroad in 2004,29 ITS became the main standard built up a considerable public profile. New York.40 Al-Khattab has stated that bearer for the group’s ideology in the Al-Khattab converted to Islam in 1999 he had no idea of Vinas’ plans.41 In the United States.30 while living in an Israeli settlement in years before setting off for jihad, Vinas Palestine after becoming disillusioned associated with ITS circles in New York Although ITS claims on their website with Orthodox Jewish teachings.34 Al- City, attending several meetings held by that “our struggle is always intellectual Khattab, according to his own account, the group; counterterrorism officials say & political non-violent means,” moved back to the United States from this contributed to his radicalization.42 counterterrorism officials have taken a the Middle East in 2006 and thereafter Yet at a certain point, according to more sanguine view. “In a sense they are split his time between Morocco, U.S. counterterrorism officials, Vinas almost bug lights for aspiring jihadists,” where his wife and children lived, and became frustrated that the group New York Police Department (NYPD) New York City.35 According to U.S. was “all talk and no action,” indicating Director of Intelligence Analysis Mitch counterterrorism officials, by 2007 al- that the leadership of the ITS stopped Silber told CNN in an interview earlier Khattab had established himself as the short of directly calling on followers to this year. “They’ve got an anti-Western, front man of ITS.36 fight jihad.43 He was far from the only anti-democratic, anti-U.S., pro Al example of an individual following such a 31 trajectory, say those officials.44 Qaeda message.” While the group has A number of individuals in his U.S. few full-time members, and its rallies circle were subsequently implicated in are sometimes sparsely attended, its terrorism cases. By al-Khattab’s own Despite his frustrations, it was within his YouTube channel and Facebook page account, he struck friendships with circle of friends at ITS that Vinas found have around 200 subscribers each. two Americans who were later charged the connections needed to join up with The number of people viewing these with terrorism offenses. One was Tarek militants in Pakistan. Two of his friends sites is likely significantly larger since Mehanna, a Boston resident charged in within the ITS in New York had advance many presumably browse the content 2009 with plotting to blow up shopping knowledge of his plans, according to 32 anonymously. malls in the United States,37 and the officials.45 One of them, Ahmer Qayyum, other was Mehanna’s associate Daniel coordinated his own travel plans with Unlike their counterparts in the United Maldonado, a Texas resident who was Vinas and arrived shortly after him in Kingdom, most of the leaders of ITS convicted in 2007 of training with a Lahore. Once there, Qayyum helped have been careful not to reveal their Somali militant group.38 Al-Khattab Vinas connect with jihadists targeting real names, often using aliases in also met with Bryant Neal Vinas, a Long U.S. troops in Afghanistan, according to 33 interviews. Yet one figure within the Island Catholic convert to Islam, shortly counterterrorism officials.46 before Vinas left the United States in group announced: “Our da’wah (preaching) activities September 2007 to wage jihad against Revolution Muslim takes place mainly in the streets of Times Square and U.S. troops in Afghanistan.39 Vinas In 2008, Yousef al-Khattab co-founded Jackson Heights, NYC where we give out leaflets and subsequently joined al-Qa`ida and RM with Younes Abdullah , hold posters/banners covering all types of issues relat- a convert and one-time member of ITS ing from spiritual, social, economical, to political issues. with a degree in international affairs Our objective is to bring back the apparatus that was de- of U.S. Homegrown Terrorism.” In press reports, Nuss- from Columbia University.47 RM was stroyed in 1924 i.e. Khilafah [].” rah has been identified as a Brooklyn resident, but it is 29 Bakri Mohammed claimed to be disbanding al-Mu- unclear if that is his real name. See Tarek el-Tablawy, hajiroun because the existence of specific groups could “Woman Leads Muslim Prayer Service in NYC,” Associ- 40 Ibid. create factionalism at a time when all Muslims needed to ated Press, March 19, 2005. For a report on the early ac- 41 Paul Cruickshank, Nic Robertson and Ken Shiffman, resist “evil forces” in the West. See Faisal al-Yafai, “Mon- tivity of ITS, see Andrea Elliott, “Queens Muslim Group “The Radicalization of an All-American Kid,” CNN, May itored Islamist Group Shuts Down,” Guardian, October Says it Opposes Violence, and America,” New York Times, 15, 2010. 13, 2004. June 22, 2005. 42 Ibid.; “American Al Qaeda,” CNN documentary, May 30 The ITS praised al-Muhajiroun leader Omar Bakri 34 Yousef al-Khattab, “The Journey of the Al Khattab 15, 2010. Mohammed in postings on its website. Al-Muhajiroun Family to Islam,” www.yousefalkhattab.com, undated. 43 Ibid. deputy leader Anjem Choudary stated that the two 35 Ibid. 44 In an interview with CNN for the CNN documentary groups are closely affiliated. See personal interview, An- 36 Cruickshank and Lister, “Arrested Men Attended “American Al Qaeda,” NYPD Director of Intelligence jem Choudary, October 2009. Protests Organized by Radical Islamic Group.” Analysis Mitch Silber stated “the pattern that we see is a 31 Cruickshank and Robertson, “Analysis: The Spread 37 Ibid. Mehanna has not entered a plea. lot of these individuals that are attracted to the bug light of U.S. Homegrown Terrorism.” 38 Drew Griffin, Kathleen Johnston, and Paul Cruick- at a certain point realize that these groups are just talk- 32 As of August 2010, the ITS YouTube site had 178 sub- shank, “Peaceful Preaching Inside, Violent Message ers. They’re not going to do more than just demonstrate. scribers and its Facebook page had 232 members. Outside a New York Mosque,” CNN, November 5, 2009. They’re not going to do more than just put out extreme 33 In May 2010, two of the “administrators” listed on Maldonado had joined forces with Alabama resident statements. And those who are serious about the jihad ITS’ Facebook page were Abu Mujaddid and Muhammed Omar Hammami in trying to connect with jihadists in will leave these groups.” See also Paul Cruickshank and Nussrah. Mujaddid is the name adopted by the group’s Somalia. Hammami is believed to be still at large fighting Tim Lister, “Alleged American Jihadists: Connecting the spokesman, who the author interviewed for CNN after with the group in Somalia. See Andrea Elliott, “The Jiha- Dots,” CNN, August 2, 2010. an ITS protest outside the Israeli Consulate in New York dist Next Door,” New York Times, January 27, 2010. 45 Cruickshank, Robertson and Shiffman. in April 2010, at which Mujaddid was the main speaker. 39 Michael Powell, “U.S. Recruit Reveals How Qaeda 46 Ibid. See Cruickshank and Robertson, “Analysis: The Spread Trains Foreigners,” New York Times, July 23, 2009. 47 Personal interviews, Yousef al-Khattab and Younes

7 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 more provocative and extreme than ITS, followers over the interactive online Links to Recent Terrorism Cases delighting in confronting mainstream communication site PalTalk. They also In March 2009, ITS and RM participated Muslims outside mosques48 and courting operate a YouTube channel with almost in an anti-war rally in front of the controversy in the national media.49 1,000 subscribers, on which they White House. Among their ranks were While the ITS propagates the ideology post videos and interact online with two individuals who would soon be of Omar Bakri Mohammed, the spiritual followers. Many subscribers maintain arrested and charged with planning guide of RM is Jamaican cleric Abdullah their own elaborate YouTube channels, to join the Somali terrorist group al- al-Faisal, many of whose speeches are creating an interlocking online universe Shabab. One was Mohammed Alessa, a posted on the RM YouTube channel.50 of radical sites. According to terrorism New Jersey resident who together with RM has also endorsed and posted many expert Marc Sageman, a former scholar associate Carlos Almonte was arrested of the writings of American-Yemeni in residence at the NYPD, the interactive on his way to JFK airport in June 2010. cleric Anwar al-`Awlaqi on its site. nature of such sites is a more important According to counterterrorism officials, driver of radicalization than just during the previous two years Alessa Like the ITS, the number of fully watching jihadist videos: “It’s really and Almonte had attended a number of committed RM members is small, discussing their [the videos] significance rallies organized by ITS and RM.58 The perhaps consisting of a dozen regulars with your friends, that in a sense drives other was Zachary Chesser, a Virginia who consistently show up to events. the point home, as opposed to just resident who converted to Islam in Most of RM’s activities are conducted watching them.”52 One of the followers 2008, quickly became radicalized, and online, taking full advantage of the of RM’s YouTube channel was a recent took an increasingly lead role in the growing power of social media. The convert to Islam from Pennsylvania, online activities of RM.59 A few weeks group maintains a website and blog that Colleen LaRose, who subscribed to the after the rally in Washington, Chesser they claim receives more than 1,500 channel under the avatar “Jihad Jane.”53 posted a warning that the creators of hits a day, mostly from Americans.51 In March 2010, LaRose was charged the South Park television show risked Additionally, they hold regular with plotting to assassinate a Swedish being assassinated for their portrayal of question-and-answer sessions with cartoonist due to the latter’s depictions the Prophet Muhammad in a bear suit, of the Prophet Muhammad.54 a warning that was widely viewed as a threat. In July, Chesser was arrested Abdullah Muhammad, New York, October 2009. In November 2009, al-Khattab left after he revealed to an FBI agent his 48 On many Fridays, members of the group would stand the United States for Morocco, and in intention to fight in Somalia.60 outside mosques after prayers and chastise Muslims for January 2010 al-Khattab announced that not supporting jihad. “We call you to reject the enemies he had quit RM.55 In an interview with Chesser’s arrest prompted an of Islam and to rally around those who are waging jihad... the author, he complained that Younes extraordinary online clash between many of you stay silent sitting here, enjoying the life and Muhammad was taking the group in a RM’s two founders. In a series of the pleasures of this world while your brothers and more radical direction than had been postings on an online Islamic forum sisters are slaughtered and attacked in Muslim lands,” the case when he was leading it.56 “RM in late July, al-Khattab appeared to Younes Abdullah Muhammad exclaimed outside a Man- at that time was NOT Salafi Jihadi and imply that his former colleague Younes hattan mosque in September 2009. that was not the platform I wanted,” Abdullah Muhammad had encouraged 49 In an interview with CNN in October 2009, al-Khattab al-Khattab subsequently claimed in an Chesser to leave to fight jihad.61 “The and Muhammad made no secret of their radical views. “I online posting.57 Younes Muhammad purpose [of my post] was to clearly love him [Usama bin Ladin] like I can’t begin to tell you,” now leads the group. state that Muslim brothers should stay said al-Khattab, while Younes Abdullah Muhammad away from my former group and any stated that U.S. foreign policy justified attacks on Ameri- group that shares the same theology,” cans, including 9/11. They denied they encouraged indi- 52 Nic Robertson, “Terrorists Use YouTube,” CNN, De- al-Khattab stated. “I would retire and viduals to travel to fight jihad overseas and stated they cember 22, 2009. The report was produced by this au- go on with your life Younus, leave the opposed attacks on U.S. soil. Within hours of the Fort thor. fatawa and life planning to the Uulemah Hood shooting in November 2009, however, a posting 53 Cruickshank and Lister, “Arrested Men Attended [sic] before you destroy yourself and appeared under al-Khattab’s name on the RM website Protests Organized by Radical Islamic Group.” others.”62 In a response on the same labeling shooter Nidal Hassan “an Officer and a Gentle- 54 Ibid. forum, Younes Abdullah Muhammad man.” See the documentary “Homegrown Terror,” CNN, 55 With Muhammad away on a trip to Saudi Arabia, lashed out against his former friend. December 12, 2009, which the author part-produced. al-Khattab left a young protégé, Abdullah as Sayf Jones, “Essentially you are trying to play a Al-Khattab later stated on his blog that he supported that a convert to Islam from Florida, in charge of the group. role in my arrest as an incitor [sic],” attack because it was a military target. See Yousef al- This did not please Muhammad who, according to al- Khattab, “Why I left Revolution Muslim,” www.youse- Khattab’s account, took back control of the group on his falkhattab.com, June 13, 2010. return and forced Jones out. See Al-Khattab, “Why I Left 58 Personal interviews, U.S. counterterrorism officials, 50 Al-Faisal, one of the UK clerics who helped radicalize Revolution Muslim.” See also “Backgrounder: Revolu- July 2010. a generation of British youth, was banned from the Unit- tion Muslim - Abdullah as Sayf Jones,” Anti-Defamation 59 U.S.A. v. Zachary Adam Chesser; Personal interview, ed Kingdom after the July 7, 2005 London bombings. Al- League, June 30, 2010. U.S. counterterrorism official, July 2010. Faisal’s sermons had radicalized Germaine Lindsay, one 56 Personal interview, Yousef al-Khattab, February 60 Cruickshank and Lister, “Alleged American Jihad- of the suicide bombers in the attack. RM leader Muham- 2010. ists: Connecting the Dots.” mad claims he is a close acquaintance of al-Faisal’s. See 57 Al-Khattab posted this as part of an exchange on 61 The exchange took place on the Islamic Awakening “Profile: Germaine Lindsay,” BBC, May 11, 2006. the Islamic Awakening Forum between July 23-July 25, Forum between July 23-July 25, 2010 under the heading 51 Personal interviews, Yousef al-Khattab and Younes 2010 under the heading “Feds Arrest Man Behind ‘South “Feds Arrest Man Behind ‘South Park’ Threats.” Abdullah Muhammad, New York, October 2009. Park’ Threats.” 62 Ibid.

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Muhammad said. “I emailed you and fight jihad with the al-Shabab terrorist How dangerous are ITS and RM? explained that you had no evidence that organization in Somalia. Masri allegedly While the majority of those involved I have ever incited or told people to told an undercover FBI informant that in the groups are not implicated in commit acts of violence.”63 Muhammad he wished to become a suicide bomber. terrorist activity, the growing tally claimed that Chesser had actually grown According to the complaint against of terrorism cases linked to them frustrated with the relative moderation him, Masri told the informant that he should raise concern. Radical-leaning of the group’s platform: personally knew Chesser, but would young American Muslims who become not repeat the mistake that he thought followers of such groups—either online Truth be told, I had many led to Chesser’s arrest—communicating or in person—find an echo chamber conversations with Abu Talha directly with al-Shabab.69 for their views and a powerful sense [Chesser] about the platform of shared community and purpose. Yet for spreading Islam. He felt that Growing Dangers because of strong freedom of speech some of what I was saying was The ITS and RM are still active on New protections in the United States, there passive to a degree and moved on. York streets. In April 2010, ITS held is little that counterterrorism officials I have not been in contact with a protest rally against Israeli actions in can do about such groups if they limit him for several months and he Palestine outside the Israeli Consulate their activities to proselytizing.72 “As has not been participating on RM in New York. After the rally, the group’s much as the Islamic Thinkers Society since the South Park Affair, yet spokesman, Abu Mujaddid, told the might put out an extremist message, you insinuate that I am recorded author that they plan to step up their it seems they go right up to the line inciting the brother.64 activities in New York and were of the first amendment, for the most successfully recruiting new followers. part they, themselves as a group aren’t Another American linked to ITS and RM Mujaddid refused to provide his real acting,” said Mitch Silber, the director implicated in terrorism this summer was name.70 of intelligence analysis at the NYPD. Samir Khan, a radical blogger previously resident in North Carolina but now In recent months, RM’s website Charismatic radical preachers such as believed to be in Yemen. In July 2010, has featured a prominent link to Younes Abdullah Muhammad may not it emerged that he was the suspected the “Authentic Tawheed” room on explicitly encourage individuals to fight driving force behind Inspire magazine, a PalTalk on its homepage. The channel, jihad, but they whip up anger among new online publication by al-Qa`ida in administered from Jamaica by Abdullah followers by portraying the United the Arabian Peninsula that included do- al-Faisal, contains regular talks from States as engaged in a murderous war it-yourself bomb-making instructions, a variety of English-speaking radical against Muslims. Counterterrorism threats against U.S. citizens and a preachers. On July 31, the channel experts believe that such rhetoric makes clarion call for volunteers for jihad.65 organized a special “global online groups such as ITS and RM dangerous. According to counterterrorism officials, conference” entitled “Take Over According to Sageman, “Even if they do Khan first became radicalized while he Washington,” featuring Abdullah al- not have the connections to help [young was living in New York, during which Faisal, Omar Bakri Mohammed, Anjem radicals] go further, they articulate the time he attended several ITS meetings.66 Choudary, and Younes Abdullah glory of fighting jihad, the glory of doing Khan, according to the officials, also had Muhammad. The event was directed something, of being active and this very links to the leaders of RM.67 Illustrating in particular to Muslims living in much inspires young people.”73 the web of links between radical the United States, United Kingdom extremists across the United States, and Australia. In his address, Bakri The extent to which radical groups in September 2009 Khan introduced Mohammed urged listeners to resist the operating in the United States have Zachary Chesser as a new contributor “Crusaders” led by the United States connections to militant groups to Jihad Recollections, one of the blogs “verbally, financially or physically if overseas is of crucial concern to U.S. he authored in North Carolina.68 you can.”71 counterterrorism officials. Officials do not believe a facilitation network In early August 2010, U.S. authorities has emerged in the United States for charged yet another American who had aspiring jihadists seeking to fight or links to RM with terrorism offenses. train overseas on anything like the scale Shaker Masri, a Chicago resident who of the United Kingdom. There is concern, claimed to be an associate of RM blogger 69 Apart from that conversation, the FBI stated that it however, that a recruiting bridge may Chesser, was arrested as he allegedly had “no other knowledge, at this time, of any direct con- develop between American radicals who prepared to leave the United States to tact between Chesser and Masri.” Masri was charged have joined jihadist groups overseas, with trying to provide material support to two terror- such as North Carolina blogger Samir 63 Ibid. ist organizations—al-Qa`ida and al-Shabab—and with 64 Ibid. another charge related to weapons of mass destruction, 72 Anjem Choudary told this author in October 2009 65 Cruickshank, “US Citizen Believed to be Writing for according to the criminal complaint. See U.S.A. v. Shaker that his radical comrades in the United States could say Pro Al Qaeda Website Source Says.” Masri. comments that he could not in the United Kingdom be- 66 Cruickshank and Lister, “Alleged American Jihad- 70 Cruickshank and Robertson, “Analysis: The Spread cause of new laws passed in the United Kingdom in 2006 ists: Connecting the Dots.” of U.S. Homegrown Terrorism.” against glorifying terrorism. 67 Ibid. 71 “Take Over Washington Conference,” Authentic Ta- 73 Cruickshank and Lister, “Arrested Men Attended 68 Ibid. wheed Room PalTalk, July 31, 2010. Protests Organized by Radical Islamic Group.”

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Khan, and their former radical circle in Manchester, New York This article, however, focuses on the the United States.74 aspiring jihadists in Manchester, New and Oslo: Three Centrally York and Oslo, who trained in Pakistan U.S. counterterrorism officials hope they Directed Al-Qa`ida Plots and then headed back to their respective can prevent the American equivalent target countries where they launched of the “British Jihadi Network” from By Raffaello Pantucci preparations to carry out attacks using emerging during the next several hydrogen peroxide-based devices. years.75 Yet U.S. officials are under no on july 7, 2010, the U.S. Department of According to American and British illusions that trends seen in the United Justice unsealed fresh charges against a court documents, as well as quotes Kingdom are crossing the Atlantic. group of foreign and U.S. nationals that from officials in Norway, the plots were Although groups such as ITS and RM it claimed were at the heart of an al- directed and coordinated by senior have fewer full-fledged members than Qa`ida conspiracy to attack New York al-Qa`ida figures Salah al-Somali, their British equivalents, new social and Manchester, England. A day later Rashid Rauf and Adnan Shukrijumah. media platforms are allowing them to in Norway, prosecutors announced Key individuals in all three cells were spread their message more widely than charges against a cell of individuals who apparently present in the same parts would have been possible a decade ago. they claimed were also part of the same of Pakistan in November 2008.2 There According to Choudary, the deputy conspiracy and were plotting an attack may indeed be other plots that will leader of the UK radical group al- in Scandinavia. Allegedly planned and prove to be linked in the same way, but Muhajiroun, groups such as his in the directed by senior al-Qa`ida figures they have not been publicly unmasked United States are only “five or ten years as part of a series of operational cells yet. behind in terms of the struggle they are dispatched at around the same time, the engaging in.”76 plots highlight the group’s persistent The Manchester Plot ability to train individuals and then In April 2009, British authorities foiled Paul Cruickshank is an alumni fellow at send them to carry out attacks in the a plot allegedly involving suicide attacks New York University’s Center on Law West. on soft targets in Manchester. The and Security and a terrorism consultant specifics of the initial tip-off are unclear. for CNN. He recently produced the CNN Using recently released information One story claimed the evidence came documentary “American Al Qaeda.” linked to the three separate, but from a jihadist who was helping security centrally directed plots in Manchester, service investigators in Belgium in late New York and Oslo, this article will 2008.3 Another said the information explore al-Qa`ida’s persistent ability first came to MI5 in 2009 referring to to plot in Pakistan’s badlands in the an al-Qa`ida cell in northwest England. face of increased pressure from U.S. Codenamed Operation Pathway, the and Pakistani forces. It will highlight investigation launched in February that the group’s ongoing ability to attract year was focused on British-Pakistani and train foreigners, and its focus on national Hamza Khan Shenwari of soft targets in the West. Finally, it will Cheetham Hill, Manchester.4 According examine the increasing globalization of to his lawyers, Shenwari is a 42-year-old the network, with its apparent ability Pashtu speaker who worked as a security to utilize individuals linked to other guard and came to England in 2000 extremist groups based in Pakistan’s seeking asylum following mistreatment tribal areas. at the hands of the Taliban.5

The three plots do not appear to be the The investigation uncovered evidence only elements drawn to al-Qa`ida’s of what security services believed was camps during 2008. American al-Qa`ida a large cell of some 12 individuals with plotter Bryant Neal Vinas and a network links to al-Qa`ida in Pakistan. Key of plotters around Malika el-Aroud, a Belgian-Moroccan who was the wife of 2 “Charges Unsealed Against Five Alleged Members of one of Ahmad Shah Massoud’s killers, Al Qaeda Plot to Attack the United States and United 74 Personal interviews, U.S. counterterrorism officials, both appear to have been connected Kingdom,” U.S. Department of Justice, July 7, 2010; “3 2009-2010. to the same radical networks. Vinas Arrested in Norway Al Qaeda Bombing Plot,” Associ- 75 British authorities in 2007 stated that they were mon- provided information to American and ated Press, July 8, 2010. itoring around 2,000 individuals who posed a risk to European investigators showing the 3 David Leppard, Kevin Dowling, Philip Cardy and national security and 30 active plots. See Frank Gardner, growing importance of Rashid Rauf as Daud Khattak, “Ghost in the Machine,” Sunday Times, 1 “MI5 Watch 2000 Terror Suspects,” BBC, May 2, 2007. an al-Qa`ida plotter. April 12, 2009. The number has not dropped appreciably since. 4 Duncan Gardham and Gordon Rayner, “A Plot for 76 Nic Robertson, CNN interview with Anjem Choud- Mass Murder Here and in the US,” Daily Telegraph, May ary, London, November 2009. Segments of the interview 1 Paul Cruickshank, “The 2008 Belgium Cell and FA- 19, 2010. aired on “Anderson Cooper 360” on November 11, 2009 TA’s Terrorist Pipeline,” CTC Sentinel 2:4 (2009); Paul 5 Jonathan Brown, Robert Verkaik and Kim Sengupta, as part of a series of reports on homegrown terrorism this Cruickshank and Nic Robertson, “Recruits Reveal Al “Police and PM in Dock Over Arrest of Terrorist Sus- author helped set up and produce. Qaeda’s Sprawling Web,” CNN, July 30, 2009. pects,” Independent, April 23, 2009.

10 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 among these was Shenwari’s roommate, went back to Pakistan in September- individuals, although they were unable Abid Naseer, a 24-year-old Pakistani November 2008, meeting up twice in to locate any evidence of explosives or national from Peshawar who first Peshawar while there.10 collection of materials beyond “large came to the United Kingdom in 2006.6 amounts of flour and oil.”16 Furthermore, Naseer arrived in the United Kingdom Prior to returning to the United Kingdom, in addition to the photos of sites in ostensibly to study at Liverpool John Naseer opened an e-mail account under Liverpool and Manchester, detailed Moores University, having worked the name [email protected] on maps of Manchester city center were in Peshawar at the university’s November 14, 2008, which 16 days found with the same sites highlighted. representative office there. It was here later started receiving e-mails from Mobile phones and surveillance footage that he met some of the men who were the account sana_pakhtana@yahoo. of the different groups of plotters also subsequently to stand accused with him, com.11 This account was opened by an tied the arrested men together to varying individual known only as “Ahmad” who degrees.17 was using it to pass messages from Salah “Despite persistent al-Somali, referred to as al-Qa`ida’s The evidence, however, proved declarations of al-Qa`ida’s then-chief of external operations.12 inconclusive and the courts decided that the men could not be prosecuted, turning demise, the uncovering of By the time British investigators them either free or over to immigration this network highlights the started to uncover the network in authorities. Security services and the February 2009, Naseer appeared to courts remain convinced that Abid group’s ongoing ability to have progressed far down the path of Naseer “was an Al Qaeda operative generate plots in the face preparation. E-mail traffic between who posed and still poses a serious the two accounts showed Naseer threat.”18 Yet while the media focused of increased pressure from discussing a complex list of possible on the public relations disaster that drone strikes and Pakistani girlfriends—which security services followed, security officials concentrated interpreted as discussion of bomb on ascertaining Naseer’s contacts in government efforts in its ingredients—while investigators noted Pakistan. Sometime later, they noticed lawless regions.” with alarm that Shenwari was working activity from the account linked to at a hair products company, giving him “Ahmad” to a 24-year-old Pashtun- easy access to peroxide products.13 He American named Najibullah Zazi.19 Zazi was also in contact with a network of and Naseer were both in contact with including Tariq ur Rehman, a 39-year- Pakistani nationals in Liverpool and the same individual through this e-mail old widower from Miran Shah in North Manchester, at least some of whom account and discussed the topic of Waziristan Agency. Rehman first came were later assessed to being knowing marriages in similar terms.20 Reports in to the United Kingdom in September conspirators.14 the British press suggest that this was 2007, also to attend a course at the John the tip-off that alerted U.S. authorities Moores University.7 Security concerns reached a fever pitch to Zazi’s activities, although this detail on April 3, 2009, when an e-mail was has not been officially confirmed.21 Neither man spent much time in their intercepted from Naseer’s account to university courses, dropping out almost “Ahmad” that was believed to state that The New York Subway Plot immediately after their arrivals to an attack was being prepared between According to documents released in later sign up for English-language April 15-20. Authorities decided to July 2010, Najibullah Zazi and two courses at the Manchester College arrest the men a few days later, although high school friends, Zarein Ahmedzay, of Professional Services, described the final action was rushed forward by a a naturalized U.S. citizen from by courts as “an institution with few hours after Assistant Commissioner Afghanistan, and Adis Medunjanin, a a dubious reputation.”8 Instead, Bob Quick of the Bosnian-born naturalized U.S. citizen, they appear to have spent their time was caught on camera entering 10 flew from New York through Doha to wandering around taking pictures of displaying documents themselves in front of local shopping related to the plot.15 Police arrested 12 9 malls and docks. It is unclear exactly 16 “Charges Unsealed Against Five Alleged Members when these pictures were taken, but 10 Abid Naseer, Ahmad Faraz Khan, Shoaib Khan, Abdul of Al Qaeda Plot to Attack the United States and United it would appear as though it was Wahab Khan and Tariq ur Rehman v. Secretary of State for Kingdom.” before Rehman and Naseer separately the Home Department. 17 Sultan Sher, Mohammed Umar Farooq, Mohammed Riz- 11 Ibid. wan Sharif v. Greater Manchester Police. 6 Abid Naseer, Ahmad Faraz Khan, Shoaib Khan, Abdul 12 “Charges Unsealed Against Five Alleged Members 18 Abid Naseer, Ahmad Faraz Khan, Shoaib Khan, Abdul Wahab Khan and Tariq ur Rehman v. Secretary of State for of Al Qaeda Plot to Attack the United States and United Wahab Khan and Tariq ur Rehman v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, Special Immigration Appeals Com- Kingdom.” the Home Department. mission, May 18, 2010. 13 Lord Carlile of Berriew, “Operation Pathway: Report 19 “Charges Unsealed Against Five Alleged Members 7 Ibid. Following Review,” October 2009. of Al Qaeda Plot to Attack the United States and United 8 Ibid. 14 Abid Naseer, Ahmad Faraz Khan, Shoaib Khan, Abdul Kingdom.” 9 Sultan Sher, Mohammed Umar Farooq, Mohammed Riz- Wahab Khan and Tariq ur Rehman v. Secretary of State for 20 Ibid. wan Sharif v. Greater Manchester Police, City of Westmin- the Home Department. 21 “British Spies Help Prevent Al Qaeda-inspired Attack ster Magistrates, July 21, 2010. 15 Lord Carlile of Berriew. on New York Subway,” Telegraph, November 9, 2009.

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Peshawar on August 28, 2008.22 Once New York where he discussed with prosecution’s hand was forced by the in Pakistan they established contact Ahmedzay how he was proceeding with indictments published the day before with “Ahmad” who took the men to making the TATP, and they agreed to in the United States, other American Waziristan where they could receive carry out suicide attacks on the New pressure or the fact that the Associated military training.23 At the training York subway system on September Press had discovered the investigation, camp they met with individuals who 14, 15, and 16.30 As they got closer police felt they had to move in and were later identified as Salah al-Somali to the time of attack, Zazi attempted arrest two men in Oslo: Mikael Davud, and Rashid Rauf, who urged the men repeatedly to make contact with a 39-year-old ethnic Uighur with to consider going back to the United Norwegian citizenship, and David States to carry out attacks rather than “The al-Qa`ida narrative Jakobsen, a 31-year-old Uzbek with legal fight in Afghanistan.24 They are said to residency in Norway. At the same time, have also met Adnan Shukrijumah, and continues to draw in a wide German police arrested a third man, the al-Qa`ida leaders recruited the men community of individuals Shawan Sadek Saeed Bujak, a 37-year- to carry out attacks on the New York old Iraqi-Kurd who was on holiday in subway.25 across ethnic lines and Duisburg, Germany. from around the globe.” The three Americans left Waziristan Norwegian and U.S. officials were soon afterward, with Medunjanin flying quoted in the press as saying that the back to the United States on September men had been under surveillance for 22, while the other two stayed to receive unknown individuals trying to confirm just over a year and the belief was explosives training. In November 2008, the exact measurements required to that the plot was directed by Salah al- however, “Ahmad” brought only Zazi assemble the explosives.31 At some point Somali.35 As Petter Nesser and Brynjar to a training camp in Waziristan where he also made contact with “Ahmad,” Lia identify, it seems as though this he was trained in explosives.26 It was this time using a code referring to the cell was “one node” in a wave of attacks during this period that he likely drafted timing of a wedding that was similar to directed by al-Qa`ida at the West.36 notes on how to fabricate Triacetone that which British services had noted in Triperoxide (TATP) using flour, oil, Abid Naseer’s e-mails.32 The central figure in the Norwegian hydrogen peroxide and acetone, which plot, Mikael Davud, was apparently in he e-mailed to himself in early December Zazi was picked up by police in mid- Waziristan at around the same time as 2008 and which were later used as September 2009 and pled guilty to Najibullah Zazi, although it is unclear evidence against him.27 Ahmedzay later training and plotting to attack the New that he trained at the same camp.37 admitted to reviewing Zazi’s notes.28 York subway. Recognizing that the Officials in Norway believe the men noose was closing, Medunjanin seems were linked to the Turkistan Islamic Having completed their time in Pakistan, to have lost control, and on January Party (TIP), a primarily China-oriented Zazi returned to the United States 7, 2010 called 911 from his mobile extremist group based in Waziristan on January 15, 2009, with Ahmedzay phone telling the operator “we love that has in the past called for attacks on following on January 22. Zazi moved to death” before crashing his car on the China and which is often confused with Aurora, Colorado soon after this, while Whitestone Expressway in Queens, New the East Turkistan Islamic Movement Ahmedzay and Medunjanin remained York.33 He survived, and the next day (ETIM).38 in New York. In Colorado, Zazi and both Ahmedzay and Medunjanin were unidentified others located the sources indicted for seeking to fight abroad. As with most information connected to of the necessary ingredients to produce In April, Ahmedzay confessed his role either group, the details are murky. The TATP, and he experimented with the in the subway plot, while Medunjanin strongest connections between Davud ingredients in a hotel room he rented continues to plead his innocence. and terrorist groups, however, flow in Aurora.29 During spring and summer through TIP; apparently TIP commander of 2009, he made at least two trips to The Oslo Plotters Seyfullah called Davud’s phone number The final plot from this network was in September 2008.39 Furthermore, 22 U.S.A. v. Adis Medunjanin, Abid Naseer, Adnan el disrupted in Oslo, Norway in July 2010, Davud was in possession of a passport Shukrijumah, Tariq ur Rehman, FNU LNU, and Name Re- the day after the indictment officially photograph of missing British extremist dacted, Eastern District of New York, 2010. linking the New York and Manchester Ibrahim Adam (brother of convicted 34 23 Ibid. plots was unsealed. Whether the 24 “Zarein Ahmedzay Pleads Guilty to Terror Violations helping with research into the Oslo group. in Connection with Al Qaeda New York Subway Plot,” 30 “Zarein Ahmedzay Pleads Guilty to Terror Violations 35 Gwladys Fouche and Joachim Dagenborg, “Norway U.S. Department of Justice, April 23, 2010. in Connection with Al Qaeda New York Subway Plot.” Arrests Al Qaeda-Linked Suspects Over Plot,” Reuters, 25 U.S.A. v. Adis Medunjanin, Abid Naseer, Adnan el Shukr- 31 U.S.A. v. Najibullah Zazi. July 8, 2010. ijumah, Tariq ur Rehman, FNU LNU, and Name Redacted. 32 “Charges Unsealed Against Five Alleged Members 36 Petter Nesser and Brynjar Lia, “Lessons Learned from 26 Ibid. of Al Qaeda Plot to Attack the United States and United the July 2010 Norwegian Terrorist Plot,” CTC Sentinel 3:8 27 U.S.A. v. Najibullah Zazi, Eastern District of New York, Kingdom.” (2010). 2009. 33 U.S.A. v. Adis Medunjanin, Abid Naseer, Adnan el 37 Ibid. 28 “Zarein Ahmedzay Pleads Guilty to Terror Violations Shukrijumah, Tariq ur Rehman, FNU LNU, and Name Re- 38 Edward Wong, “Chinese Separatists Tied to Norway in Connection with Al Qaeda New York Subway Plot.” dacted. Bomb Plot,” New York Times, July 9, 2010. 29 U.S.A. v. Najibullah Zazi. 34 The author is grateful to Anne Stenersen of FFI for 39 Lia and Nesser.

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Crevice plotter Anthony Garcia), which were predominantly from Pakistan’s Lessons Learned from Davud claimed he had received from an North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), acquaintance in Turkey in 2009.40 The Uighur Davud had lived in Norway the July 2010 Norwegian connections between the terrorist group since 1999 and Zazi and his cell had Terrorist Plot and the other two are instead unclear all attended high school together in and clouded by the fact that the Uzbek the United States. Also, while less By Petter Nesser and Brynjar Lia suspect, David Jakobsen, had worked successful in their attempts at plotting as an informant since November 2009. in the West, Vinas and the cell around on july 8, 2010, the Norwegian Police Jakobsen claimed that he had contacted Malika el-Aroud show the ideology’s Security Service (PST) announced the police after he realized what he was reach to converts and the North African the arrests of three men, suspected of involved in and had met with them on diaspora in continental Europe. The having formed an al-Qa`ida-linked a weekly basis since first providing cross-cultural appeal is equally visible in terrorist cell and planning bomb attacks them with information.41 Police doubt the growing roster of young Westerners against what were later presumed to his authenticity, highlighting the fact being drawn to al-Shabab’s jihad in be Chinese targets in Norway.1 The that he failed to inform them that he Somalia. Furthermore, the possible link cell is believed to be “one node” in a had purchased a quantity of hydrogen to TIP highlights the group’s ability far-reaching al-Qa`ida network that peroxide in furtherance of the plot.42 to draw upon networks fostered by planned attacks in multiple countries, “sister” extremist groups operating in including the New York subway plot led The plotters went quiet in the period Pakistan’s tribal areas. by Najibullah Zazi and the conspiracy running up to the arrests, but police to bomb shopping malls in Manchester, claim Davud accumulated enough Finally, the plotters’ persistence is both foiled in 2009.2 The alleged leader explosives and other materials to worth noting. While it is unclear (and of the Norwegian cell, Mikael Davud, construct a large device or several unlikely) that the three plots knew of a 39-year-old Norwegian citizen of small devices (they had in fact already each other (though it seems likely that Chinese Uighur origin, was reportedly swapped what he thought was hydrogen some information on them may have come trained in Waziristan and is suspected peroxide with an inert substance). Their from interrogations of other terrorist of having entertained direct contacts exact target is unclear, although there camp graduates), they nevertheless with the commander of the Turkistan is speculation that the oil industry was continued plotting in the face of news Islamic Party (TIP), as well as top al- being targeted when it was revealed that their leaders in Waziristan had Qa`ida personnel, such as Salah al- that Jakobsen had applied for a place at been killed and information was Somali, al-Qa`ida’s former head of a school which trained people for jobs leaking out about their network. external operations who was killed in in the oil industry.43 Despite persistent declarations of al- late 2009.3 According to U.S. officials, Qa`ida’s demise, the uncovering of this al-Somali ordered all three attacks, and Al-Qa`ida’s Core Persists network highlights the group’s ongoing all cells planned to use the same type of There are a few key analytical points to ability to generate plots in the face of portable homemade bombs.4 Also, the be drawn from this series of plots. First, increased pressure from drone strikes Federal Bureau of Investigation believes it appears that al-Qa`ida continues to and Pakistani government efforts in its that Adnan Shukrijumah, considered maintain a capacity to train individuals lawless regions. al-Qa`ida’s new head of external from its base in Pakistan’s tribal areas operations, is probably connected to the despite being under pressure. Faisal Raffaello Pantucci is an Associate Fellow Norway plot.5 Shahzad, the attempted Times Square at the International Center for the Study bomber, made his way to Peshawar in of Radicalisation (ICSR) at King’s College July 2009, apparently tracking a path London. His work can be found at www. 1 “Tre personer pågrepet,” Politiets Sikkerhetstjeneste, similar to Zazi’s network. This shows raffaellopantucci.com. July 8, 2010. that as of a year ago, despite drone 2 Scott Shane and Eric Schmitt, “Norway Announces strikes operating at full tempo, the Three Arrests in Terrorist Plot,” New York Times, July 8, route and capacity to train in the region 2010; Kristoffer Rønneberg, “Terrorplaner i Oslo, Lon- had not been closed down. don og New York kobles sammen,” Aftenposten, July 8, 2010; Harald Berg Sævereid, “Han tystet om norsk ter- Second, the al-Qa`ida narrative ror-celle,” Verdens Gang, July 9, 2010. continues to draw in a wide community 3 Yassin Musharbash, “Festgenommene Qaida-Ver- of individuals across ethnic lines and dächtige Norwegisches Terror-Puzzle,” Der Spiegel, July from around the globe. While the 8, 2010; Jonas Sverrisson Rasch and Gunnar Hultgreen, Manchester plot was driven by recent “Terrorgruppe tilhørte uigurisk separatistgruppe,” Dag- arrivals to the United Kingdom who bladet, July 8, 2010; “Davuds mobilnummer funnet hos uigurtopp,” Dagbladet, August 2, 2010. 40 Ibid. 4 Bruce Crumley, “Norway’s al-Qaeda Arrests: Terror- 41 “Norway: Al Qaeda Bomb Suspect Was Police Infor- ism’s Changing Face,” Time Magazine, July 8, 2010. mant,” Associated Press, July 12, 2010. 5 “Ny al-Qaida-topp kobles til terrorplaner i Norge,” 42 “Norwegian Police Secretly Filmed Terror Suspect: Aftenposten, August 6, 2010; Curt Anderson, “New al- Report,” Agence France-Presse, July 10, 2010. Qaida Leader Knows US Well,” Associated Press, Au- 43 Ibid. gust 6, 2010.

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From a counterterrorism perspective, The Plot and the Investigation In addition to the bomb manufacturing the Norway cell is an interesting case On July 8, 2010, three men of Uighur, activities, police secured a host of other study in several regards. First, it Uzbek and Iraqi-Kurdish descent were circumstantial evidence suggesting a provides arguments to both sides in the arrested on terrorism charges after terrorist plot, including incriminating Sageman-Hoffman dispute over whether a one year investigation involving e-mail correspondence, phone books, the al-Qa`ida threat is becoming more extensive international cooperation. notes and pictures, all indicating ties “homegrown,” “de-centralized,” and The ongoing investigation reportedly to international terrorist networks. The “Europeanized,”6 or whether al-Qa`ida included electronic room surveillance, investigators found passport photos has retained the ability to direct terrorist wiretapping, GPS and radio tracking, of Ibrahim Adam, a terrorist suspect operations in Europe and elsewhere.7 secret searches of apartments and wanted by British authorities for his Second, it also casts light on two alleged involvement in previous plots in observable trends in jihadist terrorism “From al-Qa`ida’s London. One of the cell members claims during the past few years: (i) the he was asked to assist in procuring expanding role of al-Qa`ida’s regional perspective, Norway false passports for Adam with a view branches and affiliated organizations in maintains a close military to bringing him into the country.12 international terrorism; (ii) the growing The cell may also have been involved multiethnic composition of jihadist alliance with the United in money transfers to illegal terrorist cells and networks in Europe, where States, has a historical, organizations.13 overwhelmingly Arab and Pakistani networks have been gradually replaced deep-rooted friendship There is still much uncertainty and by more multinational cells. Third, with and is a confusion surrounding the Norway the Norway cell may suggest a new cell and its intentions. Authorities emphasis in al-Qa`ida on targeting significant military believe the cell intended to strike a “the periphery” in the Western world, contributor in Afghanistan target on Norwegian soil, possibly whereby the threat level in Norway may against Chinese interests. Thus far, gradually converge toward that of the and other fronts in the however, this assumption appears to United Kingdom and continental Europe. U.S.-led war on terrorism.” rest more on inference and conjecture Finally, the current investigation of than actual evidence.14 The fact that the alleged terrorist cell in Oslo has one of the cell members applied twice demonstrated the continued difficulties for a preparatory course at an oil of handling terrorism-related criminal electronic surveillance of internet drilling company (although he never offenses in Scandinavia where the traffic. It progressed at different levels showed up) has raised fears that the justice systems only recently started to of intensity during the past year. The alleged cell planned attacks against adapt to the new reality of transnational case became more serious in February Norway’s vital oil industry; Norway is terrorist organizations, and where U.S. and March 2010 as the suspects pressure to act more aggressively clashes allegedly sought to obtain quantities with a deep commitment to prevention of chemicals suitable for making 12 Amund Bakke Foss, Francis Lundh, and Daniel Pin- strategies and high standards of legal peroxide-based high explosives, also heiro Harbo, “Terrorsiktet ble bedt om å skaffe falskt 8 protection. used by the 7/7 London bombers as well pass,” Verdens Gang, July 12, 2010; Frode Hansen and as by previously intercepted terrorist Harald S. Klungtveit, “Terror-ettersøkte Ibrahim (23) This article will outline the details of cells in Denmark and Germany. The skulle hjelpes inn i Norge med falsk pass,” Dagbladet, the Norway plot and the investigation, amount of chemicals was far smaller, July 16, 2010. and it will discuss the sociology of the however, than the hundreds of liters 13 According to U.S. Undersecretary for Terrorism and alleged cell and possible motives. It acquired by the so-called Sauerland Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey, the U.S. Terrorism concludes with a few remarks on the cell in Germany. Nevertheless, it was Finance Tracking Program (TFTP), which has been ac- preliminary lessons learned and the reportedly sufficient to make one large cessing all international bank transactions recorded implications of the plot. bomb device or several small ones.9 The by the Belgium-based company SWIFT until the end suspects also procured chemistry masks, of 2009, “provided support to the Norwegian investi- 6 See, for example, Marc Sageman, Leaderless Jihad: Ter- gloves, and other types of substances gation.” Another possible indication is that one of the ror Networks in the Twenty-First Century (Philadelphia, and equipment suitable for bomb- suspects had registered a private firm from which he PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008). making.10 Using a technique applied by withdrew nearly $600,000 before the firm went bank- 7 See, for example, Bruce Hoffman, “The Myth of Grass- the British MI5 against a cell in Britain rupt. The firm’s transactions were considered illegal by Roots Terrorism,” Foreign Affairs 87:3 (2008): pp. 133- in 2004, the Norwegian police secretly experts. See Valentina Pop, “‘Swift’ Used in Norway’s 138. replaced the dangerous chemicals with al Qaeda Sting, US Says,” EUObserver, July 9, 2010; 8 See, for example, Michael Jonsson and Christian N. harmless substances.11 Jarle Brenna, Rolf J. Widerøe, Kari Tone Sperstad, and Larson, “Scandinavian Trials Demonstrate Difficulty of Amund Bakke Foss, “Terrorsiktet tok ut seks millioner i Obtaining Terrorist Financing Convictions,” Terrorism kontanter,” Verdens Gang, July 9, 2010. Monitor 7:5 (2009); Ian MacDougall, “Norway al-Qaida 9 “Norge var terrormålet,” Aftenposten, July 10, 2010; 14 Harald S. Klungtveit et al., “Slik planla de terror på Case Highlights Terror Strategy,” Associated Press, July ”Eksplosivene ble ikke oppbevart hos siktede,” Aftenpos- norsk jord,” Dagbladet, July 13, 2010; Kari Tone Sper- 16, 2010. Also see the entries about Norway in the U.S. ten, July 11, 2010. stad, Tom Bakkeli, and Amund Bakke Foss, “PST: - Ter- Department of State’s “Patterns of Global Terrorism” for 10 “Slik ble de avslørt,” Dagbladet, July 16, 2010. rorhandlingen skulle skje på norsk jord,” Verdens Gang, 2007 to 2009. 11 “Norge var terrormålet.” July 12, 2010.

14 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 among the world’s largest oil exporting case, but gradually information more Information so far suggests that countries.15 favorable to the defendants has found its the cell leader, Mikael Davud, had way to the newspapers, to a point where established contacts with al-Qa`ida The investigation of the Norway cell the security service chief threatened to back in 2001-2002 and is suspected of has clearly been influenced by both have the defendants’ lawyers replaced having maintained longtime contacts national and international media. The for leaking classified information.18 with militant leaders in Waziristan, timing of the arrests was premature and Even though the present case looks which he allegedly visited in 2008- not ideal from an investigation point of much stronger than previous terrorism 2009.21 Investigators first came across view.16 Officially, the story is that an investigations in Norway when the his name when Seyfullah, the top Associated Press investigation into the defendants have been acquitted on commander of the Turkistan Islamic global terrorist network, of which the terrorism charges, many commentators Party, reportedly tried to call his mobile have voiced skepticism about the number in September 2008.22 Davud “If, on the other hand, it prospects of a conclusive verdict. had also studied at an Islamic boarding Norway’s antiterrorism laws require a school () in Karachi during the is proven that the plotters collective effort, a “conspiracy” of two or late 1990s, but did not complete his received direct orders more people, which in principle makes education for unknown reasons.23 The it legal for a lone individual to initiate two other cell members, the Iraqi-Kurd from al-Qa`ida’s central limited preparations for terrorist acts Shawan Sadek Saeed Bujak (37-years- command in Pakistan, on his/her own.19 The defense lawyers old) and the Uzbek national David have had some success in pushing this Jakobsen (31-years-old), had apparently the case should be argument, not the least because it has been radicalized in Europe. Bujak spent interpreted as another sign transpired that one of the defendants several years seeking asylum in Germany had in fact been a police informant where he reportedly became “more of al-Qa`ida’s success in since 2009—one of the more intriguing religious.”24 Jakobsen, the youngest cell sustaining an operational details of the Norway plot. He claims member, adopted radical views after to have alerted the authorities about arriving in Norway.25 Leaders of the capability in the West.” the passport fraud operation and other Uzbek community in Oslo claim they issues. He has, however, reportedly knew about him and had alerted the admitted that he failed to notify them authorities about militant activism in about the purchase of chemicals.20 their community.26 Norway cell was part, forced Norwegian Information so far suggests that the authorities to arrest the suspects.17 On cell leader, the Uighur national, was far Despite living relatively inconspicuous the other hand, growing U.S. pressure more involved than the other two, and it lives, several of the cell members were to act decisively against a cell that had remains to be seen if a conspiracy can be involved in various forms of petty crime, links both to the United States and to al- proven conclusively. such as the smuggling of halal meat from Qa`ida’s top command may also explain Sweden, the purchase of illegal travel why the police moved in prematurely. The Sociology of the Alleged Terrorist Cell documents, and misappropriation of The three cell members are all relatively company funds.27 They may also have Following the highly publicized arrests, recent immigrants to Norway. They arrived drawn attention to themselves by the a steady stream of leaks from sources in the country in the late 1990s or early fact that they engaged openly in Islamic close to the investigation has fed the 2000s, and gradually obtained permanent activism in the Norwegian towns where national media. Initially, the leaks residency and, in the case of Davud, they set foot; they made little effort appeared to strengthen the prosecution’s Norwegian citizenship. Their profiles to hide their radical leanings. Bujak depart somewhat from the new arch- headed an Islamic cultural center in 15 Amund Bakke Foss et al., “Terrorsiktet meldte seg type of homegrown terrorism, in which Førde, a small town in western Norway opp til oljeboringskurs,” Verdens Gang, July 9, 2010. It cell members are young disenfranchised and was remembered among his former is not uncommon for jihadists in Europe to find work second or third generation immigrants, work colleagues for having voiced in sectors vulnerable to terrorist attacks. For example, and are mostly self-radicalized and self- several members of the Dutch-Moroccan Hofstadgroup recruited, operating autonomously from 21 Musharbash. linked to the 2004 murder of Theo Van Gogh worked at any central leadership. 22 “Davuds mobilnummer funnet hos uigurtopp.” Schiphol airport, and a central member of a Pakistani cell 23 Davud had obtained permission by Chinese authori- planning attacks in the United Kingdom in 2004 worked ties to travel to Pakistan. See Line Brustad, Ida Hanstad at Britain’s main electricity grid provider, stealing infor- 18 “Forsvarer: - PST bør holde kjeft,” Aftenposten, July and Per Asle Rustad, “Terrorsiktet ville bli ,” Ver- mation about its vulnerabilities. See The British Crown, 10, 2010; “PST anklager forsvarere for lekkasjer,” Ver- dens Gang, July 17, 2010. “Opening statement Regina vs et al.,” as dens Gang, August 6, 2010. 24 Eiliv Frich Flydal and Mikal Hem, “Terrorsiktet hyl- published in “Momin Khawaja Constitutes the Canadian 19 Per Asle Rustad, “Terrorsiktede kan reddes av norsk let Bin Laden,” Dagbladet, July 25, 2010. End of the Conspiracy,” Ottawa Citizen, March 23, 2006. lov,” Verdens Gang, July 21, 2010. 25 Harald S. Klungtveit et al., “Her pågripes terrorsikt- 16 “Terrorsiktelsene kunne ha vært utvidet,” Aftenpos- 20 Tom Bakkeli et al., “Terrorsiktet har vært informant ede Shawan (37) av tysk spesialpoliti,” Dagbladet, July 9, ten, July 8, 2010. for PST siden 2009,” Verdens Gang, July 12, 2010; Lars 2010. 17 Randi Fuglehaug and Jonas Sverrisson Rasch, Akerhaug, Jenny Sandvig, and Lars-Christian U. Tal- 26 Ibid. “Amerikansk nyhetsbyrå visste om saken,” Dagbladet, seth, “Var mistenkt - ble informant,” Aftenposten, July 12, 27 Hans Torgersen et al., “Her drev én av de terrorsikt- July 9, 2010. 2010. ede kiosk,” Aftenposten, July 11, 2010.

15 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 strong sympathies for al-Qa`ida and The multinational character of the cell is founder of the Kurdish-Iraqi terrorist Usama bin Ladin.28 Davud attended the also interesting, as it is consistent with group Ansar al-Islam, and have ordered Muslim Culture Center, a controversial what appears to be an increasingly more his deportation. Finally, the publication mosque known for its militant views, in important pattern of jihadist terrorism of the Prophet Muhammad cartoons by the sleepy town of Sarpsborg, southeast in Europe. Previously dominated by a few Norwegian newspapers also added of Oslo.29 This is where he got to know from North Africa and the Middle to the country’s visibility on jihadist Jakobsen.30 Davud also frequented East, jihadist networks have grown websites, although it was overshadowed radical milieus in Bergen, where he more diverse, including large numbers by events in neighboring Denmark. reportedly met Bujak.31 of activists from Asia, mainly Pakistan, the Caucasus, and East Africa, as well as Preliminary Implications and Lessons Learned One interesting detail of the Norway European converts. In a growing number Assessments of the wider implications cell is the fact that all members changed of cases, non-Arabs have also assumed of the Norway cell will necessarily have their names in 2006-2007, following the important leadership positions. The to take into account its organizational Prophet Muhammad cartoon crisis. Two Germany-based Sauerland-cell in 2007 origins and its intended target, key of them adopted names that sounded is a case in point.35 Uighurs, however, details that still remain murky. If the less foreign. Jakobsen’s original name have hardly ever figured in jihadist cell primarily operated on behalf of was Alisjer Abdulaif and Davud’s name networks in Europe. the , targeting was Mohammad Rashidin. They also Chinese interests internationally, the changed addresses relatively often, Possible Motives case may be seen as another example of presumably to make it more difficult for The available information provides increased involvement by al-Qa`ida’s authorities to keep track of them.32 few clues about the exact motive for an attack in Norway at this point. If “The multinational Age-wise, the Norway cell also departs Chinese interests were in fact the target, slightly from the typical pattern, with the ongoing conflict between Uighur character of the cell all members well into their 30s, and separatists and the Chinese government is also interesting, as one of them close to 40. Analyses of will be seen as the most likely motive, recent terrorism cases in Europe have in which case Norway is merely an it is consistent with hypothesized that there is a trend toward opportune arena rather than a target. what appears to be younger militants.33 The Norway cell is It should not be surprising, however, one of several examples contradicting if it develops that the group sought to an increasingly more this thesis. Throughout the history strike at Norwegian interests directly. important pattern of of jihadism in Europe, terrorist cells While Norway has not been a priority have typically been mentored and led target for al-Qa`ida in the past, it has jihadist terrorism in by people in their late 30s, whereas the been specifically singled out by name Europe.” foot soldiers have been youngsters in in al-Qa`ida speeches, most ominously their teens or early 20s.34 by Ayman al-Zawahiri in 2003 and 2004, and by Abu Yahya al-Libi in

28 Flydal and Hem; Harald S. Klungtveit and Torgeir 2006. There are good reasons for this: regional affiliates in international P. Krokfjord, “Slik levde de terrorsiktede et dobbeltliv,” from al-Qa`ida’s perspective, Norway terrorism outside their immediate Dagbladet, July 11, 2010. maintains a close military alliance with theater of operation. Other recent 29 The mosque’s imam, Shaikhjami Abdul-Qudus, has the United States, has a historical, examples of this include the role of al- preached the death penalty for Muslims converting to deep-rooted friendship with Israel and Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula in the and that Islamic law is above Norwegian is a significant military contributor in Christmas Day airliner plot in Detroit law. Reportedly, there have been several conflicts be- Afghanistan and other fronts in the in 2009, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan’s tween Muslim communities in Sarpsborg over issues U.S.-led war on terrorism. Moreover, involvement in Square attack such as suicide bombing and the . See Anders Norwegian authorities previously in May 2010, and the Islamic Jihad Engen Sanden, “Omstridt moské i Sarpsborg,” Aftenpos- imprisoned Mullah Krekar, the infamous Union’s plot in Germany (the Sauerland ten, July 12, 2010. cell) in September 2007. One may also 30 Ibid. Khyam,” BBC, April 30, 2007. add the recent assassination attempt on 31 In spring 2010, another Uighur resident from Bergen 35 See, for example, Guido Steinberg, The Islamic Jihad Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard by was reportedly arrested in Pakistan on terrorism charg- Union (Berlin: Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, 2008); a Danish-Somali who has been linked to es. See “Uigur fra Bergen pågrepet i Pakistan,” ABCNy- Simone Kaiser, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark, the al-Shabab movement. heter.no, July 15, 2010. “Operation Alberich, How the CIA Helped Germany 32 Klungtveit and Krokfjord. Foil Terror Plot,” Der Spiegel, September 10, 2007. Also If, on the other hand, it is proven that 33 See, for example, Lorenzo Vidino, “The Hofstad see Morten Skjoldager, Truslen indefra - De Danske Ter- the plotters received direct orders Group: The New Face of Terrorist Networks in Europe,” rorister (Copenhagen: Lindhardt og Ringhof, 2009); Pet- from al-Qa`ida’s central command in Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 30:7 (2007): pp. 579-592. ter Nesser, “Lessons Learned from the September 2007 Pakistan, the case should be interpreted 34 In fact, young people have only headed terrorist cells German Terrorist Plot,” CTC Sentinel 1:4 (2008); Petter as another sign of al-Qa`ida’s success in in a limited number of cases. See Petter Nesser, Jihad in Nesser, “Chronology of Jihadism in Western Europe sustaining an operational capability in Europe: A Survey of the Motivations for Sunni Islamist Ter- 1994-2007: Planned, Prepared, and Executed Terrorist the West. Furthermore, the discovery of rorism in Post-Millennium Europe (Kjeller: Norwegian Attacks,” Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 31:10 (2008): al-Qa`ida cells in Norway may suggest Defence Research Establishment, 2004); “Profile: Omar pp. 924-946. that the organization seeks to build

16 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 a new capability to strike Europe’s American Journeys to limitations, it is impossible to say with periphery. Its networks in central Jihad: U.S. Extremists and confidence whether or not these four Europe have suffered serious setbacks cases are representative. At the very after the disruption of numerous Foreign Conflicts During least, however, a consideration of these cells in Spain, Britain, Germany, the the 1980s and 1990s cases represents a first step toward Netherlands, France, and Denmark, the goal of creating a fuller picture of and it may have pushed al-Qa`ida to By William Rosenau and Sara Daly violent extremism among American seek new opportunities in countries less Muslims before 9/11. affected by al-Qa`ida terrorism. violent extremism among American Muslims has been the subject of Hiram Torres From Norway’s perspective, it is considerable official and analytical As a high school student in working- important to acknowledge the fact that attention in the years since the attacks class Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Hiram terrorist cells hardly ever emerge from a of September 11, 2001. This scrutiny, Torres explored a variety of religions vacuum. Terrorist cells need supporters however, is devoted almost entirely and political creeds and yearned “to and sympathizers to recruit and operate to the post-9/11 period.1 Particularly be part of a revolution somewhere,” successfully. Discovery of such cells is neglected has been the subject of one friend, Sachin Timbadia, recalled.2 usually a strong sign that radicalism American Muslims who traveled to Torres traveled with another friend and underground extremist networks “fields of jihad” in Afghanistan, Bosnia, to in the summer of 1993, are on the rise. Chechnya, and Kashmir during the returning “a changed person,” according 1980s and 1990s—a significant gap in to his mother.3 She recalled that he Petter Nesser is a research fellow at The knowledge, given plausible claims that began wrapping sheets around his head Norwegian Defence Research Establishment hundreds if not thousands of individuals like a turban and expressing outrage at (FFI). He is trained in the areas of social (most, if not all, presumably Muslims) the poverty he had witnessed in South science, Middle Eastern Studies, and left the United States to join armed Asia.4 Arabic, and has conducted extensive struggles abroad during this period. research on jihadist terrorism in Europe. After nearly 10 years of the “global war An excellent student, Torres attended Mr. Nesser has focused mainly on terrorist on terrorism,” it is necessary to explore Yale but dropped out in 1993 during motivations and radicalization processes. the “pre-history” of contemporary his freshman year. “He wanted to be Islamist extremism in the United in another country,” according to a Dr. Brynjar Lia is a senior research States. Such an examination can help college roommate, who added that fellow at the Norwegian Defence Research calibrate the scale of current challenges, Torres “certainly wasn’t violent and Establishment (FFI) where he currently design appropriate countermeasures he didn’t talk about hating America—it heads FFI’s research on international and, ideally, avoid the mistakes of the just wasn’t a place he wanted to live.”5 terrorism and radical . Trained past as well as the follies of present- Acquaintances said that Torres was not in Arabic, Russian and Middle Eastern mindedness. noticeably secretive. Yet in high school studies, he obtained his Ph.D. in he refused to have his picture taken for contemporary Middle Eastern history at This article considers the cases of four the high school yearbook because he the University of Oslo. He was a Visiting Americans—Hiram Torres, Abu Adam “wanted to keep a low profile in case Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University Jibreel, Clement Rodney Hampton- something happened in the future,” from 2001-2002. Dr. Lia’s most recent El, and Isa Abdullah Ali—who made said Timbadia. At Yale, he declined to book is Architect of Global Jihad: The journeys to foreign jihads before 9/11. submit a photo for the freshman face Life of al-Qa`ida Strategist Abu Mus`ab Although hundreds if not thousands book—suggesting, perhaps, preparation al-Suri (Columbia University Press, of Americans may have left the United for a new and possibly clandestine 2008). States for jihad, robust biographical existence.6 information exists on only a handful of individuals—and even this information Several months after dropping out of is incomplete. For example, little is college, Torres returned to Bangladesh known, at least publicly, about what and then moved to Pakistan and finally networks might have helped these men Afghanistan, where he last made contact join foreign struggles. Given these with his mother in 1998.7 Nothing more was heard of Torres until December 1 For recent examples, see Rick “Ozzie” Nelson and Ben 2001, when a New York Times reporter Bodurian, A Growing Terrorist Threat? Assessing ‘Home- discovered documents in a house in grown’ Extremism in the United States (Washington, D.C.: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2010); 2 David Rohde and James Risen, “A Nation Challenged: Brian Michael Jenkins, Would-Be Warriors: Incidents of Ji- Another Expatriate,” New York Times, February 6, 2002. hadist Radicalization in the United States Since September 11, 3 Jocelyn Lippert, “1993 Yale Drop-Out Linked to Al 2001 (Santa Monica, CA: Rand Corporation, 2010). An Qaeda,” Yale Daily News, February 7, 2002. important exception is Lorenzo Vidino, “Homegrown 4 Ibid. Jihadist Terrorism in the United States: A New and Oc- 5 Ibid. casional Phenomenon?” Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 6 Ibid. 32:1 (2009). 7 Rohde and Risen.

17 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8

Kabul used by Harkat-ul-Mujahidin, a Carolina Central University, Abu Adam Hampton-El joined the Afghan jihad, pro-Taliban Pakistani militant group converted to Islam. Concerned about the reportedly serving as a medic with which among other activities had plight of Muslims in Bosnia, Kashmir, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s Hizb-i-Islami trained John Walker Lindh, the so-called and Chechnya, he dropped out of the mujahidin force.14 Wounded by a “American Talib” captured as an enemy university and, according to As-Siddiqi, Russian shell, he returned to New York combatant in November 2001.8 Among “began to prepare for the journey that in late 1988 to recuperate. For Hampton- al-Qa`ida bomb-making manuals and most never think about—much less El, also known as “Dr. Rashid” for his other material was a list of recruits that prepare for: jihad.” work with the mujahidin and his later included Torres’ name and the notation employment as a hospital technician, that he was also known as Mohammed In November 1997, after months of Salman.9 Torres’ ultimate fate remains spiritual and physical preparation, “Potential terrorist unknown. including training provided by a fellow Muslim who had served with the recruits today have Abu Adam Jibreel U.S. Army Rangers, 19-year-old Abu more opportunity to In 1998, Abu Adam Jibreel, a member Adam traveled to Kashmir. Abu Adam of Lashkar-i-Tayyiba (LT, or LeT), was (known to comrades as “al-Amreekee”) connect with like-minded killed in Kashmir during operations distinguished himself at an LT training individuals in the United against Indian security forces. His camp with his piety, discipline, and life was recounted in a hagiographical modesty. “Our brother was in my view, States than prior to internet essay written by a fellow a true zaahid (one who abstains from the 9/11, and there is more jihadist, Abdur-Raheem As-Siddiqi, glitter of this worldly life),” As-Siddiqi writes. ideological and possibly “Nearly a decade into logistical support for After four months, Abu Adam the ‘war on terrorism,’ completed LT’s commando training conducting domestic government officials, policy course and began preparations “to terrorist attacks.” carefully infiltrate the occupied valley specialists and terrorism of Kashmir to strike down and destroy scholars still know the enemies of , the vile Hindus and Sikhs from the Indian army,” Afghanistan was a transformative relatively little about the according to As-Siddiqi. In July 1997, experience. “The war was a life-force participation of Americans Abu Adam and his fellow fighters experience that he dearly wanted to entered into the “occupied valley” and return to…so he could have another in violent extremism began laying ambushes and carrying chance at martyrdom and paradise,” abroad before 2001.” out raids against Indian forces. During according to one press account.15 one “bloody raid on an army post in the Doda sector in the Jammu region,” Abu He never returned to Afghanistan. Adam was killed, but not before killing 17 Instead, he became a significant figure at who described Abu Adam as the product Indian soldiers, according to As-Siddiqi. the al-Kifah Refugee Center in New York, of a “considerably wealthy family in a branch of al-Qa`ida’s international Atlanta, Georgia” who attended the Clement Rodney Hampton-El fundraising and support network. During Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. Raised in impoverished circumstances, the early 1990s, “Dr. Rashid” trained Martin Luther King, Jr. had once served Hampton-El had been a member of the prospective jihadists and smuggled funds as pastor.10 Moorish Science Temple—a predominantly into the United States as part of “Project African-American religious sect—before Bosnia,” an effort to recruit, support and A restless spiritual seeker, Abu Adam converting to orthodox prepare militants for Bosnia.16 A member looked beyond the Baptist creed of his and adopting the name Abdul Rashid of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing family and spent time at the Atlanta Abdullah. Hampton-El was also conspiracy, Hampton-El was convicted Community Mosque, whose spiritual reportedly a member of Jama`at al- in 1996 with the “blind shaykh,” leader Jamil Abdullah al-Amin (the Fuqara’,12 an extremist sect whose U.S. `Umar `Abd al-Rahman, and others in former Black Panther once known as branch was founded in 1980 by Mubarak H. Rap Brown) was serving a prison Ali Shah Gilani, a Pakistani Sufi cleric Threat Posed by African-American Muslim Groups,” 11 term for murder. As a student at North and supporter of Islamist militancy in CTC Sentinel 1:6 (2008). Indian-occupied Kashmir. By the late 14 Jason Burke, “Frankenstein the CIA Created,” Guard- 8 Ibid. 1980s, Jama`at al-Fuqara’ (also known ian, January 17, 1999. 9 Ibid. later as Muslims of the Americas) 15 Francis X. Clines, “Specter of Terror,” New York Times, 10 Abdur-Raheem As-Siddiqi, “An American Born Sha- was allegedly acquiring weapons and June 28, 1993. 13 heed (Martyr), Abu Adam Jibreel,” May 20, 2001, avail- recruiting fighters for Afghanistan. 16 U.S.A. v. Omar Ahmad Ali Abdul Rahman, et al., Court able at www.albalagh.net/general/abu_adam_jibreel. of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1996; Evan Kohlmann, shtml. 12 Elizabeth Shogren, “Fuqra: A Name for Muslim Ter- Al-Qaida’s Jihad in Europe: The Afghan-Bosnian Network 11 Donna Leinwand, “A U.S. Teen’s Journey to Jihad,” rorism,” Los Angeles Times, July 6, 2003. (Oxford and New York: Berg Publishers, 2004), pp. 73- USA Today, June 14, 2002. 13 Christopher Heffelfinger, “Evaluating the Terrorist 74.

18 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 connection with the “Day of Terror” Palestinian Liberation Organization to simplify the complex factors that lead plot against New York City landmarks. (PLO) in West , and served as a individuals to choose terrorism. Indeed, bodyguard to Hizb Allah’s spiritual some of the more recent homegrown Isa Abdullah Ali leader, Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah.22 cases in the United States have involved One of eight children from a After being wounded in 1986, Abdullah less educated, unmarried males who Washington, D.C. African-American returned to Washington and took a are from the middle-class and are more family, Cleven Raphael Holt dropped job as a groundskeeper at Howard socially-integrated than their European out of ninth grade in 1972, and as a University.23 counterparts.30 Additionally, many of 15-year-old lied about his age and the more contemporary extremists in joined the U.S. Army.17 Discharged from In 1995, he told friends that he would service after 18 months, Holt returned be traveling to Bosnia to help defend “U.S. involvement in to Washington. After a dissolute period the country’s Muslim community.24 The of minor criminality and odd jobs, Holt following year, U.S. Secretary of Defense Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan had a spiritual awakening and converted William Perry described Abdullah as “a and Yemen may also spur to Sunni Islam, adopting the name Isa known American terrorist” suspected of Abdullah Ali.18 posing a threat to NATO peacekeepers,25 more U.S. Muslims to and guards at the Tuzla Air Base were consider jihad than in the During the late 1970s, Abdullah Ali warned to be on the lookout for him.26 became caught up in Washington’s NATO forces, however, lacked the legal years prior to 9/11.” dissident Iranian Shi`a community authority to detain Abdullah, and with fighting for the ouster of Shah no outstanding arrest warrants he was Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.19 Abdullah able to return to the United States and a Ali eventually abandoned Sunni Islam life of relative obscurity.27 the United States who have attempted to link up with international conflicts Why Did They Join? have often done so as members of small “Before 9/11, however, A full consideration of the motivating groups—such as the Lackawanna Six American Muslims seeking factors that underlay the entries into (2002), the “Virginia jihad” network jihad described above is beyond the (2003), and the five Virginia men jihad abroad appeared scope of this article. It is important, convicted in a Pakistani court in June to do so most often as however, to note that as Andrew Silke 2010 of terrorist offenses. This reality suggests, “becoming a terrorist is reflects Marc Sageman’s thesis that individuals—or ‘lone-wolf’ for most people a gradual process.”28 individuals are introduced to radical jihadists.” Although it is difficult to surmise what ideas largely through “loose networks” this process looks like for the majority that include kinship or friendship ties of American Muslims who have chosen often at places of worship or in private this path, Silke and Alan Krueger both homes or gatherings.31 These closed for Shi’ism, and after the 1979 Islamic suggest that a vast number of those networks are difficult to both penetrate revolution went to work as a security who have chosen terrorism were young and anticipate.32 guard at the new Islamic republic’s (teens to early 20s), married males who Washington embassy.20 were well-educated professionals, had Before 9/11, however, American Muslims a strong Muslim identity, and who felt seeking jihad abroad appeared to do so In 1980, after a brief period with the socially marginalized and experienced most often as individuals—or “lone- mujahidin in Afghanistan, Abdullah some form of discrimination.29 This wolf” jihadists. Although it is not clear traveled to Beirut, where he joined characterization, however, is not meant why these “lone wolves” opted to seek the Shi`a Amal militia.21 During the jihad on their own rather than as part next six years, he reportedly trained 22 Robberson; Edward D. Sargent, “DC Mother Told of a group, one explanation may be that militiamen, fought alongside the PLO Fighter Son Is Alive,” Washington Post, July 29, although there were Islamic charities 1982. and other groups, such as the al-Kifah 17 Harry F. Rosenthal, “Profile of a Fugitive: ‘Very, Very 23 Ibid. Refugee Center, that were organized Weird Story,’” Associated Press, January 24, 1996. 24 Blomquist. to send American Muslims abroad to 18 Tod Robberson, “The Unfinished Journey of Isa Ab- 25 Ibid. wage jihad, it may have been difficult dullah Ali,” Washington Post Magazine, December 16, 26 Tim Weiner, “NATO Forces Are Warned of US Ex- 1990. tremist in Bosnia,” New York Times, January 24, 1996. 30 Rick “Ozzie” Nelson, “Homegrown Terrorism Fact 19 Abdullah Ali was reportedly associated with David 27 That said, he was the subject of a 2010 documentary, Sheet,” Center for Strategic and International Studies, Belfield (also known as Daoud Salahuddin), an American “American Jihadist.” January 22, 2010. supporter of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini later in- 28 Andrew Silke, “Holy Warriors: Exploring the Psy- 31 Daniel B. Kennedy, Robert J. Homant, and Erick dicted for the July 1980 murder of Ali Tabatabai, an anti- chological Processes of Jihadi Radicalization,” European Barnes, “An Insider View of the Sleeper Cell: A Face Khomeini activist. See William Branigin, “US Sniper in Journal of Criminology 5:1 (2008): p. 105. Validity Study,” Journal of Applied Security Research 3:3-4 Beirut,” Washington Post, July 28, 1982. 29 Ibid., pp. 106-119; Alan B. Krueger, “What Makes a (2008): p. 329. 20 Ibid. Homegrown Terrorist? Human Capital and Participa- 32 Waqar Gillani and Sabrina Tavernise, “Pakistan Sen- 21 Brian Blomquist, “‘Terrorist’ Was a Regular in Adams tion in Domestic Islamic Terrorist Groups in the USA,” tences Five Americans in Terror Case,” New York Times, Morgan Bar,” Washington Times, January 26, 1996. Economics Letters 101:3 (2008): pp. 294-296. June 24, 2010.

19 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 for these Muslims, many of whom may citizens accused of extremist activities Tensions Rise Between have felt alienated in their communities in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and because of their race, religion or elsewhere. Yet nearly a decade into Hizb-i-Islami and the economic status, to identify peers who the “war on terrorism,” government Taliban in Afghanistan felt a similar pull toward radical Islam. officials, policy specialists and terrorism To connect with others who shared scholars still know relatively little By Matthew DuPee and Anand Gopal their extremist views and thus relieve about the participation of Americans in their sense of alienation, these Muslim violent extremism abroad before 2001. in march 2010, clashes erupted between Americans often sought out like- Politicians and policymakers typically two of Afghanistan’s most important minded individuals at mosques, where frame the issue of violent extremism insurgent groups in northern Baghlan they were encouraged by an imam to among U.S. Muslims as a novel, Province. A days-long battle between travel outside the United States to wage essentially post-9/11 phenomenon. Hizb-i-Islami1 and the Taliban left jihad.33 Some may have chosen to travel nearly 60 militants and 20 civilians abroad because joining a terrorist group Building on the handful of pre-9/11 cases dead. Hostilities between the two sides is a punishable crime, and evading the and mining the experiences of a much flared again in Wardak Province in July, authorities by leaving the country broader set of individuals could identify where ongoing clashes killed 28 Taliban may have been their preferred option, factors—personal, social, logistical, fighters, including an important local especially for those with prior criminal and ideological—that facilitated entry Taliban commander.2 records.34 into foreign jihads. Ideally, a more comprehensive understanding of The skirmishes, sparked by the Potential terrorist recruits today have journeys to jihad in the 1980s and 1990s growing reach of the Taliban and turf more opportunity to connect with would inform and improve current battles between the two groups, mark like-minded individuals in the United efforts by the U.S. government—and the a significant fissure in the country’s States than prior to 9/11, and there is American Muslim community itself—to militant movement. This article more ideological and possibly logistical prevent the involvement of U.S. Muslims provides a closer look at these frictions support for conducting domestic in violent extremism overseas. and at Afghan government and coalition terrorist attacks. In addition to a larger efforts to exploit them. network of “facilitators” for would-be Dr. William Rosenau is a senior research terrorists, unrestricted access to the analyst in the Program on Stability and Northern Expansion internet has introduced many American Development, Center for Naval Analyses, The intra-insurgent tensions are jihadists to the extremist ideology Alexandria, VA, and an adjunct professor rooted in the dynamics of northern that underpins terrorist violence. U.S. in the Security Studies Program at the Walsh Afghanistan, once peaceful areas that involvement in Afghanistan, Iraq, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown have experienced spiraling violence in Pakistan and Yemen may also spur more University. recent years. Since 2007, high-level U.S. Muslims to consider jihad than in Taliban commanders have repeatedly the years prior to 9/11.35 Sara Daly is a lecturer at The Bush School threatened to expand the war into the of Government and Public Service at Texas largely passive and ethnically divided Conclusion A&M University. north, a sparsely populated area where American Muslim extremists who the main forces were non-combat ready journeyed to foreign fields of jihad International Security Assistance during the 1980s and 1990s did so Force (ISAF) units and local security largely outside the gaze of U.S. law groups. The Taliban’s initial strategy enforcement and intelligence agencies. for the north was to slowly build up Although the Federal Bureau of intelligence and support networks in Investigation (FBI) suspected that hundreds if not thousands of people left 1 Hizb-i-Islami is one of the three largest insurgent the United States for conflicts abroad, groups in Afghanistan. A young Islamist named Gul- a senior FBI counterterrorism official buddin Hekmatyar formed the political faction in Paki- conceded in 2002 that “we didn’t stan in 1976 in response to the growing influence of leftist understand the magnitude of what was movements in the Afghan government and university 36 going on here.” campuses. During the 1980s, Hekmatyar, along with guidance from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence and Today, government scrutiny of financial assistance from U.S. and Saudi intelligence ser- Americans suspected of terrorist vices, propelled Hizb-i-Islami into the biggest mujahidin activities abroad is intense, as evidenced organization fighting against the Soviet occupation. Hek- by the spate of prosecutions of U.S. matyar is infamous for his brutal battlefield tactics and backstabbing political deals, including the assassination 33 Silke, p. 118. of many of his political rivals. 34 Ibid., p. 117. 2 Hakim Basharat, “Taliban, HIA Fighting Over Territo- 35 Nelson, “Homegrown Terrorism Fact Sheet.” ry in Maidan Wardak,” Pajhwok Afghan News, July 29, 36 John Mintz, “For US, American Holy Warriors Hard 2010; Hakim Basharat, “HIA Backers Kill Taliban Mem- to Track,” Washington Post, July 16, 2002. ber in Wardak,” Pajhwok Afghan News, July 13, 2010.

20 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 the northwest and northeast.3 They have established clandestine “military Taliban are far more aggressive and were able to exploit local grievances, centers” in 11 of Baghlan’s districts and militarily resilient, as measured by the particularly those caused by corrupt, that only five of the remaining districts number of attacks they initiate and the ineffective government and ethnic were under de facto government control extent of territory under their control.10 tensions between non-Pashtuns and (Barka, Tala Barfak, Farang, Khost and The Taliban succeeded in marginalizing Pashtuns. By 2008, insurgent leaders Dahan-i-Ghori).7 Hizb’s influence in the area by were issuing special decrees calling for implementing heavy-handed terrorist more attacks in these regions, spawning Alongside the Taliban, Hizb has attacks, especially targeting influential a surge of anti-government activity that traditionally maintained a significant tribal leaders and former commanders. has since seriously destabilized parts of presence in both provinces. Under the This resulted in a power vacuum that the north and west.4 command of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a they were able to exploit.11 Pashtun originally from Kunduz (Imam In particular, the northern corridor Sahib district), Hizb easily reactivated The region has strategic importance for linking Kabul to the Tajikistan border parts of its northern networks from the both groups because of a key transit route has increasingly come under tremendous anti-Soviet insurgency and consolidated that runs south from Tajikistan through pressure from anti-government forces, party representation, albeit modestly, Kunduz and Baghlan. The route provides including the Taliban and Hizb-i- in Baghlan and Kunduz. The group also fuel and other vital logistical supplies Islami. Both groups largely operated to NATO forces, making it a magnet for in separate areas, but occasional “The region has strategic insurgent attacks. Indeed, violence in tactical level cooperation was reported, the area surged as international forces although suspicion and competition importance for both groups began to rely heavily on the route. between both fronts remained the because of a key transit The route, however, also began to fuel norm. Kunduz and Baghlan provinces, tensions between insurgent groups. At located about 155 miles from Kabul, route that runs south from stake was access to a trade corridor—a have suffered the brunt of deadly Tajikistan through Kunduz valuable source of income and power.12 insurgent attacks and increasing By late 2009, turf battles over key pieces insecurity.5 The Taliban have built an and Baghlan. The route of terrain, including fertile farming extensive network in the region—there provides fuel and other areas and key logistical hubs, exploded are now an estimated 300 to 600 “hard between Hizb and the Taliban. core” fighters, most of them local, and vital logistical supplies scores of foreign fighters—both sharp to NATO forces, making Fissures in the Insurgency increases from 2007.6 In June, Baghlan’s The largest clash between the two provincial council chief Muhammad it a magnet for insurgent groups was the March 7, 2010 incident Rasoul Muhsini said that the Taliban attacks.” in northern Baghlan, when Taliban fighters nearly overran Hizb positions, prompting Hizb commanders to contact 3 Officials believed the Taliban were distributing weap- Afghan government officials in search ons and ammunition to groups in Kunduz and Baghlan has fighters in the region around Kabul of military support. Ultimately, the in November 2006. A similar trend emerged in the and in the provinces near the eastern feud ended with the Hizb fighters being northwestern province of Badghis around the same time. Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The U.S. expelled from their strongholds and For more, see Antonio Giustozzi, Koran, Kalashnikov, and military has previously estimated Hizb’s the Taliban seizing sizeable portions Laptop: The Neo-Taliban Insurgency in Afghanistan (New overall forces to number around 400 to of Dahan-i-Ghori and Baghlan-i-Jadid York: Columbia University Press, 2008), pp. 130-131; 600, although experts suggest that the districts.13 Since that time, a number Matthew C. DuPee, “Badghis Province: Examining the number is more likely to total close to of other clashes have taken place, Taliban’s Northwestern Campaign,” Culture & Conflict 1,500 full-time fighters.8 Despite such even outside of the northern area. For Review 2:4 (2008). numbers, the Taliban have in recent 4 In the spring of 2009, Mullah Baradar announced the years surpassed Hizb as the dominant launch of Operation Nusrat (Victory), the 2009 Taliban 10 Personal interview, Afghan security official, May insurgent force in the area.9 Today, the campaign aimed at attacking NATO and Afghan govern- 2010. ment forces including a special decree for insurgents in 11 Several prominent anti-Taliban militia commanders Kunduz to ramp up their activities. 7 Habib Rahman Sherzai, “‘All Districts in Baghlan May have been killed recently by the Taliban in Kunduz, in- 5 In the case of Baghlan Province, a non-traditional Tali- Fall into Taliban Hands,’” Pajhwok Afghan News, June cluding Commander Selab, Commander Hassan and a ban stronghold, Hizb-i-Islami is more entrenched and 14, 2010. Taliban defector named Commander Abdullah. politically established with many former commanders 8 Giustozzi, p. 132. According to a Hizb commander, 12 Successful insurgent attacks on convoys can bring and their militias enjoying local autonomy and freedom however, the group has 4,000 members in the northern monetary rewards from the leadership or build the pres- of movement. The Taliban are considered more capable regions alone, although this figure is likely exaggerated. tige of the field commander involved in the incident. militarily and typically employ more coercive force, See Najibullah Quraishi, “Behind Taliban Lines,” PBS Moreover, companies organizing supply convoys some- threats and violence to win the “hearts and minds.” Frontline, February 23, 2010. times pay “protection money” to insurgents to ensure safe 6 For more details, see Matthew DuPee, “Operation Nus- 9 Following the successful parliamentary elections in passage. See, for example, Aryn Baker, “How Crime Pays rat (Victory): Understanding the Taliban Threat to Kun- 2005, many Hizb commanders and cadres folded back for the Taliban,” Time Magazine, September 7, 2009. duz Province,” Culture & Conflict Review 3:3 (2009); Mat- into the community, creating a vacuum for the Taliban to 13 For details, see Fabrizio Foschini, “Baghlan - Divid- thias Gebauer and Shoib Najafizada, “Situation Worsens eventually penetrate and establish a more aggressive and ed We Stand,” Afghanistan Analysts Network, July 7, in Northern Afghanistan,” Der Spiegel, August 3, 2009. violent military campaign in the north. 2010.

21 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 instance, in late June the two sides Hekmatyar during the anti-Soviet With Majeed now acting as the governor skirmished in Wardak Province, near insurgency.19 of Baghlan, relations between the two Kabul.14 In July, these skirmishes led groups are likely to strain further.22 to full battles in Nirkh district, when In some cases, Taliban fighters see Hizb- Moreover, his appointment coincides Hizb fighters—who were locals and had i-Islami as ineffective or disapprove with a push to eliminate the Taliban a better understanding of the terrain— of their contacts with the Afghan leadership in the province. According handed a defeat to Taliban forces who government. Qari Ziaur Rahman, a to NATO statements, joint Afghan had come from surrounding districts. prominent Taliban commander active on and ISAF operations have “removed In response, the Taliban brought in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border near three successively appointed Taliban reinforcements from other provinces, Kunar, recently dismissed the group. provincial shadow governors for which Hizb matched by mobilizing “Hizb has not been effective in the last the province.”23 On May 14, Mullah Kuchis15 from Nangarhar Province.16 In eight years,” he said. “They haven’t had Rohullah was killed along with his any major successes in these years.”20 entourage, including his deputy, and his replacement, Maluvi Jabbar, was “Increasingly desperate, Afghan and Western officials have made killed along with two Taliban military the government appears moves in an attempt to take advantage commanders (Mullah Haji Muhamood of these strains. A key element of their and Mullah Kajoor) on May 28.24 Only to be outsourcing security strategy is to convince rank-and-file three days later, the newly installed and intelligence networks Hizb fighters to leave the insurgency Taliban governor for Baghlan was also and form pro-government militias as arrested. The events marked one of to Hizb-i-Islami to prevent a bulwark against Taliban activity. the biggest losses of provincial-level the Taliban from gaining In other cases, they are attempting to leadership for the Taliban anywhere adroitly exploit local dynamics. For in the country. Officials say that this is more territory, while at the instance, in a political move that largely partly due to Hizb providing information same time Hizb-i-Islami is escaped media attention, Afghan to Afghan forces. “Intelligence comes President Hamid Karzai appointed Hajji from the armed forces of Hizb-i-Islami,” siding with the government Abdul Munshi Majeed, the long-standing said a senior Afghan provincial official to prevent further erosion governor of Badakhshan Province, as in July. “We buy information from the Baghlan’s new governor in May 2010. fighters.”25 More than 50 Hizb fighters of its influence from Majeed is a Pashtun from Baghlan are being kept in a government safe Taliban intrusions.” and reportedly has longstanding ties house in Baghlan, also a likely source of to Hizb-i-Islami. In fact, one group intelligence for coalition forces.26 of analysts even contends that he is involved in “consolidating the party and In addition to the friction among late July, the combined Hizb-Kuchi force reviving its communications network insurgents at the local level, Afghan routed the Taliban and killed a number across the country.”21 This move also and U.S. officials have modified their of their commanders, prompting highlights the seriousness in which stance toward engaging some of the the Taliban’s Quetta shura to send a the government views the increase in insurgent leadership. For instance, the commission to the district to assess Taliban activities and consolidation in United States has publicly released the reasons behind their losses.17 the northern districts of Kunduz and several high-value Hizb associates Baghlan. Increasingly desperate, the beginning in 2008, including Dr. In another instance, Hizb-aligned government appears to be outsourcing Ghairat Baheer, Hekmatyar’s son-in- elders took control of parts of Nuristan security and intelligence networks to law and top public relations figure, Province in the country’s northeast Hizb-i-Islami to prevent the Taliban who was apprehended and held in after U.S. forces withdrew from the from gaining more territory, while at custody since 2002.27 Abdullah Shahab, area in 2009, sparking further clashes the same time Hizb-i-Islami is siding 18 with the Taliban. Taliban fighters with the government to prevent further 22 Strictly speaking, Majeed belongs to the legal wing of have also assassinated key Hizb-aligned erosion of its influence from Taliban Hizb-i-Islami, which has officially repudiated Hekmat- officials in recent months, the most intrusions. yar and abides by the Afghan constitution. Many observ- prominent of whom was Maulavi Gul ers, however, agree that there remain deep links between Rahman, a famous commander under some officials in the legal Hizb-i-Islami and Hekmatyar’s wing. 14 Hakim Basharat, “Three Injured as Taliban, Hizb 19 “Afghan Peace Cleric Rahman Gul Shot Dead in Ku- 23 “IJC Operational Update, June 22,” ISAF joint com- Clash in Wardak,” Pajhwok Afghan News, June 27, nar,” BBC, May 17, 2010. mand statement, June 22, 2010. 2010. 20 Anand Gopal, “Afghanistan Warlord Hekmatyar 24 Bill Roggio, “Newly Minted Shadow Governor Cap- 15 Kuchis are a nomadic, pastoralist culture in Afghani- Shuns Peace Jirga but Offers His Own Deal,” Christian tured,” The Long War Journal, June 3, 2010. stan. Science Monitor, June 2, 2010. 25 Hamid Shalizi and Jonathon Burch, “Afghan Insur- 16 Personal interview, UN official, Kabul, August 2010. 21 Cole Hansen, Christian Dennys and Idrees Zaman, gents Supplying Taliban Intel to NATO—Officials,” Reu- 17 Personal interview, Taliban commander for Wardak “Conflict Analysis: Baharak District, Badakhshan Prov- ters, July 8, 2010. Province, Kabul, August 2010. ince,” Cooperation for Peace and Unity, February 2009. 26 Ibid. 18 Personal interview, Afghan official from Nuristan, Also see David Isby, “Trojan Horse or Genuine Schism? 27 Baheer was also given a visa to travel to London by May 2010. The Hizb-i Islami Split,” Terrorism Monitor 2:11 (2004). British authorities in January 2009. For details, see “Se-

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Hekmatyar’s nephew, was captured and and Taliban figures on March 18. Peeling away rank-and-file Hizb held by U.S. forces since 2005 before The group delivered a 15-point peace fighters, or even striking a deal with his unexpected release in July 2009.28 proposal, which included a call for the leadership, will not end the war— More generally, the has elections in return for a timetable for the problem of the Taliban and other approved measures to ease some of the the withdrawal of troops. Hekmatyar insurgent groups such as the Haqqani financial restrictions of those linked to said that the overture was prompted by network would remain major issues. the insurgency (but not to al-Qa`ida) the Obama administration’s admission Moreover, it is possible that some Hizb and to review all detainees in Afghan, that the war could not be won solely fighters could simply switch allegiances U.S. and NATO custody. through military means.31 and fight under the Taliban’s banner, and past atrocities attributed to Hekmatyar From Hizb’s side, representatives of its Nevertheless, Hekmatyar and his and Hizb commanders will not quickly military committee reached out to the senior military leadership appear to be forgotten.33 Yet if such moves open Afghan government as early as 2008.29 be seeking to negotiate from a position the door to more nuanced and varied That year a group of lawmakers who of weakness, as their base in the north approaches to the insurgency, it could once had ties to Hekmatyar met with erodes with the Taliban’s advance. The augur well for an eventual approach to a Hizb representatives in Peshawar, while defense of their stronghold in Nirkh political solution to the conflict. Hekmatyar himself sent conciliatory in Wardak, however, shows that their capitulation is far from certain, and the Matthew DuPee currently serves as a “If handled correctly, the dynamic of tensions with the Taliban research associate with the Program for while reaching out to the government is Culture and Conflict Studies, located at the developments could be a likely to continue for some time. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, step toward de-escalation CA. Mr. DuPee has studied Afghanistan Conclusion since 1999 and continues to focus his of hostilities, where some Given Hekmatyar’s insistence on a research on Afghanistan’s insurgency, rank-and-file insurgents troop withdrawal, the U.S. and Afghan illicit networks, narcotics, and human governments are unlikely to strike terrain issues. abandon the fight and the a deal with him soon. Moreover, the violence mitigates in some peace overtures raise the question of Anand Gopal is a journalist and researcher what Hekmatyar’s role will be in any based in Afghanistan. He is currently parts of the country.” post-agreement government, a deeply working on a book on the Afghan conflict. controversial issue. Nonetheless, if handled correctly the developments could be a step toward de-escalation messages to Afghan President Hamid of hostilities, where some rank-and- Karzai that spring.30 In February 2010, file insurgents abandon the fight and this group hosted a second meeting the violence mitigates in some parts of in the Maldives, featuring a number the country. Moreover, the approaches of Hizb-linked clerics and unofficial between the two sides could change the representatives. The two sides agreed dynamic on the battlefield, giving much to explore ways to bring all parties needed space for international forces to the negotiating table. At the same to isolate the Taliban in the northern time, a group of Hizb figures, such as provinces. On the political front, Hizb- Hekmatyar deputy Qutbuddin Hilal i-Islami has even attempted to portray and U.S. representative Daoud Abedi, itself as a force that can act as a bridge began to open dialogue with U.S. and between Washington and the Taliban—a Afghan officials. These various moves senior Hizb representative met with culminated in an official Hizb delegation U.S. State Department officials in 2009 to Kabul, where Hilal, Baheer and other and then traveled to Quetta to meet the representatives met with President Taliban leadership in an attempt to Karzai and former Northern Alliance foster dialogue.32 On the other hand, Hizb-i-Islami has little influence over cret Talks with Taliban Under Way,” al-Jazira, February the Taliban movement, and this specific 27, 2009; Syed Saleem Shahzad, “A Struggle Between meeting did not lead to an opening of War and Peace,” Asia Times Online, June 3, 2008. dialogue among the three sides. 28 Wrazpanra Weesa, July 29, 2009. 29 This interaction refers to the insurgent component of Hekmatyar’s military committee. A political bloc of 33 Commanders and fighters are organized by the andi- former Hizb-i-Islami commanders and political leaders 31 Anand Gopal, “Interview with Afghan Warlord Gul- wal network, which is based on personal ties between broke away from the central Hizb party led by Hekmat- buddin Hekmatyar: Can Peace Talks Succeed?” Christian fighters and commanders. This means a wholesale trans- yar and became a legally registered party and participat- Science Monitor, June 9, 2010. fer from Hizb to the Taliban is not likely, as it would ed successfully in the 2005 parliamentary elections. 32 Personal interview, senior Hizb-i-Islami representa- mean breaking longstanding ties. Yet, it remains a pos- 30 Personal interview, Afghan officials, April 2008. tive, February 2010. sibility for some commanders.

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Recent Highlights in attack. The killed expatriate workers July 5, 2010 (YEMEN): Yemeni soldiers were from Germany and the United and al-Qa`ida militants clashed in Terrorist Activity Kingdom. – Los Angeles Times, July 3; eastern Hadramawt Province. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, July 2 militants killed two soldiers, while July 1, 2010 (UNITED STATES): The authorities apprehended two al-Qa`ida U.S. Court of Appeals for the District July 2, 2010 (THAILAND): A roadside suspects. Another two al-Qa`ida of Columbia ruled that government bomb killed three Thai soldiers in suspects escaped. A third soldier later prosecutors must present evidence Yala Province in southern Thailand. died of wounds sustained during the that an Algerian national, who has – Voice of America, July 2 firefight. – Reuters, July 5; Reuters, July 6 been held at Guantanamo Bay for more than eight years, was truly July 3, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Taliban July 5, 2010 (PHILIPPINES): Wu Xili, an al-Qa`ida member, otherwise he fighters attacked a checkpoint in a Chinese shopkeeper held hostage by must be released. According to the Upper Orakzai, located in Pakistan’s the Abu Sayyaf Group for nearly 19 Associated Press, the decision “has Federally Administered Tribal Areas. months, was rescued by police. The broad implications for the credibility Security forces retaliated, killing four rescue operation took place on Jolo of evidence the administration of Taliban fighters. – Daily Times, July 4 Island in the southern Philippines. President Barack Obama has presented – AFP, July 5 to justify holding terror suspects July 4, 2010 (GERMANY): German without trial.” – AFP, July 3 police arrested a 24-year-old Syrian July 7, 2010 (GLOBAL): Federal man, identified as Hussam S., who is prosecutors in the United States July 1, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Two suicide accused of recruiting for al-Qa`ida revealed that the plot to bomb New bombers targeted the shrine of Data on the internet. He is also suspected York City’s subway system, which Ganj Baksh in Lahore, the capital of of operating a German-language was foiled in September 2009, was Punjab Province. The bombs killed at internet forum to distribute Islamist directly related to a similar plot in least 41 people. The site is considered literature. The man was arrested in Manchester in the United Kingdom. Pakistan’s most important Sufi shrine. the southwestern town of Montabaur The Manchester plot involves Abid The Pakistani Taliban, however, in Rhineland-Palatinate. – Reuters, July 7 Naseer and Tariq ur Rehman, who publicly denied responsibility for the were arrested by UK authorities in attack. – CBS News, July 1; New York Times, July 4, 2010 (IRAQ): A female suicide April 2009. U.S. authorities also July 1 bomber killed at least four people in allege that three senior al-Qa`ida Ramadi, Anbar Province. The bomber, operatives—Adnan Shukrijumah, July 1, 2010 (YEMEN): Yemeni who wore an explosives vest, managed Salah al-Somali and Rashid Rauf— Political Security officer Saleh to slip through four checkpoints at organized the New York subway plot, Amtheeb was assassinated in Zinjibar, the provincial governor’s compound. recruiting Najibullah Zazi and two Abyan Province. Authorities later She detonated her explosives outside other men to conduct the attack. – Wall apprehended four suspects, two of Governor Qassim Mohammed Abid’s Street Journal, July 7 whom were al-Qa`ida members. – Saba, office. The governor and his two July 3; AFP, July 3 deputies were not injured. – Washington July 7, 2010 (UNITED STATES): Post, July 4 Sudanese national Ibrahim Ahmed July 1, 2010 (SOMALIA): Somali and Mahmoud al-Qosi pleaded guilty in African Union troops launched an July 4, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Pakistani a U.S. military court at Guantanamo offensive against al-Shabab insurgents security forces reportedly killed a Bay to conspiring with al-Qa`ida in Mogadishu. The insurgents have senior commander in the Pakistani and providing material support to vowed to topple the government. – Wall Taliban, identified as Ameerullah terrorism. Al-Qosi ran the kitchen and Street Journal, July 2 Mehsud (also known as Qari Gud). provided supplies at one of Usama bin The commander, who was killed in Ladin’s compounds in Afghanistan. July 1, 2010 (THAILAND): Muslim a shootout with soldiers in North He has been held at Guantanamo Bay separatists killed five people in Waziristan Agency of the Federally for more than eight years. The terms of Narathiwat Province in southern Administered Tribal Areas, carried his plea agreement were not disclosed. Thailand. The fighters detonated a a $234,000 bounty for his arrest or – Washington Post, July 8 roadside bomb near a military vehicle death. He is considered one of the and then opened fire. – Voice of America, founders of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. July 7, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): July 2 – AFP, July 5; CNN, July 6 Gunmen shot to death Mohammad Gul, director of the intelligence July 2, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): July 5, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A suicide department of Kabul’s counter-crime Taliban fighters, including multiple squad of four militants attacked a police branch. One of his bodyguards suicide bombers, stormed the paramilitary fort in Lower Dir District was also killed. – AFP, July 8 compound of a U.S. aid group in of the North-West Frontier Province. Kunduz Province, killing at least two The militants, armed with car bombs July 7, 2010 (IRAQ): A suicide bomber expatriate workers, a security guard and rockets, killed one soldier. All killed at least 28 people in northern and an Afghan police officer. All six four of the fighters were killed. – AFP, . The bomber targeted Shi`a of the Taliban assailants died in the July 4 pilgrims en route to the Imam Musa

24 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 al-Kadhim mosque for a major festival. July 9, 2010 (IRAQ): A suicide July 11, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Pakistani – RadioFreeEurope/Radio Liberty, July 7; New bomber in a vehicle attacked an Iraqi fighter jets and helicopter gunships York Times, July 7 Army checkpoint in western Baghdad, attacked Taliban positions in Orakzai killing five people. Three of the dead Agency of the Federally Administered July 7, 2010 (YEMEN): A Yemeni were soldiers. – CNN, July 9; BBC, July 9 Tribal Areas. Authorities allege that court sentenced two al-Qa`ida 22 Taliban fighters were killed in the members to death for their role in July 9, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A suicide strikes. – RTTNews, July 12 killing military and security officials. bomber attacked a group of tribal According to , elders in the administrative center July 11, 2010 (YEMEN): Security “The two men sentenced Wednesday of Mohmand Agency in the Federally forces arrested eight suspected al- were found guilty of ambushing and Administered Tribal Areas. More than Qa`ida fighters, including a Saudi looting a military truck carrying 100 people were killed. The Pakistani fugitive, accused of plotting attacks weapons and of killing three soldiers, Taliban claimed responsibility. – New against security facilities in Yemen. a policeman and a civilian during the York Times, July 9; Dawn, July 10 – al-Jazira, July 11 subsequent pursuit in July 2009. The prosecution said they also attacked a July 9, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Taliban July 12, 2010 (RUSSIA): Russian convoy that killed two high-ranking fighters attacked an army patrol in security officials announced that police officials, including the director Makeen district of South Waziristan they broke up a terrorist cell that was of political security, in November Agency of the Federally Administered preparing female suicide bombers [2009].” They were identified as Tribal Areas. Three soldiers were for attacks on major Russian cities. Mansour Daleel, who is 18-years-old, killed. – AFP, July 10 Authorities arrested six women, and Mubarak al-Shabwani, who is who had apparently already written 23-years-old. – Wall Street Journal, July 8 July 10, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): “farewell letters” in anticipation of Insurgents overran a police checkpoint their impending attacks. The women July 8, 2010 (UNITED KINGDOM): A in Emam Saheb district of Kunduz were detained in the Muslim region of court convicted three Britons of plotting Province, killing nine policemen. Dagestan. – New York Times, July 12 to kill hundreds of people in suicide – Reuters, July 11 bombings after being recruited by an July 12, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): al-Qa`ida-inspired cell. The men— July 10, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): A According to a senior Afghan official, Ibrahim Savant, Arafat Waheed Khan bomb killed the head of the police President Hamid Karzai is seeking and Waheed Zaman—were part of the department in Qaleh Zaal district of the removal of 50 former Taliban 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot that Kunduz Province. – Reuters, July 11 officials from a UN terrorism blacklist involved liquid explosives. According with the goal of advancing political to Reuters, “Their conviction follows July 10, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): Five reconciliation talks with Taliban one of Britain’s biggest counter- policemen were killed after hitting insurgents. – Washington Post, July 12 terrorism investigations and a series a roadside bomb in Badakhshan of trials around a plot that prosecutors Province. – Reuters, July 11 July 12, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): said could have been on the same scale The Afghan Defense Ministry said as the 9/11 attacks.” On July 12, the July 11, 2010 (UGANDA): Two suicide that 80% of Taliban bombs are men were sentenced to life in prison. bombers attacked crowds gathered made with ammonium nitrate and – Reuters, July 8; BBC, July 12 to watch the World Cup final in potassium nitrate fertilizer. Before Kampala, the capital of Uganda. The 2007, however, most bombs were July 8, 2010 (NORWAY): Authorities bombings, which were claimed by the constructed from ordnance leftover arrested three al-Qa`ida suspects al-Shabab militant group in Somalia, from the Soviet occupation of the in Norway and Germany, accused killed approximately 76 people. One country in the 1980s. – AFP, July 12 of planning terrorist attacks in attack targeted a rugby club filled Norway. The men arrested in Norway with soccer fans, while the other July 13, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): were identified as Mikael Davud, bomber targeted a popular Ethiopian Taliban fighters attacked a police unit a 39-year-old ethnic Uighur with restaurant. At least one American was headquarters in Kandahar city, killing Norwegian citizenship, and David killed in the attacks. – ABC News, July 11; three U.S. soldiers, five civilian Jakobsen, a 31-year-old Uzbek with Washington Post, July 13 Afghan employees and one Afghan legal residency in Norway. The third policeman. As part of the attack, a man, who was arrested in Germany, July 11, 2010 (NORTH AFRICA): Al- suicide bomber in a vehicle detonated was identified as Shawan Sadek Saeed Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) his explosives at the entrance to the Bujak, a 37-year-old Iraqi-Kurd who threatened to execute a French hostage Afghan National Civil Order Police. was on holiday in Duisburg. The plot in 15 days if the French government Immediately after, Taliban militants is reportedly linked to the September failed to meet its demands. The hostage fired rocket-propelled grenades and 2009 New York City subway plot, as has been identified as 78-year-old machine guns at the facility. – Christian well as the April 2009 terrorist plot Michel Germaneau, who was seized in Science Monitor, July 14 in Manchester in the United Kingdom. northern Niger in April. – Reuters, July 11 – Voice of America, July 8; Reuters, July 13

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July 13, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Pakistani not just a peripheral role. They were July 16, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A bomb police arrested 650 suspected literally controlling and coordinating ripped through a used car market militants in the North-West Frontier it (the attacks) from the beginning in Khyber Agency of the Federally Province in response to the July 9 till the end.” According to Reuters, Administered Tribal Areas, killing six that killed more than “His accusations are the strongest people. – BBC, July 16 100 people in Mohmand Agency of the comments made by Indian officials Federally Administered Tribal Areas. since the attacks which brought the July 17, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Gunmen The arrests took place in a three-day South Asian nuclear neighbours to the shot to death 16 Shi`a Muslims in period. – AFP, July 13 brink of war.” – Reuters, July 14 the Sunni-dominated Charkhel area of Kurram Agency in the Federally July 13, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Taliban July 14, 2010 (YEMEN): Approximately Administered Tribal Areas. The militants blew up a government- 20 suspected al-Qa`ida fighters victims were ambushed as they run middle school for boys in Bajaur attacked a Yemeni intelligence agency headed to Peshawar in two passenger Agency of the Federally Administered in Zinjibar, located in Abyan Province. vehicles. – AFP, July 17 Tribal Areas. – Daily Times, July 14 A policeman and two militants were killed in the incident. – Bloomberg, July 14 July 17, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Two bombs July 14, 2010 (UNITED STATES): A exploded at a congested market in video surfaced of Faisal Shahzad, who July 15, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): Lahore, the capital of Punjab Province, attempted to detonate a car bomb in NATO forces killed Mullah Akhtar, killing six people. Both bombs struck New York City’s Times Square on May identified as a Taliban commander internet cafes. – AFP, July 17 1, describing his planned bombing responsible for bringing foreign as a “revenge attack.” In the video, fighters from Iran into Afghanistan. July 18, 2010 (GLOBAL): A senior U.S. Shahzad, who is in U.S. custody, He was killed in Farah Province. – CNN, law enforcement official told CNN that dedicated his planned attack to July 16 the author of the new online al-Qa`ida Baitullah Mehsud and Abu Mus`ab al- magazine, Inspire, may be U.S. citizen Zarqawi, both of whom were killed by July 15, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A Samir Khan, who previously lived in the United States. The video appears suspected U.S. aerial drone killed at North Carolina and left for Yemen in to have been filmed in Pakistan, and least two people in North Waziristan October 2009. Khan, who is 23-years- Shahzad is seen shaking hands with Agency of the Federally Administered old, has previously been involved in Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan leader Tribal Areas. – USA Today, July 15 radical Islamist blogs, and he once lived Hakimullah Mehsud. – AOL News, July 14; in the New York area. – CNN, July 18 Christian Science Monitor, July 15 July 15, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A suicide bomber detonated his explosives at a July 18, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): A July 14, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): bus stop in Mingora, the main town suicide bomber killed three people The Afghan government approved a of Swat District of the North-West near a market in eastern Kabul. program to establish local defense Frontier Province. Five people were – RTTNews, July 18; Washington Post, July 19 forces in the country. The program killed. Authorities believe that the is similar to the Awakening Councils bomber tried to target a security force July 18, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): created by General David Petraeus in convoy. – BBC, July 15; Reuters, July 15 Taliban fighters blew up the gate to a Iraq. According to , jail and freed 23 insurgents in Farah “…the two programs would not be July 15, 2010 (IRAN): Two suicide Province. – Reuters, July 18 identical. Unlike the Iraqi units, the bombers detonated their explosives Afghan forces would not be composed at a Shi`a mosque in Zahedan, located July 18, 2010 (IRAQ): Two suicide of insurgents who had switched sides. in Sistan-Baluchistan Province in bombers killed at least 50 people in They would be similar as a lightly southeastern Iran. The explosions southwestern Baghdad. The bombers armed, trained and, significantly, paid killed at least 26 people at the Jamia targeted members of a government- force in a nation starving for jobs.” mosque. The Sunni rebel group backed Sunni militia who were waiting – New York Times, July 14 Jundallah reportedly claimed credit to receive their paychecks outside a for the bombings, saying it was military base. – BBC, July 18; Los Angeles July 14, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): revenge for Iran’s execution of the Times, July 19 A roadside bomb killed four U.S. group’s leader, Abdulmalek Rigi, on soldiers in southern Afghanistan. June 20. – BBC, July 16; AFP, July 15; New York July 18, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A suicide – Christian Science Monitor, July 14 Times, July 16 bomber detonated his explosives at a Shi`a mosque in Sargodha, Punjab July 14, 2010 (INDIA): India’s home July 16, 2010 (UNITED STATES): The Province, wounding at least 15 people. secretary argued that Pakistan’s U.S. Treasury Department blacklisted – Reuters, July 18 Inter-Services Intelligence was behind Yemeni-American cleric Anwar the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, al-`Awlaqi, identifying him as a July 19, 2010 (GLOBAL): Al-Qa`ida in collaboration with Lashkar-i- “specially designated global terrorist.” second-in-command Ayman al- Tayyiba. “The ISI has had a much more – Reuters, July 16 Zawahiri purportedly released a new significant role to play (in the Mumbai audio message, promising al-Qa`ida’s attacks),” the official said. “It was followers victory in Afghanistan

26 august 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 8 and Iraq. Al-Zawahiri also said that twice attempted to travel to Somalia killed in the initial firefight. It was the battle to liberate Jerusalem will to join al-Shabab. – Bloomberg, July 21 not immediately clear if the second eventually occur. – CNN, July 20 soldier died from wounds sustained July 21, 2010 (MAURITANIA): A during the initial firefight, or if he July 19, 2010 (IRAQ): A suicide bomber Mauritanian court sentenced Omar was executed by Taliban fighters. rammed an explosives-laden vehicle Sid’Ahmed Ould Hamma to 12 years – Los Angeles Times, July 30 into a convoy of armored SUVs in in jail for kidnapping three Spanish Mosul, Ninawa Province, killing one aid workers and handing them over to July 24, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): A British security contractor. – Guardian, al-Qa`ida. Hamma, a Malian national, roadside bomb killed four U.S. soldiers July 19 was arrested by Mauritanian security in southern Afghanistan. – BBC, July 24 forces in February. – AFP, July 21 July 20, 2010 (GLOBAL): The United July 24, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A U.S. Nations blacklisted Yemeni-American July 21, 2010 (PHILIPPINES): U.S. aerial drone killed at least 16 militants cleric Anwar al-`Awlaqi, identifying Undersecretary of State for Political in South Waziristan Agency of the him as an al-Qa`ida operative. Affairs William Burns announced that Federally Administered Tribal Areas. – Reuters, July 20 U.S. troops will remain in the southern – BBC, July 24 Philippines to help local security July 20, 2010 (UNITED KINGDOM): forces in their fight against Muslim July 24, 2010 (NORTH AFRICA): Eliza Manningham-Buller, the former extremists. According to Agence Al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb head of MI5, harshly criticized the France-Presse, “About 500 US Special (AQIM) executed French national U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Forces troops train Filipino soldiers Michel Germaneau in revenge for the saying “we gave in Mindanao to combat militants July 22 failed rescue raid by French his Iraqi jihad, so that he was able to from the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf and Mauritanian troops. – BBC, July 26 move into Iraq in a way that he was group, which the United States lists as not before.” Manningham-Buller, who a terrorist organisation.” – AFP, July 21 July 25, 2010 (IRAQ): New reports was the head of MI5 from 2002-2007, suggest that the Iraqi military also said, “Our involvement in Iraq July 22, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): arrested the minister of defense for radicalized, for want of a better word, Two U.S. soldiers were killed in a the (ISI), who a whole generation of young people— helicopter crash in Helmand Province. has been identified as Saleem Khalid not a whole generation, a few among a NATO forces are investigating the al-Zawbayi. Two other senior ISI generation—who saw our involvement cause of the crash, while the Taliban leaders were also reportedly arrested. in Iraq, on top of our involvement in said they shot down the aircraft. – Los – Bloomberg, July 25 Afghanistan, as being an attack on Angeles Times, July 23 Islam.” – Christian Science Monitor, July 21 July 25, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A U.S. July 22, 2010 (SOMALIA): Somali aerial left 10 suspected July 20, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): officials admitted that members of the militants dead in the Shaktoi area Taliban fighters beheaded six Afghan country’s elite presidential guard had of South Waziristan Agency in the police officers in Baghlan Province. defected to the al-Shabab insurgent Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The Taliban denied that they beheaded group. – New York Times, July 22 – BBC, July 26 the officers. – al-Jazira, July 21; AFP, July 21 July 22, 2010 (MAURITANIA): July 25, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A U.S. July 20, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Five Mauritanian commandos supported aerial drone strike killed four militants attacked a military training by the French military launched a raid suspected militants in Srarogha, center in Mardan, located in Pakistan’s on fighters belonging to al-Qa`ida in located in South Waziristan Agency North-West Frontier Province. As the the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The of the Federally Administered Tribal fighters tried to enter the training soldiers killed six AQIM members, Areas. – BBC, July 26 facility, security forces opened fire, while four militants managed to killing all five assailants. Three of the escape. Reports suggested that the July 25, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A U.S. fighters wore suicide bomb vests. Four goal of the operation was to free a aerial drone killed five suspected soldiers were wounded. – AFP, July 19 78-year-old French hostage, Michel militants in Tabbi Tolkhel, located Germaneau, a retired engineer who in North Waziristan Agency of the July 21, 2010 (UNITED STATES): U.S. was kidnapped in neighboring Niger Federally Administered Tribal Areas. authorities arrested Zachary Adam in April. Germaneau, however, was – BBC, July 26 Chesser on charges of providing not found. – Washington Post, July 23; AFP, support to the al-Shabab terrorist July 22 July 25, 2010 (YEMEN): Al-Qa`ida group in Somalia. Chesser, who is from fighters killed six Yemeni troops in Fairfax County, Virginia, was turned July 23, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): Shabwa Province. – CNN, July 26 away from a July 10 flight out of New Reports said that two U.S. soldiers York’s John F. Kennedy airport after were captured by Taliban fighters July 25, 2010 (ALGERIA): A suicide he was told he was on a “no-fly” list. in Logar Province. Later, however, bomber in a vehicle attacked members Chesser, who is 20-years-old, also both soldiers were found dead. One of the Algerian National Gendarmerie reportedly told federal agents that he of the soldiers appears to have been in Tizi Ouzou, killing one person.

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Al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb July 29, 2010 (IRAQ): Gunmen CTC Sentinel Staff later claimed credit for the attack. launched a coordinated attack on Iraqi – al-Bawaba, July 25; AFP, July 29 soldiers in a predominately Sunni Editor-in-Chief Baghdad neighborhood, killing at least Erich Marquardt July 26, 2010 (IRAQ): A suicide bomber six of them. The gunmen also briefly Senior Editor, CTC in a vehicle attacked the Baghdad erected the flag of the insurgent group offices of al-Arabiya television, killing al-Qa`ida in Iraq near the destroyed Editorial Board four people. The Islamic State of Iraq army checkpoint. – Washington Post, July COL Michael J. Meese, Ph.D. later took credit for the attack. – AFP, 30 Department Head July 28 Department of Social Sciences (West Point) July 29, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A new July 26, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A suicide poll released by the Pew Research COL Cindy R. Jebb, Ph.D. bomber targeted a group of people Center showed that nearly six in 10 Deputy Department Head mourning the death of a cabinet Pakistanis described the United States Department of Social Sciences (West Point) minister’s son who was murdered in a as an enemy, and only one in 10 called suspected Taliban attack. The suicide it a partner. – AP, July 29 LTC Reid Sawyer blast killed seven people. It occurred Director, CTC near Peshawar. – BBC, July 26 July 30, 2010 (GLOBAL): The United Nations removed five members of the Christopher Heffelfinger July 27, 2010 (GLOBAL): Al-Qa`ida Taliban from its sanctions blacklist. FBI Fellow, CTC second-in-command Ayman al- According to Voice of America, Zawahiri purportedly released a new “Afghan President Hamid Karzai had audiotape, threatening more attacks been calling for the removal of at least in the United States and in the West. 10 former Taliban members from the “Oh American people…We offered you blacklist, as part of a reintegration Contact a peace plan, and mutual benefit; but plan for Taliban fighters willing to lay Combating Terrorism Center your governments were proud and down their weapons.” Two of those U.S. Military Academy haughty, and so the attacks against removed from the list are deceased. 607 Cullum Road, Lincoln Hall you followed one after another, – Voice of America, July 30 West Point, NY 10996 everywhere—from Indonesia to Times Phone: (845) 667-6383 Square, by way of Madrid and London,” July 30, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): Email: [email protected] the voice said. “And the attacks are A bomb attached to a motorcycle Web: www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/ ongoing, and more will come one after exploded in Kandahar, killing a another.” – ABC News, July 27 woman and a child. The target of the * For Press Inquiries: (845) 667-6383 attack was a candidate in the country’s July 27, 2010 (FRANCE): French Prime upcoming parliamentary elections, yet Minister Francois Fillon reacted to the the candidate was unharmed. – News24. recent execution of French hostage com, July 30 Michel Germaneau by al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb, stating that France July 31, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): A support is “at war with al-Qa`ida.” French suicide bomber killed a former militia The Combating Terrorism Center would President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed that commander who supported the Afghan like to express its gratitude to its financial the murder “will not go unpunished.” government, in addition to two other supporters, for without their support and – Christian Science Monitor, July 27 people, in northern Afghanistan’s shared vision of the Center products like Kunduz Province. – AP, July 31 the CTC Sentinel could not be produced. If July 28, 2010 (UNITED STATES): you are interested in learning more about Madhatta Haipe, a Philippine citizen July 31, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): how to support the Combating Terrorism who was a founding member of At least 66 U.S. troops died in Center, please visit http://www.ctc.usma. the al-Qa`ida-linked Abu Sayyaf Afghanistan in July, making it the edu/support/ or call Wayne Richardson at Group, pled guilty in a U.S. court to deadliest month for American forces West Point’s Association of Graduates at the 1995 kidnappings of 16 people, in the country since the intervention 845-446-1553. including four U.S. citizens. Haipe began in 2001. As stated by the was extradited to the United States in Guardian, “US and NATO commanders 2009. – AFP, July 28 had warned that casualties would rise as the international military force July 28, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): A ramped up the war against the Taliban, bomb ripped through a crowded bus in especially in the organisation’s Nimroz Province, killing 25 civilians southern strongholds in Helmand and The views expressed in this report are those of on board. – Los Angeles Times, July 28 Kandahar provinces.” – Guardian, July the authors and not of the U.S. Military Academy, 30; AP, July 31 the Department of the Army, or any other agency of the U.S. Government.

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