The Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) CTGo! Counter- & Irregular Warfare Newsletter 4 December 2020 edition Please enjoy this week’s selection of news articles provided by your DKI APCSS Counter-Terrorism team:

COVID-19 and violent extremism: Bioterrorism will rise after the pandemic, warns expert https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/431/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/431/pub/4 31/page/32/article/107221

COVID-19 Worsens Boko Haram Crisis In North-East http://saharareporters.com/2020/11/27/covid-19-worsens-boko-haram-crisis-north- east#.X8Ur72qJOw4.twitter

CSIS warns about conspiracy theories linking COVID-19 to 5G technology https://globalnews.ca/news/7496689/csis-conspiracy-theories-coronavirus-covid-19-5g-technology/

The COVID-19 Disorder Tracker (updated) https://acleddata.com/analysis/covid-19-disorder-tracker/

Africa: Boko Haram massacre kills at least 110 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8998247/Boko-Haram-militants-behead-slit-throats-43- Nigerian-rice-farmers-fishermen.html

Long road to an African rapid reaction force https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2014/02/21/long-road-african-rapid-reaction-force

CABO LIGADO WEEKLY: 23-29 NOVEMBER 2020 https://acleddata.com/2020/12/01/cabo-ligado-weekly-23-29-november-2020/

Morocco Arrests Three From IS-linked Cell: Police https://www.barrons.com/news/morocco-arrests-three-from-is-linked-cell-police- 01607094308?refsec=afp-news

Americas: Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force Arrest “Sovereign Citizen” on Thanksgiving on Charges Related to Domestic Terrorism https://liveboston617.org/2020/11/27/boston-joint-terrorism-task-force-arrest-sovereign-citizen-on- thanksgiving-on-charges-related-to-domestic-terrorism

Two Bellingham women suspected in terrorist attack against BNSF, endangering the public https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/crime/article247516325.html

Young man sent to prison for making bomb threats on Twitter https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/young-man-sent-prison-making-bomb-threats-twitter

REFLECTIONS ON A LIFETIME IN INTELLIGENCE (podcast) https://warontherocks.com/2020/11/reflections-on-a-lifetime-in-intelligence/

Man charged with stealing WAPA copper asserts status as sovereign citizen http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/man-charged-with-stealing-wapa-copper-asserts-status- as-sovereign-citizen/article_0de9e9a4-a8e6-55b9-bdb5-a42c85c97ee9.html

The Counterterrorism Role of Homeland Security Investigations https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/the-counterterrorism-role-of-homeland- security-investigations

Europe: Germany bans far-right extremist group 'Sturmbrigade 44' https://www.dw.com/en/germany-bans-far-right-extremist-group-sturmbrigade-44/a-55780833

Vienna: Iraqi jailed for life over attacks on German ICE trains https://www.dw.com/en/vienna-iraqi-jailed-for-life-over-attacks-on-german-ice-trains/a-55818231

Islamic State 'is plotting Christmas terror attacks in UK and Europe' for publication of Prophet Mohammed cartoons in France, ex-MI6 spy warns https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9016179/Islamic-State-plotting-Christmas-terror-attacks-UK- Europe-ex-MI6-spy-warns.html?ito=amp_twitter_share-top

Turkish security forces detain Daesh suspects, including 1 with links to Vienna attacks https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/turkish-security-forces-detain-daesh-suspects- including-1-with-links-to-vienna-attacks

Middle East: Military Airstrikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/604666/military-airstrikes-hit-isil-terrorists-in- syria-iraq/

Islamic State Province in Sinai Changes its Strategy: Are Israel and the Suez Canal in the Crosshairs? https://www.inss.org.il/publication/sinai-isis/

North Asia: How Syria’s civil war drew Uygur fighters and shaped the separatist group TIP in China’s crosshairs https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3111698/how-syrias-civil-war-drew-uygur-fighters- and-shaped-separatist

Security stepped up after petrol bomb attack on Hong Kong police club https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3112029/hong-kong-police-sports- club-attacked-nine-petrol

South Asia: Two suicide bombings kill at least 34 people: Officials https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2020/11/29/Afghanistan-car-bomb-kills-at-least-26- security-personnel-Officials

PODCAST: THE SPEAR – COMBAT IN THE KUNAR RIVER VALLEY https://mwi.usma.edu/podcast-the-spear-combat-in-the-kunar-river-valley/

Bangladesh to re-activate probe into 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam terror activities https://www.sify.com/news/bdesh-to-re-activate-probe-into-2013-hefazat-e-islam-terror-activities- news-national-umcl4uifgagdd.html

26/11 Mumbai Attacks Accused Cleared for Extradition to India: US Govt To Court https://www.thequint.com/news/world/2611-tahawwur-hussain-rana-accused-cleared-for-extradition- to-india-us-govt-to-court

British police order removal of Tamil Eelam flag and LTTE leader's picture in London https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/british-police-order-removal-tamil-eelam-flag-and-ltte- leaders-picture-london

Southeast Asia: Philippines: Extended Bangsamoro Transition Reasonable, but Risky https://www.benarnews.org/english/commentaries/asean-security-watch/bangsamoro-delay- 11302020175404.html

Philippines DOJ to submit rules on delisting terrorist groups https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/02/2060900/doj-submit-rules-delisting-terrorist-groups

Indonesia on alert after Isis-linked group MIT beheads farmer to ‘sow terror’ https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3111989/indonesian-army-warns-more-attacks-after- isis-linked-group

Indonesia: Jokowi Asked to Delay Issuance of Perpres on TNI Against Terrorism https://en.tempo.co/read/1410420/jokowi-asked-to-delay-issuance-of-perpres-on-tni-against-terrorism

Thailand Confirms it Repatriated 3 Iranian Terror Convicts https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/thai/Iranian-terror-convicts-11272020050541.html

Singapore: 29 radicalised individuals dealt with under ISA in the past five years https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/29-radicalised-individuals-dealt-with-under-isa-in-the-past- five-years-josephine-teo

Oceania: Former journalist charged with planning terrorist attack in Queensland https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/29/former-journalist-charged-with-planning- terrorist-attack-in-queensland

Convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika in contact with IS fighters while in Australian jail https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/convicted-terrorist-abdul-nacer-benbrika-in- contact-with-is-fighters-while-in-jail/news-story/8bb068d8dbc78debe79b4234f1c90e55

Australian Police officer recounts the moment he shot Bourke Street attacker Hassan Khalif Shire Ali https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-01/inquest-hears-from-officer-who-shot-bourke-street- attacker/12938558

Right-wing: Inside a Neo-Nazi Terror Cell as It Reckons With FBI Arrests https://www.vice.com/en/article/akd37j/inside-a-neo-nazi-terror-cell-as-it-reckons-with-fbi- arrests?utm_content=1606748717

Far-Right Terrorism Rises as Islamist Terrorism Declines https://www.voanews.com/extremism-watch/report-far-right-terrorism-rises-islamist-terrorism- declines

Transnational/General: National Counterterrorism Center's Counterterrorism Guide https://www.odni.gov/nctc/index.html?fbclid=IwAR3XyQ6nGiGLgxki2MuX4icVgTb6PXhDRW60ILbzrnng q8XHocf7n_oF6HM

The shadowy Islamic State cell looking to free Western jihadi brides https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8996835/The-shadowy-Islamic-State-cell-looking-free- Western-jihadi-brides.html

Climate Change, Terrorism Top List of Challenges Facing US Military https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/11/25/climate-change-terrorism-top-list-of-challenges- facing-us-military.html

The Message of Islamist Beheadings https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/islamist-beheadings-war-on-terror-ideology-by- brahma-chellaney-2020-11

Strategic Competition & Irregular Warfare: Political Warfare: Strategies for Combating China’s Plan to “Win without Fighting" [e-book] https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/Political%20Warfare_web.pdf

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