october 2008 . Vol 1 . Issue 11

Recent Highlights in dead, in addition to six of the attackers. individuals who were planning attacks “The attack involved multiple vehicle- on non-Muslims. Munshi is now 18-years- Terrorist Activity borne devices and armed personnel on old. – dailyrecord.co.uk, September 20 foot, seemingly in an attempt to try to September 16, 2008 (UNITED STATES): breach the embassy’s perimeter, enter September 19, 2008 (GERMANY): Central Intelligence Agency Director the compound and inflict further damage German authorities arrested two men Michael Hayden said that “there is no and loss of life,” stated an Associated on terrorism charges, alleging that they greater national security threat facing Press report. Analysts suspect that were involved in a cell that was planning the United States than al-Qaida and its the attackers were linked to al-Qa`ida. mass bombing attacks on U.S. targets associates,” warning that al-Qa`ida is None of those killed or wounded were in Germany in 2007. The suspects, a the CIA’s top nuclear concern because U.S. diplomats or embassy employees. Turkish national and a German citizen, it has the intent to use a nuclear weapon – AP, September 18 allegedly traveled to Pakistan in 2007 should it be able to acquire one. Hayden with the goal of receiving military also said that his agency does not believe September 17, 2008 (PAKISTAN): training at camps run by the al- that Usama bin Ladin is still the head According to security officials, Qa`ida-affiliated Islamic Jihad Union. of al-Qa`ida’s day-to-day operations as Pakistani fighter jets bombed a series – Washington Post, September 20 the jihadist leader “is spending a great of militant hideouts in Bajaur Agency deal of his energy merely surviving.” of the Federally Administered Tribal September 19, 2008 (SOMALIA): Hayden does believe, however, that Areas, killing at least 19 fighters. – AFP, Islamist militants exchanged intense killing or capturing Bin Ladin would September 18 gunfire with Somali Transitional Federal have a powerful impact on al-Qa`ida. Government forces and Ethiopian troops – AP, September 16 September 18, 2008 (GLOBAL): A new in Mogadishu, causing the deaths of an survey released by the Pew Research estimated 15 civilians. The fighting came September 16, 2008 (PAKISTAN): Center found that the number of after an African Union military aircraft Three Pakistani soldiers were killed Muslims around the world who think defied an al-Shabab ban on planes using after fighters attacked their suicide attacks are acceptable has fallen Mogadishu’s airport. The plane landed checkpoint in the Swat Valley of the significantly in the past six years. – AFP, successfully, yet under fire. – Reuters, North-West Frontier Province. The September 19 September 19 attack began when a suicide car bomber detonated his explosives as security September 18, 2008 (PAKISTAN): September 20, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A personnel approached his vehicle at Taliban militants in Swat District of the suicide bomber detonated a truck loaded the checkpoint. After the explosion, a North-West Frontier Province released with approximately 590 kilograms of group of militants engaged the rest of eight policemen who had been held explosives outside the Marriott Hotel in the soldiers. – AFP, September 16 captive since July 29. – Dawn, September 19 Islamabad. The huge bomb blast caused significant damage to the hotel and September 16, 2008 (): September 19, 2008 (GLOBAL): An al- led to the deaths of at least 53 people; Muslim separatist insurgents in Qa`ida video marking the anniversary hundreds more were wounded. The shot dead two of the September 11, 2001 attacks bombing killed the Czech ambassador to Muslim rubber tappers who worked appeared on the internet. The video’s Pakistan, in addition to two American as village defense volunteers in Yala release was apparently delayed due to officials with the U.S. Department Province. When police and villagers technical problems, as a number of al- of Defense. A group calling itself the arrived at the scene after the killings, Qa`ida’s main websites went offline. “Islam Commandos” took credit for the insurgents detonated a 20 kilogram In the video, al-Qa`ida’s commander the operation; little is known about bomb, wounding five policemen and for , Shaykh Sa`id Mustafa the group, and authorities suspect that three villagers. – Reuters, September 16 Abu’l-Yazid, promised “more large- the attack was actually conducted by scale attacks” in Afghanistan and called either al-Qa`ida- or Taliban-affiliated September 17, 2008 (IRAQ): Twin car on militants in Pakistan to “strike the militants. – AP, September 21; AP, September bombs ripped through the al-Khark interests of Crusader [Western] allies 25; AFP, September 21 district in western Baghdad, killing in Pakistan.” The video is titled, “The eight people. – AFP, September 17 Results of Seven Years of Crusades.” September 20, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A – Reuters, September 20; AP, September 20 suicide bomber attacked a security September 17, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): force convoy near Mir Ali in North A roadside bomb exploded in eastern September 19, 2008 (UNITED KINGDOM): Waziristan Agency of the Federally Afghanistan, killing four international Hammad Munshi was sentenced to two Administered Tribal Areas, killing six soldiers and one Afghan national. years in jail after being convicted of people, three of whom were soldiers. Authorities did not identify the exact making a record of information likely to – Reuters, September 20 location of the incident. – AP, September 16 provide practical assistance to a person committing an act of terrorism. Munshi, September 20, 2008 (YEMEN): Yemen’s September 17, 2008 (YEMEN): A group who committed the crime when he foreign minister said that the September calling itself Islamic Jihad in Yemen was 16-years-old, downloaded jihadist 17 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Sana`a launched a multipronged attack on the military manuals from the internet, and “has the markings of al-Qa`ida.” – AP, U.S. Embassy in Sana`a, leaving 11 people then passed the information to two other September 20 october 2008 . Vol 1 . Issue 11

September 21, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): September 23, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): citizen and convert to Islam, and More than 140 workers involved in the A suicide car bomber targeted a convoy Houssain al-Malla, 23-years-old and construction of a military base were of German and Afghan troops in Kunduz a native of Lebanon. – Washington Post, kidnapped by suspected Taliban gunmen Province. There were no casualties other September 27 in Farah Province. The workers were than the life of the bomber. – Deutsche abducted while traveling in three buses Welle, September 23 September 25, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN/ in the province. – Reuters, September 22 PAKISTAN): NATO officials said September 23, 2008 (PAKISTAN): that Pakistani troops fired on ISAF September 21, 2008 (PAKISTAN/ Pakistani security forces claimed they helicopters in Afghanistan’s Khost AFGHANISTAN): Pakistani security killed 10 suspected insurgents during Province. Pakistani officials claim that forces claimed that they opened fire an offensive in Bajaur Agency of the the coalition helicopters crossed into on two U.S. helicopter gunships after Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Pakistani territory; NATO, however, they “violated Pakistan’s airspace.” – AP, September 23 responded that “at no time did ISAF The alleged incident occurred near North helicopters cross into Pakistani Waziristan Agency on the Afghanistan- September 24, 2008 (GERMANY): A airspace.” – Voice of America, September 25 Pakistan border area. The U.S. Department German court convicted a 25-year- of Defense denied the Pakistani account. old Moroccan man, Abdelali Miftah, September 26, 2008 (GERMANY): – AFP, September 22; AP, September 23 of supporting a foreign terrorist Authorities pulled two suspected organization and helping to found a terrorists from a plane in Cologne. The September 21, 2008 (NORTH AFRICA): terrorist cell. Miftah, who was sentenced Somali-born men had left notes in their The leader of al-Qa`ida in the Islamic to four years in jail, was accused of apartments near Cologne that suggested Maghreb appeared in a new videotape helping to recruit supporters for al- they intended to carry out a suicide blasting a “new colonial offensive” by Qa`ida to fight in Iraq. Prosecutors mission. Their travel agenda showed the West in North Africa. The leader, claim that he was a “communications that they planned to fly to Uganda via Abu Mus`ab `Abd al-Wadud (also facilitator” for a Europe-based group Amsterdam, and then from Uganda to known as Abdelmalek Droukdel), railed that assisted al-Qa`ida. – AP, September Pakistan. One of the men was a Somali against the Algerian government and 24 national, while the other was a German warned Muslims not to support the local citizen born in Mogadishu. – Washington “regimes of apostasy and treason.” He September 24, 2008 (IRAQ): Gunmen Post, September 27 also made a veiled reference to France’s ambushed and killed 12 policemen territorial security. – AP, September 22 and eight anti-al-Qa`ida fighters in September 26, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): the village of al-Dulaimat in Diyala Most of the 140 civilian laborers who September 21, 2008 (PHILIPPINES): Province. Some reports state that an were abducted by Taliban fighters Two Group members who additional 15 policemen were killed, on September 21 were freed. After claimed to have met with wanted Jemaah bringing the total number of dead to 35. mediation between tribal elders and Islamiyah members and – AFP, September 24; AFP, September 25 the Taliban, a Taliban spokesman said, Umar Patek surrendered to authorities. “We have released 118 of these workers – Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 23 September 24, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A and the rest will be freed soon.” – BBC, suicide bomber attacked a Frontier September 26 September 22, 2008 (FRANCE): The Corps convoy in Quetta in Balochistan French parliament voted to maintain Province, resulting in the death of a September 26, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): its military role in Afghanistan and teenage female student. Twenty-two A suicide bomber targeted a militia announced that it would be reinforced others were injured in the blast. – Daily commander working for U.S. forces in with helicopters, intelligence drones and Times, September 25 Khost Province. The commander was 100 more soldiers. – AFP, September 25 wounded, and five other people were September 24, 2008 (SOMALIA): killed in the blast. – AP, September 26 September 22, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): Islamist militants and African Union A roadside bomb killed the governor of peacekeepers engaged in intense fighting September 26, 2008 (ISRAEL): Pro-al- Registan district in Province. in Mogadishu. According to reports, at Qa`ida Palestinian group Jaysh al-Islam The district governor’s police chief was least 17 civilians were killed during the (Army of Islam) vowed to avenge the also killed in the blast. The Taliban claimed violence. – CNN, September 24 deaths of nine of its members who were responsibility. – AFP, September 22 killed in clashes with Hamas policemen September 25, 2008 (GERMANY): on September 16. In the group’s September 22, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A Federal prosecutors issued a public statement, it claimed that “revenge is senior Afghan diplomat was abducted alert seeking information on the a right that must be fulfilled,” and that in Peshawar in Pakistan’s North-West locations of two suspected terrorists the only reason it would forgive Hamas Frontier Province. The diplomat, Abdul who had recently returned to Germany would be if the latter group declared an Khaliq Farahi, was a candidate to become after attending terrorist training Islamic state in the Gaza Strip. A Hamas Afghanistan’s next ambassador to camps in Pakistan. The men, who are spokesman was unconcerned about the Pakistan. His driver was killed during allegedly involved with the Islamic threats, and said, “The Army of Islam the ambush. – AP, September 22; New York Jihad Union group, were identified as is allowed to act against the Israeli Times, September 22 Eric Breininger, 21-years-old, a German occupation but it must stay away from october 2008 . Vol 1 . Issue 11 internal affairs which is the job of the war against corrupt governments. – AP, main city of Nazran. Although the (Hamas) security services.” – Reuters, September 29 explosion damaged Medov’s vehicle, he September 26 was not injured. – Reuters, September 30 September 29, 2008 (PAKISTAN): September 27, 2008 (SYRIA): A car Military statistics released today found October 1, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): bomb exploded outside Syrian security that suicide attacks have killed almost The Australian Special Operations offices in Damascus, killing 17 people. 1,200 Pakistanis since July 2007. The Task Group apprehended Mullah Saqi No group claimed responsibility, majority of those killed were civilians. Dad, a Taliban commander responsible although Syrian authorities believe that – AP, September 29 for attacks in Uruzgan Province and Sunni jihadists were responsible. – AP, believed tied to senior Taliban leaders September 27; Jerusalem Post, October 1 September 29, 2008 (LEBANON): A such as Mullah Omar. – The Age, October 6 remotely-detonated car bomb ripped September 28, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): through a military bus near Tripoli, October 1, 2008 (PAKISTAN): Various Taliban gunmen shot dead Malalai killing seven people, four of whom were Pakistani media agencies have reported Kakar, the head of the city of Kandahar’s soldiers. – news.com.au, September 30 that Tehrik-i-Taliban leader Baitullah department of crimes against women Mehsud has died of kidney failure. and the country’s most high-profile September 30, 2008 (UNITED STATES): Taliban spokesmen, however, have policewoman. Her teenage son was Director of the Central Intelligence denied the claim, and they state that wounded. – AFP, September 28 Agency Michael Hayden told reporters Mehsud is “fine and healthy.” – Reuters, that “all of the [terrorist] threats about October 1 September 28, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): which we are aware have threads that A suicide bomber on a motorbike blew take them back into that Afghan/ October 1, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A himself up near two police vehicles in Pakistan border region, either in terms suspected U.S. aerial drone strike killed Spin Boldak of Kandahar Province. Six of command and control, or training, at least six people in North Waziristan people were killed. – The Age, September 29 and direction.” – Fox News, September 30 Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Pakistani media sources September 28, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): September 30, 2008 (UNITED STATES): said that foreign militants were among Gunmen attempted to assassinate A U.S. district court sentenced Derrick the dead. – Guardian, October 1 Mohammad Hashim, the provincial Shareef to 35-years in jail for plotting council chief for Zabul Province. a grenade attack at a mall filled with October 2, 2008 (UNITED STATES): Although the attack, which occurred Christmas shoppers in Rockford, Illinois A federal appeals court overturned the in Kandahar Province, failed to kill in 2006. Although at the time Shareef convictions of Yemeni cleric Shaykh Hashim, four of his bodyguards died was an admirer of Usama bin Ladin, Mohammed Ali al-Moayad and his after exchanging gunfire with the authorities found that he acted alone in deputy, Mohammed Mohsen Zayed. The assailants. – AP, September 29 the plot except for a paid government two men were convicted of supporting informant. – Chicago Tribune, October 1; AP, terrorists in early 2005. The court found September 28, 2008 (ALGERIA): A September 30 that the men’s case was prejudiced by suicide car bomber attacked a military inflammatory testimony about unrelated checkpoint in Boumerdes Province, September 30, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): terrorism links. The court ruled that the killing three people. One of the two Afghan President Hamid Karzai men can have new trials. – AP, October 2 militants involved in the attack jumped revealed that he has asked the Saudi out of the explosives-laden vehicle Arabian government to help broker peace October 2, 2008 (IRAQ): A suicide before it reached its target and was talks between Kabul and the Taliban car bomber detonated his explosives apprehended by authorities. Al-Qa`ida leadership, led by Mullah Omar. An outside a Shi`a mosque in Zafaraniyya in the Islamic Maghreb later claimed article in the Financial Times asserted that in southern Baghdad, killing 14 people. credit for the operation. – AP, September “according to a person familiar with the – AP, October 2 29; Reuters, October 1 talks, the Saudis have been involved since July, when they were first approached October 2, 2008 (IRAQ): A suicide September 28, 2008 (THAILAND): by Pakistan-based Taliban clerics. The bomber detonated his explosives Suspected separatist militants killed Saudis sent an envoy to Kabul and started belt outside the Shi`a Rasul mosque two Muslim village chiefs in southern shuttling between the two sides.” Karzai in Baghdad, killing 10 people. – AP, Thailand. One of the chiefs was killed also made a direct appeal to Mullah Omar, October 2 in , while the other stating that he would protect the Taliban in . – AFP, September 29 chief from U.S.-led coalition forces if he October 2, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A returned to Afghanistan to “work for the suicide bomber attempted to assassinate September 29, 2008 (GLOBAL): A new peace and good of your people.” – Financial Asfandyar Wali Khan, the head of the purported al-Qa`ida video appeared Times, October 1 Awami National Party, which controls on Islamist web forums in which Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province. an unidentified narrator speaking September 30, 2008 (RUSSIA): A The attack occurred in Charsadda at the Urdu criticizes Pakistan’s current suicide car bomber attempted to political leader’s home. Four people were and previous leaders. The video tells assassinate Ingushetia’s interior killed in the blast, but Asfandyar Wali Pakistani Muslims to prepare for a holy minister, Mussa Medov, in the region’s escaped injury. – Daily Telegraph, October 2 october 2008 . Vol 1 . Issue 11

October 2, 2008 (SUDAN): The U.S. Anbar Province, and killed two blast. The attack took place in Punjab Embassy in Khartoum released a warden policemen. – Reuters, October 5 Province. – Los Angeles Times, October 7 message warning that an al-Qa`ida- affiliated group had threatened the U.S. October 4, 2008 (SOMALIA): The October 7, 2008 (IRAQ): Iraqi forces government in addition to Americans in Islamist faction that retains control of arrested a woman suspected of leading Sudan. The group that issued the threat Somalia’s southern port city of Kismayo efforts to recruit female suicide bombers identified itself as al-Qa`ida in the Land renamed the airport after Imam Ahmed for al-Qa`ida in Iraq. The suspect, of the Two Niles. – AFP, October 11 Gurey, a 16th century Somali holy identified as Ibitisma Odwan or “Mother warrior. They also called on commercial Fatima,” was arrested in Ba`quba, October 2, 2008 (INDIA): Bombs airlines to use the airport. Somalia’s Diyala Province. – AFP, October 7 ripped through shopping markets and Islamists retook control of Kismayo in a bus station in Agartala, the capital of August. – AFP, October 4 October 7, 2008 (IRAQ): Gunmen killed Tripura state. At least five people were two Christian men in Mosul, Ninawa killed. Indian authorities believe that October 4, 2008 (THAILAND): Suspected Province. – Reuters, October 7 the Indian Mujahidin group was behind Muslim separatists killed two the attacks. – The Australian, October 3 government soldiers who were traveling October 7, 2008 (IRAQ): Gunmen on a motorcycle in Pattani Province. stormed into a pharmacy in Mosul, October 3, 2008 (IRAQ): U.S. forces – AP, October 4 Ninawa Province, and killed the killed a senior leader of al-Qa`ida in pharmacist, who was a Christian. Iraq, Mahir Ahmad Mahmud Zubaydi, October 5, 2008 (IRAQ): U.S. forces – Reuters, October 7 in Baghdad. The U.S. military believes killed the second-in-command of al- that Zubaydi, also known as Abu Qa`ida in Iraq, identified as Abu October 7, 2008 (IRAQ): During a Rami, was responsible for “all terrorist Qaswarah, a Moroccan native also known gunfight between coalition forces and operations” in east Baghdad. – Los Angeles as Abu Sara. He was killed in Mosul, insurgents in Mosul, Ninawa Province, Times, October 5 Ninawa Province. Later investigation one U.S. soldier, one Iraqi policeman revealed that Abu Qaswarah had and one insurgent gunman were killed. October 3, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A Swedish citizenship. – Reuters, October 15; Four insurgents were arrested. – Reuters, suspected U.S. aerial drone fired missiles TimesOnline, October 16 October 7 at a home in North Waziristan Agency of Pakistan’s Federally Administered October 5, 2008 (IRAQ): A suicide October 8, 2008 (IRAQ): A female Tribal Areas. Pakistani authorities bomber detonated his explosives after suicide bomber detonated her explosives said at least nine people were killed U.S. forces stormed the building in outside a courthouse in Ba`quba, Diyala in the explosion, including foreigners. which he was in. Ten people were killed Province, killing 11 people. A male – Reuters, October 3 in the resultant blast, at least six of suicide bomber was apprehended at whom were civilians. – Los Angeles Times, the scene, as he failed to detonate his October 4, 2008 (GLOBAL): American al- October 6 explosives vest. – AP, October 9 Qa`ida member Adam Gadahn appeared in a new video posted on Islamist web October 5, 2008 (PAKISTAN): Suspected October 8, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): forums. The video, which references Taliban militants fired rockets at the Afghan and international troops killed the recent U.S. economic downturn and home of Amir Haider Khan Hoti, the at least six Taliban fighters during fighting in Kashmir, proved that Gadahn North-West Frontier Province’s chief a sweep of Bakwa district in Farah was still alive, nixing speculation that minister. There were no casualties from Province. – Reuters, October 9 he may have been killed in February. the attacks. – AP, October 6 Gadahn attempted to link the financial October 9, 2008 (IRAQ): A member of turmoil in the United States to proof October 6, 2008 (IRAQ): Gunmen killed the al-Sadr bloc in the Iraqi parliament, that “the enemies of Islam” face defeat. an off-duty member of Iraq’s special Salih al-Ugaili, was killed by a bomb in “The enemies of Islam are facing a forces in Babil Province. – Reuters, eastern Baghdad. Two of his bodyguards crushing defeat, which is beginning to October 6 were also killed in the blast. – Reuters, manifest itself in the expanding crisis October 9 their economy is experiencing,” Gadahn October 6, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): asserted. “A crisis whose primary Afghanistan began registering voters October 9, 2008 (IRAQ): A “sticky cause, in addition to the abortive and for the fall 2009 presidential polls. A bomb” attached to a vehicle carrying unsustainable crusades they are waging Taliban spokesman responded to the employees of the Karbala governing in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, drive, stating, “It is clear that it will be council exploded, killing one of the is their turning their backs on Allah’s fraudulent and this is all the work of the employees and wounding two others. revealed laws, which forbid interest- United States.” – AP, October 6 – Reuters, October 9 bearing transactions, exploitation, greed and injustice in all its forms.” October 6, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A suicide October 9, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): – CNN, October 4; AP, October 4 bomber detonated his explosives at the Taliban fighters ambushed a convoy home of a lawmaker, killing at least 20 belonging to USPI, a U.S. security firm, October 4, 2008 (IRAQ): Gunmen people. The Shi`a lawmaker, Rashid in Farah Province. Two of the company’s attacked a police station near Ramadi, Akbar Khan Nawani, was injured in the guards were killed, and 11 trucks part of

4 october 2008 . Vol 1 . Issue 11 the convoy were set on fire by Taliban October 10, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A male. – Reuters, October 13 troops. – Reuters, October 10 suicide car bomber attacked a meeting of pro-government tribesmen in Orakzai October 12, 2008 (IRAQ): Gunmen October 9, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): Agency of the Federally Administered stormed the house of a policeman and U.S.-led and Afghan forces killed 12 Tribal Areas, killing at least 30 people. killed him in Mosul, Ninawa Province. Taliban militants in Uruzgan Province. The bomber apparently drove his – Reuters, October 13 – Reuters, October 9 explosives-laden vehicle directly into a crowd of 500 tribesmen, and then October 12, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): October 9, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A detonated it. – Voice of America, October 10; Approximately 60 Taliban fighters were suicide bomber penetrated one of the AP, October 11 killed when they attempted to launch most heavily secured police facilities in a surprise attack on Afghan forces Islamabad. Once inside the building— October 10, 2008 (PHILIPPINES): in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province. which housed Pakistan’s anti-terrorism Authorities on Jolo Island in the Hundreds of Taliban fighters attacked police—the bomber detonated his southern Philippines killed an Abu Lashkar Gah from three sides, but they explosives. At least six officers were Sayyaf Group member and captured were repelled by NATO airstrikes. injured, and the building was largely three of his comrades. – AFP, October 11 – Guardian, October 12 destroyed. The attack occurred in Islamabad’s heavily guarded Red Zone. October 11, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A suspected October 12, 2008 (PAKISTAN): The There were conflicting reports on U.S. missile strike killed at least three Frontier Corps claimed to have killed the incident, as the International Herald people in Miran Shah, North Waziristan 27 Taliban fighters in an airstrike Tribune claimed that the attack may have Agency of the Federally Administered in Orakzai Agency of the Federally involved a car bomb. – International Herald Tribal Areas. – AP, October 12 Administered Tribal Areas. – Daily Times, Tribune, October 9; The Australian, October 10 October 13 October 11, 2008 (TURKEY): Authorities October 9, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A U.S. apprehended a suspected Kurdish October 12, 2008 (LEBANON): Security missile strike targeted an area in North female militant who was possibly officials arrested a group of alleged Waziristan Agency of the Federally planning to launch a suicide bomb extremists—some of whom tied to Fatah Administered Tribal Areas. Pakistani attack in Istanbul. According to al-Islam—involved in recent attacks intelligence officials claim that at least authorities, “The suspect—a woman in against the Lebanese Army. Officials nine people were killed. Some of those her 30s posing as pregnant—carried 8.8 claimed the cell was involved in the killed were believed to be foreigners. kilograms (19 pounds) of explosives, September 29 attack on a military bus in According to a security official speaking 15 detonators and a manual button in Tripoli. The group was also blamed for with Agence France-Presse, “There her bag when she was arrested in the an August 13 bus bombing, along with was a meeting of around 30 foreign Al- downtown district of Sisli after a police another attack in May. – BBC, October 13 Qaeda and local Taliban commanders pursuit.” – AFP, October 11 in the house of Hafiz Sahar Gul but October 13, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): the majority of them left the building October 11, 2008 (PHILIPPINES): Coalition forces killed five militants ten minutes before the missile struck. Authorities arrested a member of the during an operation targeting a foreign The six Arabs who were killed are all Abu Sayyaf Group who was believed fighter network in Ghazni Province. believed to be lower level operatives.” to be involved in the June kidnapping – Reuters, October 14 – AP, October 10; AFP, October 10 of journalist Ces Drilon. The operative, identified as Marcial Totoh Jabarot (also October 13, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A October 9, 2008 (SOMALIA): Witnesses known as Abu Cesar), was arrested on government official announced that told reporters that an unidentified Jolo Island in the southern Philippines. an estimated 15 people were killed aircraft bombed an Islamist rebel – Philippine Daily Inquirer, October 12 in clashes between Taliban fighters stronghold 18 miles southeast of Baidoa. and pro-government tribesmen and According to one witness, “We heard a October 12, 2008 (IRAQ): A suicide government security forces. Two of big crash after something like a plane car bomber targeted an Iraqi patrol in the dead were tribesmen. The clashes had roared over us. I think they targeted Mosul, Ninawa Province, killing five occurred on October 12 and 13 in Bajaur al-Shabaab because we knew many of civilians and injuring 35. A second Agency of the Federally Administered their battle-wagons were passing.” It suicide car bomber struck the same area Tribal Areas. – AP, October 13 was not clear whether there were any approximately 20 minutes after the first casualties, or to which country the blast. The second blast injured at least October 13, 2008 (PAKISTAN): A aircraft belonged. – Reuters, October 9 25 more people. – Bloomberg, October 13 remote-controlled bomb exploded near the vehicle of Shamin Khan, a October 10, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): October 12, 2008 (IRAQ): A sniper killed secular Pakistani political leader. A suicide bomber killed a provincial two Iraqi soldiers in Mansur district of Khan, a member of the Awami National intelligence officer for Khost Province. Baghdad. – Reuters, October 12 Party, was injured in the blast, Three policemen were wounded. which occurred in the North-West – Reuters, October 10 October 12, 2008 (IRAQ): Gunmen burst Frontier Province. – CNN, October 13 into a shop in Mosul, Ninawa Province, and killed the shop’s owner, a Christian

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October 14, 2008 (IRAQ): Gunmen completed an additional deployment of October 15, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): A opened fire on a U.S. military patrol 850 soldiers to Somalia. The soldiers, roadside bomb killed three policemen in in western Baghdad, killing one U.S. part of an African Union peacekeeping Logar Province. – Reuters, October 15 soldier. According to the Associated mission, will join another group of Press, “It was the first combat death 850 soldiers previously deployed to October 15, 2008 (THAILAND): suffered by American forces in the the country, raising Burundi’s total Authorities surrounded five members capital since September 30, when the contribution to 1,700 troops. There of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil insurgent military said a soldier was killed by are now approximately 3,400 AU group in southern Thailand’s Yala small arms fire in northern Baghdad.” peacekeepers in Somalia, still short of Province. A gunfight ensued, and three – AP, October 15 the 8,000 planned commitment. – AFP, of the five escaped, while the other October 14 two were apprehended. – Bangkok Post, October 14, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): October 15 Kai Eide, the top UN representative for October 14, 2008 (THAILAND): Afghanistan, warned that insurgents Thailand extended the emergency were likely to increase the number of decree imposed on its three southern- attacks in the coming weeks before most provinces of Yala, Pattani and the onset of winter. Eide also said that Narathiwat for an additional three despite some recent setbacks, he would months. The extended decree is now set “caution against the kind of gloom-and- to expire on January 19, 2009. – TNA, doom statements we’ve seen recently” October 14 about Afghanistan. – Washington Post, October 15 October 14, 2008 (RUSSIA): Russia’s Federal Security Service claimed that October 14, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): it foiled an al-Qa`ida-related attack The head of Kandahar Province’s on Sochi, the site for the 2014 Winter Social Affairs Department was shot to Olympics, during the summer. The death by two unidentified gunmen on attack was allegedly planned by Doku a motorcycle. According to one report, Umarov, a Chechen separatist warlord. the attack, which occurred in Kandahar – Bloomberg, October 14 city, was “conducted in the same manner as the September 28 assassination of October 15, 2008 (UNITED KINGDOM): Lt.-Col. Malalai Kakar, Kandahar’s first Nicky Reilly, a 22-year-old male Muslim female police detective and the highest- convert from Plymouth, pleaded guilty ranking policewoman in southern to a failed suicide bomb attack on a Afghanistan.” – Canadian Press, October 14 busy restaurant in Devon on May 22. According to a press report about October 14, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): the May 22 incident, Reilly “used the A roadside bomb destroyed a vehicle internet to research how to make bombs carrying NATO soldiers in eastern using caustic soda, kerosene, drain Afghanistan, killing three of them. cleaner and nails...He had received – AFP, October 14 support from two unidentified people who contacted him on an extremist October 14, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): website. Police said Reilly had been Nine civilians were killed after a bomb ‘preyed upon, radicalised and taken ripped through a bus in Uruzgan advantage of.’” Reilly will be sentenced Province. It is believed that the bomb on November 21. – Reuters, October 15 was intended for Afghan or international security forces. The Taliban denied October 15, 2008 (IRAQ): Major-General involvement. – AFP, October 14 Ali al-Hamdani, the intelligence chief for three of Iraq’s southern provinces, October 14, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): An was injured in a roadside bomb blast in Afghan official claimed that international Karbala Province. – Reuters, October 15 forces killed approximately 70 Taliban fighters in airstrikes in Helmand October 15, 2008 (IRAQ): Mortar rounds Province. Afghan officials allege that landed near the Sunni Abu Hanifa shrine most of the killed were foreign fighters, in Adhamiyya district of Baghdad. Two including Arabs and Pakistanis. – Reuters, people were killed. – Reuters, October 15 October 15; AFP, October 15 October 15, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): An October 14, 2008 (SOMALIA): estimated 18 Taliban fighters were killed Burundi’s spokesman for the army after a four hour battle in Lashkar Gah told reporters that the country had in Helmand Province. – Reuters, October 15

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