The Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) CTGo! Counter-Terrorism & Irregular Warfare Newsletter 11 December 2020 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: Neo-Nazis, extremists capitalizing on COVID-19, declassified CSIS documents say https://globalnews.ca/news/7501783/neo-nazis-extremists-capitalizing-coronavirus-covid-19-csis/ ASPI/KAS The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on extremism dynamics: Towards national resilience https://www.aspi.org.au/report/aspikas-impact-covid-19-pandemic-extremism-dynamics-towards- national-resilience Article in Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Magazine Blames Jews For Coronavirus, Says It Was ‘Hidden So That It Could Be Used Like An Atom Bomb, Especially against Muslims’ https://www.memri.org/reports/article-tehreek-e-taliban-pakistan-ttp-magazine-blames-jews- coronavirus-says-it-was-hidden Africa: Trump orders most American troops to leave Somalia. AFRICOM says they are redeploying elsewhere in region https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/12/04/trump-orders-most-american-troops- to-leave-somalia/ Is Africa overtaking the Middle East as the new jihadist battleground https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55147863 ISWAP Captures Newly Inducted Nigerian Army Armoured Vehicle https://humangle.ng/iswap-captures-newly-inducted-nigerian-army-armoured-vehicle/ Maritime security and the Cabo Delgado insurgency http://www.marsecreview.com/2020/12/maritime-security-and-the-cabo-delgado-insurgency/ The Puzzle of JNIM and Militant Islamist Groups in the Sahel https://africacenter.org/publication/puzzle-jnim-militant-islamist-groups-sahel/ Americas: Modernizing the Department of Homeland Security https://www.lawfareblog.com/modernizing-department-homeland-security 82 women, children at ISIS refugee camps want travel documents to return home https://newsday.co.tt/2020/12/09/82-women-children-at-isis-refugee-camps-want-travel-documents- to-return-home/ Pentagon weighs cutting most of its support to CIA’s counterterrorism missions https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/pentagon-plans-cut-support-cias-counterterrorism- missions/story?id=74641591 Europe: Manchester Arena inquiry: Police have pieced together virtually all of bomber’s movements over five days before attack https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-arena- bombing-public-inquiry-19421146 Security Union: A Counter-Terrorism Agenda and stronger Europol to boost the EU’s resilience https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_2326 Manchester Arena bomber’s brother ‘admits terror attack was for Isis’ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/manchester-arena-bombing-hashem-isis-inquiry- b1768849.html Manchester Arena inquiry: Salman Abedi ‘trained with Islamist militia’ https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-55232740 E-border system to spot terrorists and dangerous criminals failed to check 80 percent of passengers, NAO report finds https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/12/09/e-border-system-spot-terrorists-dangerous-criminals- failed-check/ Russian law enforcement agencies thwart over 40 terrorist attacks in 2020 https://tass.com/society/1232511 Police in Turkey arrest 18 Daesh/ISIS terror suspects https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/police-in-turkey-arrest-18-daesh-isis-terror-suspects/2070323 Turkey deports Iraqi Daesh/ISIS suspect https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-deports-iraqi-daesh-isis-suspect/2068493 Morocco Helps Spain Arrest Moroccan Man with Alleged ISIS Ties https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/12/328018/morocco-helps-spain-arrest-moroccan-man- with-alleged-isis-ties/ Tunisian charged over fatal French church stabbings https://www.arabnews.com/node/1773796/world London-based Muslim-aid charity is accused of funding human trafficking gangs smuggling Somali migrants into Europe via Greece https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9038091/London-charity-accused-funding-human-trafficking- gangs-smuggling-Somali-migrants-Europe.html?ito=social-twitter_dailymailUK Suicide bomber injures six police in Russia's North Caucasus https://www.gulf-times.com/story/680091/Suicide-bomber-injures-six-police-in-Russia-s-North- Caucasus Middle East: IS Built up Arsenal After ‘Red Flags’ Ignored: Study https://www.thedefensepost.com/2020/12/08/is-built-up-arsenal/ Weapons of the Islamic State https://www.conflictarm.com/reports/weapons-of-the-islamic-state/ Six Reasons Why a Terrorist Designation for Yemen’s Houthis is a Bad Idea https://www.justsecurity.org/73677/six-reasons-why-a-terrorist-designation-for-yemens-houthis-is-a- bad-idea/ ISIS ‘Deputy Governor of Iraq’ arrested https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/12/09/ISIS-Deputy-Governor-of-Iraq-arrested- Yemen Officials Say Al-Qaida Militant Attack Killed 6 Troops https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/middle-east/yemen-officials-say-al-qaida-militant-attack- killed-6-troops.html ISIS sows terror in North Sinai planting explosives in homes https://thearabweekly.com/isis-sows-terror-north-sinai-planting-explosives-homes ISIS built up arsenal in Iraq, Syria with accomplices in Turkey https://thearabweekly.com/isis-built-arsenal-iraq-syria-accomplices-turkey North Asia: China Aiding Rebel Groups in India’s Northeast: Report https://thediplomat.com/2020/12/china-aiding-rebel-groups-in-indias-northeast-report/ Family of South Korean Dictator’s Assassin Seek Treason Acquittal https://www.courthousenews.com/family-of-south-korean-dictators-assassin-seek-treason-acquittal/ South Asia: India: JeM terrorist arrested for providing shelter, logistics to other terrorists https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/jem-terrorist-arrested-for-providing-shelter-logistics-to- other-terrorists/articleshow/79663059.cms Sri Lanka: Former LTTE couple arrested with a claymore mine planned two attacks - Police http://www.colombopage.com/archive_20B/Dec04_1607060753CH.php U.S. and Afghan forces target Al Qaeda in the south https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2020/12/u-s-and-afghan-forces-target-al-qaeda-in-the- south.php?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1794754_ ‘Afghan’ terrorist network busted in CTD-Intel operation https://www.dawn.com/news/1594971/afghan-terrorist-network-busted-in-ctd-intel-operation Delhi Police arrests five suspected terrorists after encounter http://newsonair.com/Main-News-Details.aspx?id=405656 Terrorist blows himself up in Bajaur raid https://www.dawn.com/news/1594770 ISI trying to link Khalistan movement with terrorism in Kashmir, says Delhi Police https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/isi-trying-to-link-khalistan-movement-with- terrorism-in-kashmir-says-delhi-police20201207142501/ Bangladesh: Anti-terrorism unit officials arrest two Hizb ut-Tahrir members https://www.indiablooms.com/world-details/SA/27080/bangladesh-anti-terrorism-unit-officials-arrest- two-hizb-ut-tahrir-members.html Delhi: SIMI terrorist absconding since 19 years nabbed, was radicalising and moblising youth against CAA, NCR https://www.opindia.com/2020/12/delhi-police-arrests-simi-terrorist-abdullah-danish/ General confirms the US has helped the Taliban by launching drone strikes against ISIS https://taskandpurpose.com/news/us-drone-strikes-isis-assist-taliban/ Southeast Asia: Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist leader under arrest in Indonesia https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3113448/al-qaeda-linked-terrorist-leader-under- arrest-indonesia-security Indonesia’s Program to De-radicalize MIT Militants Off-Target, Analysts Say https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/special-reports/id-mit-deradicalization- 12042020145509.html Philippines Arrests Saudi Man Suspected of Helping Bring in IS Militants https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/saudi-national-arrested-12092020091841.html Jemaah Islamiyah Uses Charity Boxes to Collect Fund for Terror Activities https://jakartaglobe.id/news/jemaah-islamiyah-uses-charity-boxes-to-collect-fund-for-terror-activities Singaporeans detained under ISA released with conditions after showing progress in rehabilitation https://mothership.sg/2020/12/isa-detain-release-restriction-order/ ‘Radicalised’ Malaysian among 16 foreigners repatriated from Singapore over terrorism concerns https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/11/24/radicalised-malaysian-among-16-foreigners- repatriated-from-singapore-over-t/1925731 Foreign Terrorist Fighters: Implications for Malaysia’s Border Security https://www.mei.edu/publications/foreign-terrorist-fighters-implications-malaysias-border-security Indonesia: Social Grievances and Violent Extremism https://moonshotcve.com/indonesia-social-grievances-violent-extremism/ Saudi nat’l with alleged links to ISIS, BIFF nabbed https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1124305 Oceania: Australian High Court to consider extended detention of terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika after his sentence today https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-10/high-court-to-consider-indefinite-detention-of-abdul- benbrika/12967414 Australia: Terrorists ‘faking’ deradicalisation, parliament warned https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/terrorists-are-faking-deradicalisation-with-half- breaching-control-orders/news-story/762622e27acbffd0b40afb1315911a71 Report: Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain on 15 March 2019 https://christchurchattack.royalcommission.nz/the-report/ ‘No plausible way’ Christchurch mosque shooter could have been detected https://news.yahoo.com/no-plausible-way-christchurch-mosque-055313476.html