The Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) CTGo! Counter-Terrorism & Irregular Warfare Newsletter 12 March 2021 edition Please enjoy this week’s selection of news articles provided by your DKI APCSS Counter-Terrorism & Irregular Warfare (CTIW) team:
COVID-19 and violent extremism: With Trump gone, QAnon groups focus fury on attacking coronavirus vaccines https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/03/11/with-trump-gone-qanon-groups-focus-fury- attacking-covid-vaccines/
Africa: Shabaab mounts prison break in northern Somalia https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/03/shabaab-mounts-prison-break-in-northern- somalia.php
IntelBrief: The Growing Crime-Terror Nexus in Northwest Nigeria https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2021-march-8/
The Conflict Between Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in the Sahel, A Year On https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/conflict-between-al-qaeda-and-islamic-state-sahel-year- 29305
Morocco sees Sahel jihadists as magnet for local cells https://www.reuters.com/article/us-morocco-security/morocco-sees-sahel-jihadists-as-magnet-for- local-cells-idUSKBN2AV1QQ
Gunmen abduct 30 students from school in northwest Nigeria https://www.independent.co.uk/news/gunmen-abduct-30-students-from-school-in-northwest-nigeria- boko-haram-kaduna-islamic-chibok-b1816577.html
U.S. blacklists groups in Congo, Mozambique over Islamic State links https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-africa-islamic-state-idUSKBN2B22VI
THE ISLAMIC STATE IN CONGO https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2191/f/The%20Islamic%20State%20in%20Congo%20Eng lish.pdf
Americas: Marines knew infantryman shared extremist content online months before investigation, records show https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/military/story/2021-02-28/marines-knew-infantryman- shared-extremist-content-online-months-before-investigation-records-show
Majority of Canadians say domestic terrorism greatest threat in Canada: poll https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/03/05/domestic-terrorism-canada-poll/
FBI informant gives detailed account into domestic terrorism plot against Gov. Whitmer https://www.clickondetroit.com/video/news/2021/03/05/fbi-informant-gives-detailed-account-into- domestic-terrorism-plot-against-gov-whitmer/
Wray: Domestic Terrorism, Racially Motivated Extremism, Anarchist Violence All On the Rise https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/wray-domestic-terrorism-racially-motivated-extremism- anarchist-violence-all-on-the-rise/2568038/
FBI releases new video of person planting bombs before Capitol riot https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/fbi-releases-new-video-suspect-planting- bombs-capitol-riot-n1260293?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma
Extremism in the U.S. Military: Problems and Solutions https://www.adl.org/blog/extremism-in-the-us-military-problems-and-solutions
Another Oath Keeper with links to Roger Stone charged in Capitol riot https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/09/oath-keepers-capitol-riot-roger-stone-474865
Rethinking U.S. Efforts on Counterterrorism: Toward a Sustainable Plan Two Decades After 9/11 https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/rethinking-us-efforts-counterterrorism-toward- sustainable-plan-two-decades-after
The Future of QAnon: Fringe Conspiracy or Acute Security Threat? https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2021-february-16/
Toronto van attack: Minassian guilty of killing 10 people https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56269095
Conspiracy Theorist Who Stormed Trudeau’s Property Sentenced to Six Years https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7aydq/corey-hurren-conspiracy-theorist-who-stormed-justin- trudeaus-property-sentenced-to-six-years
Boogaloo Boys not as light hearted as their flowery Hawaiian shirts, FBI agent testifies https://www-mlive-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.mlive.com/public-interest/2021/03/boogaloo- boys-not-as-light-hearted-as-their-flowery-hawaiian-shirts-fbi-agent-testifies.html
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/suburban-chicago-man-sentenced-12-years-federal-prison-conspiring- provide-material-support
Extremism in the U.S. Military: Problems and Solutions https://www.adl.org/blog/extremism-in-the-us-military-problems-and-solutions
Europe: White Nationalist and Far-Right Search Traffic in Ireland https://moonshotcve.com/far-right-search-traffic-in-ireland-2021/
Sweden sentences woman for taking child to Islamic State area in Syria https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/sweden-sentences-woman-for-taking-child-to-islamic-state- area-in-syria-1.664922
Italy arrests 'forger' over links to 2015 Paris attack https://news.yahoo.com/italy-arrests-forger-over-links-090552413.html
Tunisian, 37, suspected of preaching terror in jail [in Italy] https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2021/03/09/tunisian-37-suspected-of-preaching-terror-in- jail_c63ada6c-fd4a-4d40-adff-8b5374c65f99.html
IS terrorist suspect returned to Norway blames husband in trial https://www.foreigner.fi/articulo/nordics/islamic-state-terrorist-suspect-returned-to-norway-pleads- not-guilty/20210301193949010418.html
Middle East: Report: Lebanese Army Foils Planned Attacks by IS Group http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/279852
ISIS operates in Iraq through border gaps and hidden tunnels https://shafaq.com/en/Report/ISIS-operates-in-Iraq-through-border-gaps-and-hidden-tunnels
In the Wake of Drawdown: Addressing Blindspots in Iraq https://newlinesinstitute.org/iraq/in-the-wake-of-drawdown-addressing-blindspots-in-iraq/
Hezbollah claims 'victory' in intelligence war with CIA https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/0/27413/World/0/Hezbollah-claims-victory-in- intelligence-war-with-.aspx
North Asia: Reading China’s approach to counterterrorism https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/reading-china-approach-counterterrorism/
First independent report into Xinjiang genocide allegations claims evidence of Beijing's 'intent to destroy' Uyghur people https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/09/asia/china-uyghurs-xinjiang-genocide-report-intl-hnk/index.html
South & Central Asia: India: Top Indian Mujahideen terrorist under scanner https://www.oneindia.com/india/mukesh-ambani-security-scare-top-indian-mujahideen-terrorist- under-scanner-3229156.html
India: 635 militants killed in J&K in 2018-20, 42 terror outfits banned, says MoS Home https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/635-militants-killed-in-jk-in-2018-20-42-terror-outfits-banned- says-mos-home-222821
Military action had to be taken as all efforts to persuade LTTE to accept political solution failed – SL Permanent Rep to UN https://island.lk/military-action-had-to-be-taken-as-all-efforts-to-persuade-ltte
Sri Lanka's Catholic leader demands govt find Easter terrorist bombers https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2021/03/07/sri-lankas-catholic-leader-demands- govt-find-easter-terrorist-bombers/
Militant Attack on Pakistan Navy Vehicle Kills 1, Injures 2 https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/militant-attack-pakistan-navy-vehicle-kills-1-injures-2
Four terrorists killed in two operations, says ISPR https://www.dawn.com/news/1611305/four-terrorists-killed-in-two-operations-says-ispr
National Investigation Agency Court Sentences ISIS Terrorist To 7 Years Of Jail https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/national-investigation-agency-court-sentences-isis-terrorist-to-7- years-of-jail-2384684
‘Targeted attack’: Chinese national injured in Karachi firing https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/801522-firing-in-karachis-lyari-injures-chinese-national-and-one- other
The Pakistani Taliban is Back https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/the-pakistani-taliban-is-back/
ReCAAP Warns of Kidnapping Danger Near Philippines https://maritime-executive.com/article/recaap-warns-of-kidnapping-danger-near-philippines
Southeast Asia: Stigma, Shame, and Fear: Navigating Obstacles to Peace in Mindanao https://www.resolvenet.org/research/stigma-shame-and-fear-navigating-obstacles-peace-mindanao
Myanmar junta declares Rakhine rebels no longer terrorists https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2021/03/11/myanmar-junta-declares-rakhine- rebels-no-longer-terrorists/
'Until The World Shatters' Explores Jade's Role In Myanmar's Struggles https://www.npr.org/2021/03/08/974705988/until-the-world-shatters-explores-jades-role-in- myanmars-struggles
Kachin Independence Army Attacks Myanmar Military Outpost https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/kachin-independence-army-attacks-myanmar-military- outpost.html
Singaporean former NSF detained under ISA planned to attack Jews at synagogue with a knife, travel overseas to fight Israel https://mothership.sg/2021/03/amirull-isa-detain-synagogue-attack/
'My ISIS fighter brother's death turned me into an advocate against terror' https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/my-isis-fighter-brothers-death-turned-me-into-an-advocate- against-terror
How Indonesia Failed in Countering Religious Extremism https://intpolicydigest.org/how-indonesia-failed-in-countering-religious-extremism/
Philippine police kill 9 in raids on suspected rebels https://apnews.com/article/philippines-police-manila-718cd406f3fad454c6a72e873b4aef45
MYANMAR COUP: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PEACE PROCESS NOW? https://www.9dashline.com/article/myanmar-coup-what-happens-to-the-peace-process-now
Hamas Sympathizer Detained in Singapore for Allegedly Planning Knife Attack on Synagogue https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/03/10/hamas-sympathizer-detained-in-singapore-for-allegedly- planning-knife-attack-on-synagogue/
Oceania: How Australia stripped alleged Isis fighter of citizenship without evaluating her case https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/11/how-australia-stripped-alleged-isis-fighter- of-citizenship-without-evaluating-her-case
NSW budget estimates: Threat of ‘sophisticated attack’ from right-wing extremists possible https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/nsw-budget-estimates-threat-of-sophisticated- attack-from-rightwing-extremists-possible/news-story/78766790dcf9771bc3fb3ae42bfd889a
Right-wing: Accused Neo-Nazi Terrorist's Account Posted Threatening Videos of Him Armed in Public https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7mkky/accused-neo-nazi-terrorists-account-posted-threatening- videos-of-watkins-armed-in-public
‘Weaponised the internet’: The rise of extreme right-wing groups in Australia https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/security/how-extreme-rightwing-groups-have- weaponised-the-internet-in-australia/news-story/ed0950b6bcc9aab54d25280a944f554b#.h5bcw
White supremacists 'seek affiliation' with law enforcement to further their goals, internal FBI report warns https://abcnews.go.com/US/white-supremacists-seek-affiliation-law-enforcement-goals- internal/story?id=76309051
UK neo-Nazi group to become first right-wing terrorist organisation listed in Australia https://www.sbs.com.au/news/uk-neo-nazi-group-to-become-first-right-wing-terrorist-organisation- listed-in-australia
Arrest Of Neo-Nazi Rapper Highlights Threat Of White Supremacist Music https://rantt.com/arrest-of-neo-nazi-rapper-highlights-threat-of-white-supremacist-music
Transnational/General: Lessons for Reintegrating Islamic State Detainees https://www.lawfareblog.com/lessons-reintegrating-islamic-state-detainees
Tech spent years fighting foreign terrorists. Then came the Capitol riot. https://www.protocol.com/policy/big-tech-domestic-extremism
Handbook, Part IV: Prevention of, and Preparedness for, Terrorist Attacks https://icct.nl/publication/handbook-part-iv-prevention-of-and-preparedness-for-terrorist-attacks/
Twelfth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat https://reliefweb.int/report/world/twelfth-report-secretary-general-threat-posed-isil-da-esh- international-peace-and
A MAN’S WORLD? EXPLORING THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN COUNTERING TERRORISM AND CVE https://www.hedayahcenter.org/resources/reports_and_publications/a-mans-world-exploring-the-role- of-women-in-countering-terrorism-and-cve/
Ross Frenett: Loved ones can be brought back from conspiracy theories https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-40240805.html
One secret weapon against extremism: Google ads promoting mindfulness https://www.fastcompany.com/90607977/moonshot-digital-counter-radicalization-google-ads- mindfulness-redirect-method
Strategic Competition & Irregular Warfare: American Special Ops Forces Are Everywhere: They’ve become a major military player—and maybe a substitute for strategic thinking. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/04/how-special-ops-became-the-solution-to- everything/618080/
America’s Foreign Legions: How We Treat Our Proxies Defines Us https://nationalinterest.org/feature/america%E2%80%99s-foreign-legions-how-we-treat-our-proxies- defines-us-179277
Russian Mercenaries in Great Power Competition: Strategic Supermen or Weak Link? https://www.rand.org/blog/2021/03/russian-mercenaries-in-great-power-competition-strategic.html
The Convergence of Counterterrorism and Great Power Competition https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2021-march-11/
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