The Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) CTGo! Counter-Terrorism & Irregular Warfare Newsletter 16 April 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: Covid-19 pandemic has indirectly reduced terrorism threats - Bukit Aman https://www.edgeprop.my/content/1830178/covid-19-pandemic-has-indirectly-reduced-terrorism- threats-bukit-aman Has Covid-19 knocked terrorism off aviation's most feared threat list? https://www.airport-technology.com/features/has-covid19-knocked-terrorism-off-aviation-most- feared-list/ Africa: Mozambique: Terrorists Stole Perhaps a Million Dollars in Palma https://allafrica.com/stories/202104150135.html Women at the heart of Boko Haram and katiba Macina https://issafrica.org/iss-today/women-at-the-heart-of-boko-haram-and-katiba-macina ISIS Regroups in Central Africa's Christian Countries https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/isis-africa-christian-countries- muslims/2021/04/15/id/1017768/ Target Maiduguri: How Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP)’s Ramadan Offensive Will Counter Operation Tura Takai Bango https://jamestown.org/program/target-maiduguri-how-islamic-state-in-west-africa-province-iswaps- ramadan-offensive-will-counter-operation-tura-takai-bango/ The Evolution and Escalation of the Islamic State Threat to Mozambique https://www.fpri.org/article/2021/04/the-evolution-and-escalation-of-the-islamic-state-threat-to- mozambique/ FOREIGN FIGHTERS AND THE TRAJECTORY OF VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE https://warontherocks.com/2021/04/foreign-fighters-and-the-trajectory-of-violence-in-northern- mozambique/ Americas: FBI director says U.S. racially motivated extremists traveled to network in Europe https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fbi-director-says-us-far-right-extremists-traveled-network-europe- 2021-04-15/ An Old Debate Renewed: Does The U.S. Now Need A Domestic Terrorism Law? https://www.npr.org/2021/03/16/976430540/an-old-debate-renewed-does-the-u-s-now-need-a- domestic-terrorism-law Number of US Troops Linked to Domestic Terror Plots Small but Growing https://www.voanews.com/usa/number-us-troops-linked-domestic-terror-plots-small-growing Former Pentagon official chosen to run the National Counterterrorism Center. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/12/us/politics/christine-abizaid-national-counterterrorism- center.html Illinois man who was trying to give phones to the Islamic State to use as DETONATORS in Syria is jailed for 13 years https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9456057/Long-sentence-man-accused-trying-aid-Islamic- State.html?ito=social-twitter_dailymailus “This is War”: Examining Military Experience Among the Capitol Hill Siege Participants https://ctc.usma.edu/this-is-war-examining-military-experience-among-the-capitol-hill-siege- participants/ Biden budget adds $111 million to battle domestic terrorism https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/547408-biden-budget-adds-111-million-to-battle-domestic- terrorism#.YHROiBzJmQw.twitter White supremacists drive US domestic terrorist attacks to highest level in 25 years https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/547731-white-supremacists-drive-us-domestic- terrorist-attacks-to The Military, Police, and the Rise of Terrorism in the United States https://www.csis.org/analysis/military-police-and-rise-terrorism-united-states CSIS Public Report 2020 https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/csis-scrs/documents/publications/2021/CSIS-Public-Report- 2020.pdf “I Felt Hate More Than Anything”: How an Active Duty Airman Tried to Start a Civil War https://www.propublica.org/article/i-felt-hate-more-than-anything-how-an-active-duty-airman-tried-to- start-a-civil-war Oath Keepers stashed weapons at hotel near Capitol ahead of Jan. 6 riot: Prosecutors https://www.rawstory.com/oath-keepers-2652512665/ AMERICAN INSURRECTION https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/american-insurrection/ Europe: St Paul's bomb plot: Norwegian man charged https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-56729605 Turkey nabs Daesh terrorist, FETÖ members crossing into Greece https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/turkey-nabs-daesh-terrorist-feto-members- crossing-into-greece Fishmongers' Hall attack: Police carried victims to waiting ambulances because of safety concerns https://news.sky.com/story/fishmongers-hall-attack-police-carried-victims-to-waiting-ambulances- because-of-safety-concerns-12276492 Swiss government defends anti-terrorism law against critcism over child rights https://www.reuters.com/article/us-swiss-referendum-idUSKBN2C01OR Leamington Spa man accused of terrorism offences appears in court https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-56749117 Dutch court sentences wife of ISIS member to four years in prison https://www.jurist.org/news/2021/04/dutch-court-sentences-wife-of-isis-member-to-four-years-in- prison/ Turkey: 8 Daesh/ISIS terror suspects arrested https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-8-daesh-isis-terror-suspects-arrested/2207546 Son of ISIS fighter given Irish passport back following legal challenge https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/son-of-isis-fighter-given-irish-passport-back- following-legal-challenge-1.1201597 NS Fight Club: How an MMA gym became a haven for Bulgaria’s far-right extremists https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2021/4/8/22371932/ns-fight-club-mma-gym-bulgaria-far-right- extremists-neo-nazi-radicalization-feature Manchester Arena Inquiry: Mum noticed 'odd' bomber before blast https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-56720975 Northern Ireland: The role of social media in stirring up unrest https://news.sky.com/story/northern-ireland-the-role-of-social-media-in-stirring-up-unrest-12270775 ISIS recruiter murdered gay man and injured another for committing ‘grave sin’ of holding hands https://uk.news.yahoo.com/isis-recruiter-murdered-gay-man-120016272.html Fishmongers’ Hall terrorist carried out stabbing minutes after claiming he had turned away from ‘wrong path’ https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/fishmongers-hall-terrorist-usman-khan-jack-merritt-saskia-jones- b929439.html Sahayb Abu: Would-be rap star jailed for IS-inspired terror plot https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-56697609 Middle East: Car bombing kills four people, 17 wounded in eastern Baghdad: Iraq police https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/04/15/Car-bombing-kills-four-people-17- wounded-in-eastern-Baghdad-Iraq-police SDF arrest alleged ISIS commander accused of weapon smuggling https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/15042021 Kidnapped by ISIS, brainwashed and turned into a child soldier: A Yazidi's story https://www.pressenza.com/2021/04/kidnapped-by-isis-brainwashed-and-turned-into-a-child-soldier-a- yazidis-story/ Explosives-laden drone targets U.S. forces at Iraq's Erbil airport https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/rocket-hits-near-erbil-airport-northern-iraq-kurdish- security-officials-2021-04-14/ Islamic State maintains foothold in Syrian desert https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/04/islamic-state-maintains-foothold-syrian-desert North Asia: China celebrates four years without a violent terrorist incident https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3129726/china-celebrates-four-years-without- violent-terrorist-incident "Terrorism Far From Over": China's Concern Over US' Afghan Pull-Out Plan https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/terrorism-far-from-being-solved-chinas-concern-over-us- afghanistan-pull-out-plan-2414712 Batches of 50 to 100 Uighur workers are being advertised on the Chinese internet https://news.sky.com/story/new-evidence-of-the-strict-controls-uighurs-face-in-factories-thousands-of- miles-from-home-12276248 China may send peacekeeping force to Afghanistan after US troops leave, observers say https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3129707/china-may-send-peacekeeping-force- afghanistan-after-us-troops Under pressure over Xinjiang, China takes aim at overseas Uighurs, academics https://news.yahoo.com/under-pressure-over-xinjiang-china-093951141.html China: Bomb attack in Mingjing kills 5 https://www.eureporter.co/world/china-2/2021/04/06/china-bomb-attack-in-mingjing-kills-5/ South & Central Asia: NATO will match US timeline to pull troops out of Afghanistan https://thehill.com/policy/defense/548292-nato-will-match-us-timeline-to-pull-troops-out-of- afghanistan Sri Lanka bans ISIS, al-Qaeda and 9 other terror groups https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-bans-isis-al-qaeda-and-9-other-terror-groups-377598 Major ISKP terrorist plot in Quetta foiled, four terrorists killed https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/819891-major-iskp-terrorist-plot-in-quetta-foiled-four-terrorists- killed Biden's Expensive New Problem in Afghanistan https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/04/15/bidens-next-afghanistan-challenge-how-to- police-it-from-outside-482054 India, Bangladesh Boost Counter-Terror Cooperation As 10-Day Military Drills Conclude https://eurasiantimes.com/india-bangladesh-boost-counter-terror-cooperation-as-10-day-military-drills- conclude/ 2008 Mumbai terror attack case: U.S. backs India's request for Rana’s extradition https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/2008-mumbai-terror-attack-case-us-backs-indias- request-for-ranas-extradition/article34308645.ece 12 injured in explosion during football match in Balochistan’s Hub https://www.dawn.com/news/1618030 Insurgencies are distinct from wars. India needs new strategy to battle Maoists https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/insurgencies-are-distinct-from-wars-india-needs-new-