The Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) CTGo! Counter-Terrorism & 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, Iraq 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 Afghanistan 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 Our email address: [email protected] Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/APCSS.CTGo/ The sharing of links in this newsletter does not constitute endorsement. The views expressed in these articles are those of the authors alone and do not reflect the official policy or position of DKI APCSS, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the U.S. government. .