Recent Highlights in Terrorist Activity

march 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 3

Siddiqui guilty of trying to kill U.S. said that it will extend its deadline for Recent Highlights in servicemen in Afghanistan. Siddiqui, a French captive Pierre Camatte until Terrorist Activity Pakistani neuroscientist trained at the February 20. In exchange for Camatte’s Massachusetts Institute of Technology in release, AQIM is demanding that the February 1, 2010 (IRAQ): A female the United States, was accused of trying French and Mali governments release suicide bomber targeted Shià pilgrims to gun down a group of U.S. servicemen four AQIM militants held in Mali. – AFP, in Baghdad, killing at least 41 people. at an Afghan police station in July 2008. February 5 Approximately 12 children were among After being found guilty, she said, “This the dead. – Independent, February 2; Voice of is a verdict from Israel, not America. February 6, 2010 (YEMEN): Yemeni America, February 3 The anger should be directed where it authorities announced that they recently belongs.” – AFP, February 4 arrested a man in Sanaà who threatened to February 1, 2010 (SOMALIA): According blow up foreign embassies and assassinate to the Wall Street Journal, the Somali militant February 4, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): Yemeni leaders. The announcement did group al-Shabab released a statement Afghan authorities arrested a district not state whether the man was a member announcing that it is aligned with al- administrator in northern Badghis of al-Qaìda. – AFP, February 6 Qaìda. Al-Shabab also announced that Province for leaking information it has allied with Kamboni, a smaller on Afghan and international troop February 8, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Pakistani insurgent group based in the southern movements to Taliban fighters. The authorities arrested six suspected Taliban town of Ras Kamboni and led by Hassan administrator, identified as Aminullah, militants who were allegedly about to Turki. – BBC, February 1; Wall Street Journal, was in charge of Bala Murghab district in attack the five-star Pearl Continental hotel February 2 Badghis. – Wall Street Journal, February 9 in Lahore, the capital of Punjab Province. The six suspected militants were armed February 2, 2010 (UNITED STATES): February 4, 2010 (INDIA): India’s home with a suicide vest and 26 hand grenades, U.S. Director of National Intelligence minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram, and they were supposedly hoping to kill Dennis C. Blair told a Senate panel that al- said that the 10 Pakistani terrorists who Americans. – AP, February 9 Qaìda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) attacked Mumbai in November 2008 has emerged as the “foremost concern” could have been guided by an Indian February 8, 2010 (YEMEN): Said Ali al- for U.S. intelligence agencies. – Los Angeles handler. Authorities do not have the Shihri, the deputy leader of al-Qaìda Times, February 3 handler in custody, nor do they know in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the individual’s identity. – Times of India, purportedly released a new audio February 2, 2010 (YEMEN): In an interview February 4 statement calling on Muslims in the with al-Jazira, Yemeni-American cleric region to attack the United States and Anwar al-Àwlaqi admitted that Umar February 5, 2010 (IRAQ): A car bomb its allies. During the speech, al-Shihri Farouk Abdulmutallab “is one of my ripped through a group of Shià pilgrims praised Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s students” and that the two “were in in Karbala, killing 10 people. Shortly after, “glorious invasion,” referring to the failed correspondence.” He also said, however, a suicide bomber in a vehicle detonated Christmas Day bombing attempt against that he “did not give [Abdulmutallab] explosives at the first blast site, killing a U.S. airliner near Detroit. Al-Shihri a fatwa in regards to this operation,” another 22 people. – Los Angeles Times, is a former inmate at the U.S. detention referring to the failed Christmas Day February 5 facility at Guantanamo Bay. – BBC, February bombing plot of a U.S. airliner near 8; Washington Post, February 8 Detroit. – Washington Post, February 6 February 5, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Two suicide bombers killed 25 people in February 9, 2010 (PAKISTAN): The February 3, 2010 (IRAQ): A bomb on Karachi, located in Pakistan’s Sindh Pakistani Taliban reportedly confirmed a motorcycle exploded near Karbala, Province. The first bomber rammed an that their leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, killing at least 20 Shià pilgrims. – Voice explosives-laden motorbike into a bus died from injuries sustained in a U.S. of America, February 3 carrying Shià on one of the city’s busiest drone missile strike in January. – Los roads, killing 12 people. Two hours Angeles Times, February 10 February 3, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A suicide later, the second bomber detonated his bomber killed at least seven people, explosives at the entrance to the casualty February 10, 2010 (ISRAEL): Palestinian including three U.S. military personnel, department at Jinnah Hospital, where security forces said they recently arrested in Lower Dir District of the North-West families of the victims hurt in the first a suspected cell of al-Qaìda sympathizers Frontier Province. According to Agence blast had gathered; 13 people died in the in the West Bank. According to a France-Presse, “It appears to be the first second blast. According to a senior police Palestinian security official, “They time American soldiers have been killed official, “The perpetrators knew Jinnah considered themselves part of Al-Qaeda in such an attack in Pakistan.” Three Hospital was the nearest to the site of but did not have any contacts with Al- Pakistani schoolgirls also died in the the first attack and ensured a follow-up Qaeda leaders abroad.” The men were blast. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed attack when they saw significant numbers apparently carrying out military training, credit for the operation. – Christian Science of people gathered there.” – AFP, February but had not yet chosen a target to attack. Monitor, February 3; BBC, February 4 5; RIA Novosti, February 6 – AFP, February 10

February 4, 2010 (UNITED STATES): A February 5, 2010 (NORTH AFRICA): Al- February 10, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A jury in a U.S. federal court found Aafia Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) suicide bomber attacked a police patrol

26 march 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 3 vehicle in Khyber Agency of the Federally February 13, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): February 18, 2010 (IRAQ): A suicide Administered Tribal Areas, killing 18 U.S. soldiers began a major operation bomber detonated his explosives near people. At least seven of the dead were against the Taliban stronghold of Marja the government headquarters in Ramadi, police. – AFP, February 11 in Helmand Province. – CBS News, the capital of Anbar Province. At least February 13 13 people were killed. – New York Times, February 10, 2010 (PHILIPPINES): February 18 Philippine police announced that they February 13, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): A recently arrested Sukri Hassan Itauris, suicide bomber on a motorcycle attacked a February 18, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Officials an alleged Abu Sayyaf Group militant joint U.S.-Afghan foot patrol in Kandahar announced that two senior Afghan involved in the kidnappings of 20 Province, wounding six U.S. soldiers and Taliban leaders were recently arrested tourists, including three Americans, five civilians. – New York Times, February 15 in Pakistan. Afghan officials identified from a Philippine resort in 2001. He was the arrested men as Mullah Abdul Salam arrested in Basilan Province. – Philippine February 13, 2010 (INDIA): A bomb and Mullah Mir Mohammed, the Afghan Star, February 10 ripped through a bakery in a neighborhood Taliban’s shadow governors for Kunduz popular with foreign tourists in the and Baghlan provinces respectively. February 11, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): A western city of Pune. The explosion killed – New York Times, February 18 suicide bomber detonated his explosives at least 12 people. – New York Times, February at a joint Afghan-U.S. military base 13; AFP, February 20 February 18, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A bomb in Pathan district of Paktia Province, ripped through a mosque in Khyber wounding five U.S. soldiers. The bomber February 14, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A U.S. Agency of the Federally Administered was wearing an Afghan border police unmanned aerial drone killed seven Tribal Areas, killing at least 29 people. uniform, and the Taliban later claimed militants in North Waziristan Agency of – AP, February 18 that the bomber was in fact a Taliban the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. fighter who also served as a police officer. The drone targeted a compound near Mir February 18, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A U.S. – New York Times, February 12 Ali. – Reuters, February 14; AFP, February 14 unmanned aerial drone killed at least four militants in North Waziristan Agency of February 11, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Two February 15, 2010 (AUSTRALIA): A judge the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. suicide bombers detonated their explosives in Australia sentenced five Sydney men – AFP, February 18 outside a police training center in Bannu to 23 to 28 years in prison for conspiring District of the North-West Frontier to commit terrorist acts. The men were February 18, 2010 (MALI): Malian Province, killing at least 15 people. – AFP, stockpiling chemicals to make explosives. authorities reportedly released four February 11; New York Times, February 11 – Australian Broadcasting Corporation, February Islamist prisoners in an apparent deal 15; Reuters, February 15 with al-Qaìda in the Islamic Maghreb, February 11, 2010 (INDIA): Three gunmen which is holding French national Pierre shot dead a lawyer representing Fahim February 15, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Pakistani Camatte hostage. – Reuters, February 20 Ansari, who is accused of involvement officials announced that the Afghan in the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. Taliban’s second-in-command, Mullah February 19, 2010 (YEMEN): The U.S. The lawyer, Shahid Azmi, was killed in Abdul Ghani Baradar, was captured last government has approved $150 million in Mumbai. – CNN, February 12 week in Karachi. He was arrested in a military assistance to Yemen, which will joint U.S.-Pakistani intelligence raid. pay for military equipment and training February 11, 2010 (YEMEN): Yemen’s – AP, February 15; Christian Science Monitor, for Yemeni forces. – AP, February 22 president announced that a cease-fire has February 16 been achieved with the country’s northern February 21, 2010 (PHILIPPINES): rebels. According to the Associated Press, February 15, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A U.S. Philippine soldiers killed six Abu Sayyaf “After years of sporadic fighting with the unmanned aerial drone killed at least three Group militants on Jolo Island. One of the [northern] militants, Yemen has come militants in North Waziristan Agency of dead, Albader Parad, was a top al-Qaìda- under international pressure to quickly the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. linked militant. – AP, February 20 draw a close to the war and free up – AFP, February 15 resources to confront a separate threat February 22, 2010 (GLOBAL): Al-Qaìda from an al-Qaida offshoot that has set up February 17, 2010 (CANADA): Said second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri operations there over the past year.” – AP, Namouh, a Moroccan-born man from purportedly released a new audiotape February 11 Quebec who plotted international terrorist criticizing Turkey. The recording said, attacks with a group tied to al-Qaìda, was “The Turkish troops will carry out the February 12, 2010 (IRAQ): The leader of sentenced to life in prison by a Canadian same operations in Afghanistan that the the Islamic State of Iraq, Abu Ùmar al- judge. – Canadian Press, February 17 Jews are carrying out in Palestine, so how Baghdadi, threatened the upcoming March would the pious, free Turkish Muslim 7 elections in Iraq, warning that “[we] February 17, 2010 (LEBANON): Lebanon people accept such a crime against Islam have decided to prevent the elections by indicted 11 suspected militants with and the Muslims?” – CNN, February 22 all legitimate means possible, primarily plotting terrorist attacks and monitoring by military means.” – AFP, February 12 the movements of United Nations February 22, 2010 (UNITED STATES): peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. – AP, Najibullah Zazi, accused of planning a February 17 terrorist attack on New York City, pleaded

27 march 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 3

guilty to conspiracy to use weapons of February 25, 2010 (UNITED STATES): CTC Sentinel Staff mass destruction, conspiracy to commit Two co-defendants of Najibullah Zazi murder in a foreign country and providing pleaded not guilty to conspiring in a Editor-in-Chief material support to al-Qaìda. – Reuters, plot to execute terrorist attacks in New Erich Marquardt February 22 York City. The men, Adis Medunjanin Senior Editor, CTC and Zarein Ahmedzay, were charged February 22, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): A with conspiracy to use weapons of mass Editorial Board suicide bomber assassinated Hajji Zaman destruction, conspiracy to commit murder COL Michael J. Meese, Ph.D. Ghamsharik, a prominent Afghan warlord, in a foreign country and receiving al- Department Head near Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province. The Qaìda training. – Reuters, February 25 Department of Social Sciences (West Point) Taliban denied responsibility. According to the New York Times, Ghamsharik was February 25, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): COL Cindy R. Jebb, Ph.D. “accused of helping Osama bin Laden The Afghan flag was raised over Marja as Deputy Department Head escape from the Americans at Tora Bora,” part of a major coalition offensive in the Department of Social Sciences (West Point) and he had “so many enemies that his region that began on February 13. Marja assassination…came as no particular is located in Helmand Province. – CNN, LTC Reid Sawyer surprise.” A number of civilians were February 26 Director, CTC also killed in the blast. – New York Times, February 22 February 26, 2010 (AFGHANISTAN): Christopher Heffelfinger Taliban fighters launched a coordinated FBI Fellow, CTC February 22, 2010 (PAKISTAN): Pakistani assault on Kabul, killing at least 16 officials announced the arrest of Afghan people. As part of the attack, three suicide Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Kabir, bombers attacked the Park Residence who served on the Taliban’s Council of Hotel and the Aria Guesthouse nearby, Ministers. – CNN, February 22 and it appears that Indians were targeted. Contact An Italian diplomat, a French filmmaker Combating Terrorism Center February 22, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A and at least six Indians were among the U.S. Military Academy suicide bomber targeted a security force dead. – Bloomberg, February 26; Times, 607 Cullum Road, Lincoln Hall convoy, killing eight people in Pakistan’s February 27 West Point, NY 10996 Swat Valley. – Reuters, February 22; CNN, Phone: (845) 667-6383 February 22 February 27, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A Email: [email protected] suicide bomber from the Pakistani Taliban Web: www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/ February 23, 2010 (INDONESIA): detonated a car laden with explosives Indonesian police arrested four suspected at the gate of the main police station in * For Press Inquiries: (845) 667-6383 militants in a major raid on a terrorist Karak, located in the North-West Frontier training camp in remote Aceh Province. Province. Four people were killed. – Voice More than 50 militants were using the of America, February 27; Dawn, February camp, and police “strongly” suspect that 28 the men belong to Jemaah Islamiya. Most of the militants escaped into the jungle. February 28, 2010 (GLOBAL): A support – AFP, February 23 posthumous video message appeared on The Combating Terrorism Center would jihadist websites from Humam Khalil Abu like to express its gratitude to its financial February 23, 2010 (MALI): Malian Mulal al-Balawi, the al-Qaìda double supporters, for without their support and authorities announced that al-Qaìda agent who killed seven CIA operatives shared vision of the Center products like in the Islamic Maghreb released French and a Jordanian spy on December 30, the CTC Sentinel could not be produced. If national Pierre Camatte. The move comes 2009. In the video, al-Balawi said, “We you are interested in learning more about after Malian authorities released four planned for something but got a bigger how to support the Combating Terrorism Islamist prisoners on February 18, in gift, a gift from Allah, who brought us, Center, please visit http://www.ctc.usma. an apparent trade for Camatte’s release. through His accompaniment, a valuable edu/support/ or call Wayne Richardson at – BBC, February 23 prey: Americans, and from the CIA. West Point’s Association of Graduates at That’s when I became certain that the best 845-446-1553. February 24, 2010 (PAKISTAN): A way to teach Jordanian intelligence and suspected U.S. unmanned aerial drone the CIA a lesson is with the martyrdom strike killed at least 13 militants in North belt.” – AP, February 28 Waziristan Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Pakistani intelligence officials later identified one of the dead as Mohammed Qari Zafar, a The views expressed in this report are those of Pakistani Taliban commander wanted in the authors and not of the U.S. Military Academy, the deadly bombing of the U.S. Consulate the Department of the Army, or any other agency in Karachi. – Voice of America, February 24; of the U.S. Government. New York Times, February 24; AP, February 26