Current Counterterrorism News

April 2008 to May 2008

Yemen arrests 11 suspected Al-Qaeda members
Yemeni security forces have broken up an 11-member Al-Qaeda cell in the capital Sanaa, the Defense Ministry's online newspaper reported on Thursday. The suspects, who were arrested over the past few days, revealed during their interrogation "important information regarding terrorist attacks carried out by Al-Qaeda," the September 26 Web site reported. Al-Qaeda's wing in Yemen has carried out a series of attacks in recent months targeting the US and Italian embassies and a residential complex which is home to US oil workers……(AFP, 30 May 08)

Focus on terrorists, not Taliban, Afghan elders urge Canadians

Openly vowing to destroy the Taliban is probably not the diplomatically correct route to take to win over the people of Dand, a rural collection of mud-walled villages south of Kandahar City where even the district police chief complains that some police road checkpoints are populated by "criminals." Be careful who you label the bad guys, a group of Canadian visitors was advised during a visit with district elders this week.

"The Taliban are our local people. We speak their language, we can work with them,"….(CanWest, 29 May 08)

Turkey Launches Economic Offensive against PKK Recruitment

On May 27, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced over $15.5 billion in additional state funding to complete the Southeast Anatolian Project (GAP), a huge irrigation and hydroelectric scheme in nine predominantly Kurdish provinces in southeastern Turkey. Speaking in Diyarbakir, the largest city in the region, Erdogan promised that the completion of GAP would create nearly four million new jobs in what has long been the most impoverished and underdeveloped area of the country—and the main recruiting ground for militant organizations such as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). “This is a social restoration project,” declared Erdogan. “This initiative will restrict the terrorist organization’s field for exploitation”……(Jamestown, 29 May 08)

Morocco's Anti-Terrorism Efforts Dismantle al-Qaeda Cell and Earn US Praise

Morocco's anti-terrorism campaign continued to yield tangible results with last week's arrest of a group of suspected al-Qaeda extremists planning attacks in North Africa and Europe. Morocco's international partners, including the United States, praised Morocco's efforts as a model for combating terrorism in the region and around the world. On May 19, Moroccan authorities arrested the 11 suspected terrorists in Nador and Fez, who reportedly were planning attacks on tourist destinations and government facilities in Belgium as well as targets in Morocco…..(PRN News Wire, 29 May 08)

Turkish warplanes bomb Kurdish rebels in Iraq: army

Turkish warplanes bombed 16 Kurdish rebel targets in neighboring northern Iraq Thursday, the latest in a series of air strikes on bases there since December, the Turkish army said. "Fighter jets hit 16 targets," of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the Khakurk region in the raid, the general staff said on its Internet site, adding that the strike began at 11:00 am…..(AFP, 29 May 08)

Yemen arrests eleven Al-Qaeda militants

Yemeni security authorities have detained eleven Al-Qaeda militants, the local press reported on Thursday.
"Al-Jaish (the Army)" Daily reported Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and Security affairs Rashad Al-Olaimi was scheduled to hold a news conference with media bodies representatives, to "further explain the situation."…..(KUNA, 29 May 08)

Virtual Assassination as a Counterterrorism tool

As part of the virtualization of terrorism it is worth considering what, if any, terrorist tactics can be applied in this new paradigm. One tactic, which can probably transfer from the real world to cyber environments is assassination, or in this case virtual-assassination. The tactic of assassination has value for a number of reasons. It can remove competent or charismatic leadership, damage morale and as a side effect can force an increase in security. So how would all this work in cyberspace? You can’t of course physically murder someone there. But by looking at what assassination actually achieves it is possible to formulate a scenario that has a similar cyberspace effect……(Counterterrorism Blog, 29 May 08)

Matchboxes with $5m Osama bounty message circulating in Peshawar

Matchboxes carrying Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden’s photograph are in circulation in Peshawar city, advertising huge rewards from the US government in return for information about Osama. “Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, if you have any information about Osama Bin Laden,” says the text written in Urdu on one side of the matchbox containing 30 sticks. Postal and email addresses for sharing of information with the US government have also been given on the other side of the matchbox, which also mentions the web-site www.heroes.net for further information……(Daily Times, 28 May 08)

Sir Ian Blair: Terror detectives must 'expect the unexpected'

…Sir Ian Blair said extremists were constantly changing their tactics to expose security weaknesses. Asked about the apparent radicalization of the Exeter bomb suspect Nicky Reilly, Sir Ian said it was "too early" to know exactly what had happened to him……(Telegraph, 27 May 08)

Former anti-terror czar Clarke: Staying in Iraq 'helps Al-Qaeda'

Maintaining US combat troops in Iraq "helps Al-Qaeda" and Washington should pull them from the ravaged country if it wants to see progress in the war on terror, former US anti-terror czar Richard Clarke said Tuesday.

"I think the best thing that we could do to hit Al-Qaeda's attractiveness to the Muslim world was in fact to get out of Iraq in an orderly way over the course of the next two or three years," Clarke said on CNN.

"Our being in Iraq helps Al-Qaeda," he added. "We have to beat them in the ideological struggle…..(AP, 27 May 08)

White Muslim convert bomb suspect named

The white Muslim convert arrested after a bomb was detonated in a restaurant in Exeter has been named as 22-year-old Nicky Reilly. Mr Reilly had a history of mental illness and had been "preyed upon" by "radical" Muslims in the area, police officers said. They have established that he traveled between Plymouth and Exeter by bus before the explosion at the Giraffe restaurant at the Princesshay shopping centre at 12.50pm. Two bombs were found and Reilly was the only person injured. He suffered "serious facial injuries" although they were not said to be life-threatening….(Telegraph, 23 May 08)

British eatery bombing suspect has home searched

…Armed officers raided the home of 22-year-old Nicky Reilly in Plymouth late Thursday. Police said Friday that the search was continuing. Reilly was in a hospital under armed guard and being treated for facial injuries after a device he was carrying blew up Thursday in a bathroom at Giraffe, a popular family restaurant in Exeter, 180 miles (290 kilometers) southwest of London and about 40 miles (60 kilometers) from his home. Another explosive device was found nearby and disarmed by bomb-disposal experts……(AP, 23 May 08)

France places nine under investigation for funding terrorism

Nine people suspected of having taken part in raising funds for the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU),which is regarded as the most fearsome of fundamentalist organizations in Central Asia, have been formally placed under investigations, the French media has reported. These people, of whom a majority is Turkish and other French, have been placed under investigation for "criminal association in relation with a terrorist enterprise and financing of terrorism" by Thierry Fragnoli and Philippe Coirre, French anti-terrorist judges, a judicial source said. Four of the suspects, who are seen as the main masterminds behind the network, are expected to be presented before a judge of freedoms and detention (JLD) where the prosecutions will ask for them to be placed in remand custody pending investigations……(Xinhua, 22 May 08)

More Arrests Follow Capture of Key ETA Figure

French and Spanish police arrested two more suspects Wednesday in a new crackdown on the Basque separatist group ETA that netted the alleged head of the organization in a raid late Tuesday in the French city of Bordeaux, officials said. Security officials and political leaders in both countries said the arrest of Francisco Javier L¿pez Pe¿a, the alleged political and military leader of ETA, was a significant blow to the group and demonstrated the close anti-terrorism cooperation between France and Spain. ETA has waged a bloody, 40-year campaign for an independent Basque nation along the border of France and Spain. More than 800 people have been killed in bombings and assassinations by ETA, which the European Union and the United States consider a terrorist organization……(Washington Post, 22 May 08)

Explosives seized at nuclear plant

A nuclear plant in Sweden was sealed off Wednesday after a worker was stopped at its entrance with a highly explosive substance, police said. Sven-Erik Karlsson, spokesman for Kalmar County Police, said investigators were questioning the man, a welder who was scheduled to work at the plant. Karlsson said the man carried a plastic bag with an explosive substance as he tried to enter the Oskarshamn nuclear plant on the country's southeast coast. …..(MSNBC, 21 May 08)

ETA leader detained in French-Spanish anti-terror raid

French and Spanish police have seized the suspected leader of the Basque separatist group ETA in a joint raid hailed by both countries Wednesday as a major blow against terrorism. Javier Lopez Pena, 49, was detained along with three other suspected ETA members in a sweep on an apartment in the French city of Bordeaux just before midnight Tuesday…..(AFP, 21 May 08)

German defense ministry: Suicide bomb plot aimed at NATO troops in Afghanistan thwarted
Germany's Defense Ministry says Afghan authorities prevented two would-be suicide bombers from detonating a car loaded with explosives outside a NATO base last week. Ministry spokesman Dietrich Jensch says Afghan investigators arrested the men May 15 after they were found driving a car carrying 661 pounds (300 kilograms) of explosives intended for detonation outside the NATO base in Mazar-i-Sharif…..(AP, 21 May 08)

Iraqi Government Launches Operation to Expel al-Qaeda from Mosul

After four days of a preparatory operation code-named Za’eer al-Asad (The Lion’s Roar), Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki arrived in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul to supervise a new military operation against al-Qaeda in Ninawa (Nineveh) province (al-Jazeera, May 14). Al-Maliki was accompanied by Iraqi Defense Minister Abdul Qadir al-Obaidi and a group of Iraqi military commanders. General Abdul Karim Khalaf, the spokesman of the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior, announced that Iraqi forces had started operation Umm al-Rabi’ain (The Mother of Two Springs) to chase al-Qaeda and the extremists affiliated with it out of Mosul. General Khalaf said “a second operation with the name Umm al-Rabi’ain (the nickname of Mosul, known for its long spring season) has started targeting those who committed crimes against Iraqi security forces and civilians in Mosul.”…..(Jamestown, 20 May 08)

IRA suspect arrested in N. Ireland for 1977 killing

Northern Ireland police arrested an Irish Republican Army suspect Tuesday over his alleged role in the killing of an undercover British soldier more than 30 years ago, one of the most controversial killings from the province's long conflict. Capt. Robert Nairac was abducted from a border pub by an IRA gang on May 14, 1977, taken across the border into a Republic of Ireland forest, and shot through the head. His body was never been found… A Northern Ireland detective identified the suspect as Kevin Crilly, an IRA veteran who spent decades on the run in the Irish Republic and the United States following the Nairac killing…….(AP, 20 May 08)

UK officials in Pak can seize Pakistani passports

British officials have been given powers to check and even confiscate Pakistani passports at Pakistani airports from passengers traveling to Britain, a move that has raised the hackles of many passengers. On its part, the British high commission says it does not confiscate the passports but only "retains" them if necessary after issuing a receipt. The permission to check passports was granted some months ago, an official of Pakistan International Airlines said….(Times of India, 20 May 08)

Report: Morocco dismantles suspected terror cell

Moroccan security services have arrested 11 people on charges of plotting attacks in Morocco and Belgium and having links to Iraq's insurgency, the Moroccan state news agency said Monday. The suspects, including a Moroccan living in Belgium, were arrested in the cities of Nador and Fez, the MAP agency said, citing unidentified police officials. The report did not say when the arrests took place. Those arrested are accused of having links to cells sending fighters to Iraq's insurgency and to camps of an Algeria-based militant group, Al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa. The report said authorities believed the suspects were planning attacks in Morocco and Belgium, without elaborating…..(AP, 19 May 08)

Bangladesh adopts tough law to curb terrorism

Bangladesh's army-backed interim government has approved a new counter-terrorism law, laying down a maximum penalty of death for anyone involved in terrorist activities, a senior official said on Monday. The council of advisers (cabinet) chaired by government head Fakhruddin Ahmed approved an ordinance on Sunday that also provides for "speedy trial of terrorists by special courts", with jail sentences ranging from three to 20 years. The previous elected government of now-detained former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia drafted anti-terrorist legislation after a surge in terrorist activities in this south Asian country earlier this decade, but Khaleda's five-year term expired in late 2006 before the measures could be finalized…..(Reuters, 19 May 08)

4 new terror outfits added to intelligence list

The Jaipur serial bomb blasts on Monday added a new name to the list of Islamic terror organizations active in the country - Indian Mujaheedin. Gujarat police also recently added four new names to its list of 16 "recognized" terror outfits. Indian Mujaheedin is the 20th name to be added to this list. Now, the challenge that Gujarat police faces is to track down the roots of these terror outfits in the state as with a rag-tag state intelligence agency, Gujarat is like a sitting duck…..(Times of India, 19 May 08)

Jihad Funding Ring Busted

A group of Islamists with ties to al-Qaeda were rounded up yesterday by German, French and Dutch authorities.

Police in Germany, France and the Netherlands arrested 10 people on Friday suspected of providing funding to Islamic extremists in Uzbekistan, officials said. The 10 men arrested after a yearlong investigation are suspected of belonging to a network involved in funding the Islamist terror organization Islamic Jihad Union, German press agency DPA reported…..(My Pet Jawa, 17 May 08)

Sunni Insurgents in Mosul Offered Amnesty and Cash

Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki offered amnesty and cash payments to Sunni insurgents in the northern city of Mosul on Friday. To qualify, Sunni fighters would have to turn in their heavy weapons — anything beyond rifles and pistols — within 10 days. The offer applies to Mosul and the surrounding region, Nineveh Province, a troubled area inhabited by Sunni Arabs and Kurds…..(New York Times, 17 May 08)

Two men in campus terror arrest

Two men have been arrested at the University of Nottingham campus under the Terrorism Act, police have said.  Police said the men, aged 30 and 22, were arrested on Wednesday morning. One is reported to be a student and the other a former student. They are being questioned while premises connected to them, including campus property, are searched…..(BBC, 16 May 08)

Counter-terrorism police tight-lipped on Sydney raids

Police are yet to say why counter-terrorism officers raided two houses in Sydney early this morning. Officers from the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team searched a residence at Glebe in inner Sydney and another one in Riverwood, in Sydney's south-west. No-one was arrested, but police seized documents and computers. The operation was led by the New South Wales Police but also included officers from Australian Federal Police and partner agencies of the Counter-Terrorism Team….(ABC, 16 May 08)

10 arrested in France, Germany and the Netherlands in connection with terror probe

Authorities in France, Germany and the Netherlands on Friday detained at least 10 people suspected of helping to fund al-Qaida-linked militants with roots in Uzbekistan, officials said. One suspect was detained in Germany, another in the Netherlands, with the rest detained in France, said a senior French police official who was only authorized to discuss the arrests on condition of anonymity. The suspects' nationalities were not given but officials said they were Turkic-speaking…..(AP, 16 May 08)

Australian army officer jailed for selling rocket launchers to terror-linked dealer

A former Australian army captain was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday for stealing rocket launchers from the military and selling them to a man with alleged terrorist links. Shane Della-Vedova, 46, pleaded guilty to stealing 10 M-72 shoulder-fired weapons during his time as an army ammunition technician officer between 2001 and 2003. He also admitted selling the launchers for A$50,000 (US$46,500; ?30,085) to a man who allegedly negotiated to sell them on to a terrorist group…..(AP, 15 May 08)

30 madrassa students arrested for child militancy in Swat

Around 24 madrassa students from Swat are being investigated by security forces, while first information reports (FIR) have been registered against six others for being involved in child militancy during the military operation in Swat. In his report on children’s rights, the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) Child Rights Committee (CRC) District Coordinator Shaukat Salim said that child militancy in Swat is on the rise.  He told Daily Times that about 25 to 30 madrassa students (from seven to 15 years of age) of Kabal tehsil were used as child militants by rebel cleric Fazlullah…..(Daily Times, 15 May 08)

More Civilians Arrested for Alleged Links to Ethiopia Rebels

Five Somalis who landed at an airport in the country's northern sub-state of Puntland were arrested Wednesday minutes after they get off an airplane from neighboring Djibouti, a government official told Radio Garowe. Yasin Said, the governor of Karkar region in Puntland, told Radio Garowe the group of five Somalis was arrested by Puntland Intelligence Service (PIS) officers at Bossaso airport……(Garowe, 15 May 08)

Iran says it foiled attack on Russian consulate

…“A terrorist network linked to the US intended to stir up Iran’s relations with its neighbours by bombing the Russian consulate in Rasht [in Gilan province which has maritime border with Russia],” Iran’s intelligence minister told reporters on Wednesday. Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei added that the US was behind “all terrorist moves” in Iran, including last month’s explosion in a mosque in southern city of Shiraz which killed 14 people and injured 190. “The financial support and the means for the sabotage were provided by those residing in the US.”….(Financial Times, 14 May 08)

Iran arrests 15 over mosque blast

Iran has arrested a total of 15 people over a deadly mosque bombing in the southern city of Shiraz, the intelligence minister said on Wednesday. Iranian officials have accused the United States and Britain of training and financing people behind the April 12 bombing which killed 13 people and wounded more than 200….(AFP, 14 May 08)

Longer terror limit 'unnecessary'

Extending the pre-charge detention limit for terrorism suspects to 42 days is "wholly unnecessary", a cross-party group of MPs and peers has said. The Joint Select Committee on Human Rights has proposed a series of reforms which it says are a viable alternative to increasing the current 28-day limit. They include ending the ban on granting bail in terror cases, and allowing post-charge questioning of suspects…..(BBC, 14 May 08)

Counter-Terrorism/Insurgency: It Is Not The Same

Counterinsurgency so much attention since the 1960's and the creation of the U.S. Army Special Warfare Center.  This renewed interest has sparked fierce debate over the kind of war we are fighting:  terrorism, irregular warfare or an asymmetrical war.  When we label a war a counterinsurgency (COIN), by definition, it means that we are fully aware of the type of insurgency we are fighting; do we really?  With all the labels what kind of Insurgency are we fighting?....(Strategy Page, 14 May 08)

Turkish jets bomb northern Iraq for 3rd straight night

Turkish fighter jets bombed bases of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq in the third consecutive night of air strikes, Iraqi Kurdish officials said Monday. Warplanes targeted suspected PKK hideouts near the towns of Neroye and Rekan in the Dahuk province of northern Iraq, near the Turkish border, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said in a statement posted to its official Web site. There was no immediate confirmation from the Turkish military, but troops had been attacking PKK bases for several nights following a deadly raid on a military outpost in southeastern Turkey last week…..(Today’s Zaman, 14 May 08)

Islamist Leader Arrested In Attack

One of Sudan's most important Islamist ideologues and spiritual mentors was arrested and later released by Sudanese officials Monday, having been accused of backing Saturday's surprise rebel attack on the capital, Khartoum. Analysts said the detention of Hassan al-Turabi, an urbane, Sorbonne-educated lawyer, was part of a broader crackdown on perceived government opponents now underway in Khartoum and the suburb of Omdurman, where the attack by fighters from Sudan's Darfur region was crushed Saturday…..(Washington Post, 13 May 08)

US paid bounty to Pakistan to arrest Canadian terror suspect

A US intelligence agency paid a 500,000-dollar bounty to Pakistan's military for the arrest of the Canadian son of a suspected Al-Qaeda financier, said court documents. According to an October 2004 memo to the head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) ordered released by Canada's federal court, Abdullah Khadr was wanted for "supporting insurgent activity in Pakistan and Afghanistan."… Khadr's brother Abdurahman Khadr has admitted on Canadian television that the family knew bin Laden, and that Al-Qaeda operatives trained him and some of his siblings in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, his brother Omar Khadr faces an upcoming US military tribunal on charges that he murdered a US army medic in Afghanistan in 2002 when he was 15 years old. Omar Khadr was arrested the same year and has since been held at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba…..(AFP, 13 May 08)

The creation of new counterterrorism brigades to fight Al-Qaeda

The homeland security General Direction is to install new counterterrorism brigades across several provinces countrywide, a reliable source told El Khabar. These brigades will be under the guardianship of the new expected institution, while to be in charge of fighting criminality and anticipating any potential terrorist attacks. It falls within the policy being adopted by the Homeland Security General Direction, and announced by the homeland security Commandant, Mr. Ali Tounsi, following recent bombing attacks…..(El Khabar, 12 May 08)

Bathali held for inciting youth to ‘Jihad’

The Public Prosecution Monday ordered the detention of Islamist activist Mubarak Al-Bathali until Tuesday for his statement on his relations with ‘jihadists’ in Iraq, which was published in a local newspaper on May 7.....(Arab Times, 12 May 08)

In an unannounced change, the bounty for a most wanted terrorist, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, is reduced from $5 million to $100,000

… It is a startling development given that U.S. military officials have frequently touted al-Masri's danger ever since they revealed his identity with great fanfare at a briefing in June 2006. At the time, it was considered a propaganda coup to show that AQI was being led by an Egyptian, because the group had been claiming that an Iraqi man became its leader after the death of its founder, Abu Musab Zarqawi. Officially, defense sources say that rewards have historically been reduced for a number of reasons. "When they have reduced rewards in the past, some of the discussion has been to devalue them [the terrorists], to not hold them in such high regard," says a senior defense official. It's psychological warfare of sorts: "It may cause them to do things that say, 'Look, I'm important,'" says the official—and in so doing, perhaps do something that makes it easier for them to be captured. The reasons in the past have also been more pedestrian, adds the official. "Sometimes the rewards are set so high that for some people maybe $100,000 is more tangible than $1 million."…..(US News, 12 May 08)

US considering ‘Anbar model’ for FATA

The United States is interested in implementing the ‘Anbar model’ in the country’s Tribal Areas to train local communities against Al Qaeda and Taliban-linked militants. The proposal is gaining ground, as the architect of the model, incoming US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General David Petraeus, successfully implemented it in the Iraqi province of Anbar when he was commander of the coalition forces in Iraq. Under the initiative, General Petraeus created a brigade of young Sunni men trained by Americans to bolster local security.
The US provided the locals with weapons and a monthly stipend of $300 to ensure security in the Anbar province…..(Daily Times, 12 May 08)

Terror Police Quiz 'Al Qaeda Recruiter'

Anti-terror police are questioning a man who has previously claimed to have recruited hundreds of British Muslims to fight for al Qaeda. Hassan Butt was arrested at Manchester Airport on Saturday, where he was reportedly waiting for a flight to Lahore, Pakistan… Manchester-born Butt has spoken widely through the media about his past involvement with terrorist activity, which he says he has now renounced…..(Sky News, 11 May 08)

Second Thai Counterfeit Passport Ring Broken Up This Month: Nearly 22,000 Passports Seized

Today Thai authorities announced arrests in an enormous counterfeit passport ring. 12 people were arrested and some 20,000 fake passports were seized. It was the second such arrest in the past month. The 12-person gang, included Thais, Burmese, and Indonesians. The 20,000 passports were from a diverse group of countries: Burma, Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, Malaysia, Russia, Sweden and the United States. Thai police reported that 2,000 of the passports were ready to be used…….(Counterterrorism Blog, 10 May 08)

Anti-terror police arrest Muslim author and former al-Qaida recruiter as he boards flight to Pakistan

A muslim author who admits being a former al-Qaida recruiter was today being questioned by anti-terror police. Hassan Butt, who penned a book on his terrorist past - was detained at Manchester Airport yesterday afternoon…Mr Butt, who has previously been arrested twice under the Terrorism Act, told the Manchester Evening News in 2004 of wanting to become a martyr before he reached 40. But the high-profile author says he completely changed his mind about terrorism following the 7/7 attacks in London……(Daily Mail, 10 May 08)

Sri Lanka military captures town, 31 rebels dead

Sri Lankan troops backed by warplanes captured a town in the northwest of the island on Friday after killing 31 Tamil Tiger rebels in a battle, the military said, as it pressed on with an offensive in the region. Three soldiers were killed and another five were missing from the fighting in Mannar district…..(Reuters, 9 May 08)

Taliban governor killed in raid: Afghan ministry

Afghan police killed the self-styled governor and provincial police chief of Taliban insurgents in the western province of Ghor on Thursday, the interior ministry said. The police raid killed Mullah Sarajuddin identified as Taliban's governor for Ghor and the police chief named only as Mawlavi, along with five other militants while planning to carry out a "sabotage" plan, the ministry said…..(Reuters, 8 May 08)

Iran Arrests Group For Mosque Blast, Blames West

Iran has arrested members of a terrorist group with links to Britain and the United States who were behind a blast at a mosque last month that killed 14 and wounded 200 in the southern city of Shiraz, a news agency said. Iranian officials had previously said the April 12 blast, in the Shohada mosque during an evening prayer sermon by a prominent local cleric, was caused by explosives left over from an exhibition commemorating the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war……(New York Times, 8 May 08)

U.S.-trained anti-terror units running scared

They are billed as the most professional Palestinian police force ever assembled. They received advanced U.S. training and were deployed this week amid much fanfare and claims they would fight crime and terrorism. But less than 30 minutes into their first mission, the force ran scared from armed terrorists they were charged with combating. Meet the new elite police unit of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah organization…..(World Net Daily, 8 May 08)

Iranian Exiles Aren’t Terrorist Group, British Court Says

After a seven-year legal battle, Britain’s Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday that the British government was wrong to include an Iranian resistance group, the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran, on its list of banned terrorist groups. Spokesmen for the group, whose name means People’s Holy Warriors, said the ruling appeared to leave Britain’s interior minister, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, with no further legal recourse but to order Parliament to strike the group from a list of more than 20 proscribed terrorist organizations under Britain’s Terrorism Act…….(New York Times, 8 May 08)

British Court Reject Terrorist Label for Iranian Group

…Three justices rejected a government appeal against a lower court ruling in November in favor of the People's Mujahedeen of Iran, which is a member of the National Council of Resistance.  The People's Mujahedeen is also regarded as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.  The Court of Appeal said there were no valid grounds for contending that the Proscribed Organizations Appeal Commission made errors of law in ordering the organization deleted from the list of terrorist organizations. It refused to allow the government to appeal its ruling…..(AP, 7 May 08)

De-facto LTTE leader arrested in UK

Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar alias A C Shanthan, the de-facto leader of the LTTE in Britain, was arrested today for a second time in less than a year in connection with fund-raising and procurement activities for the militant outfit. 51-year-old Shanthan was first arrested in June 2007 under Britain's Terrorism Act before being released on bail in November. "The 51-year-old man was arrested by the anti-terrorist units….(PTI, 6 May 08)

Lebanon: Militant telecom network shut down

The Lebanese government has accused the radical militant organization Hezbollah of violating the country's sovereignty by operating its own telecommunications network. The western-backed government on Tuesday pledged to close the system which it called a threat to national security. The challenge to the Shia militant group, backed by Iran and Syria, is likely to increase tensions in Lebanon which is suffering its worst political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war…..(AKI, 6 May 08)

South Africa Seeks New Laws to Fight Terror Financing

South Africa's fight against money laundering and terrorism financing needs tough new laws to close regulatory loopholes and give authorities more power to crack down on crime, a top financial official said on Tuesday.

Murray Michell, the head of South Africa's Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), said draft laws being debated by parliament would also help unclog an overburdened judicial system and streamline oversight…..(Reuters, 6 May 08)

Top US commando says strain of war limits forces elsewhere

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are making such heavy use of the nation's Green Berets and other elite warriors that they cannot fulfill their roles in other parts of the world, the military's top commando told The Associated Press on Monday. "We're going to fewer countries, staying for shorter periods of time, with smaller numbers of people than historically we have done," Adm. Eric T. Olson said in his first interview since becoming commander of U.S. Special Operations Command last July….(AP,  6 May 08)

Algeria: Young al-Qaeda recruits arrested

The Algerian army on Monday arrested a group of 15 young people suspected to have been on their way to join a local al-Qaeda cell. The youths were stopped in the thickly wooded area of Awlad Yaish in the province of Blida, 45 kilometres from Algiers, police told the Kuwaiti news agency Kuna……(AKI, 6 May 08)

Man arrested over terrorism

A 51-year-old man has been arrested at an address in the Swindon area under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The man is being held in custody at a London police station on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism……(Teletext, 6 May 08)

Dozens of Iraqi police detained in operation

Iraqi soldiers detained dozens of policemen and closed down a hospital suspected of treating Shi'ite militiamen in a Baghdad stronghold of cleric Moqtada al -Sadr's Mehdi Army, Iraqi security officials said on Tuesday.

Iraqi and U.S. security forces have been battling Mehdi Army fighters in Baghdad since late March. The upsurge in violence has underscored the fragility of Iraq's security at a time when U.S. troops in the capital are reducing their numbers.

The U.S. military announced that the third of five combat brigades sent to Iraq last year to help curb sectarian violence had begun withdrawing……(Reuters, 5 May 08)

Indonesia detains militant over 2005 Bali bombings

Indonesian police have detained an Islamic militant suspected of involvement in triple suicide bombings on the resort island of Bali in 2005, a spokesman said on Monday.  Faiz Fauzan, who was arrested on April 22 in Central Java province, is a member of a wing of the militant group Jemaah Islamiah led by Malaysian fugitive Noordin Mohammad Top, said police spokesman Abubakar Nataprawira.  "He is suspected of involvement in the planning of the second Bali bombings,"…..(Reuters, 5 May 08)

Scotland’s new counter-terrorism chief: neo-Nazis as much of a threat as al-Qaeda

Scotland’s new terror tsar has warned that the threat from right-wing extremism is as damaging to community relations as the menace posed by al-Qaeda. In an exclusive interview on his first day as the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland's counter terrorism co-ordinator, Allan Burnett said forces should not ignore the latent neo-Nazi presence across the UK. Fife's assistant chief constable said the public is at risk because racism is being used to unite people into violent causes….(Sunday Herald, 4 May 08)

Anti-Jihad U.

…For the past nine months, Task Force 134—led by Major General Douglas M. Stone, a two-star Marine general who oversees civilian detention in Iraq—has been experimenting with a series of unconventional initiatives at two large “camps” where 23,245 suspected insurgents, Iraqi and foreign, are being held. The aim of these programs, which I visited in April, is not only to accelerate the identification and release of those falsely accused of “jihadi” activity, but also to de-radicalize and rehabilitate others who may have joined the insurgency primarily to feed their families, or because they were motivated by a militant, perverse interpretation of Islam.  The results to date suggest that Stone’s approach seems to be working, at least for the vast majority of those people who have been arrested as suspected threats to American forces and are now being detained……(City-Journal, 2 May 08)

US warns terror group remains a threat

Terror group Jemaah Islamiah remains a "serious threat" despite Australian and Indonesian efforts, and al-Qaida has rebuilt some of its pre-September 11 2001 capabilities… A ceasefire and instability in the mountainous and porous region of Pakistan appears "to have provided al-Qaida leadership greater mobility and ability to conduct training and operational planning, particularly that targeting Western Europe and the US," it says.  "Numerous senior al-Qaida operatives have been captured or killed, but al-Qaida leaders continued to plot attacks and to cultivate stronger operational connections that radiated outward from Pakistan to affiliates throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe,"….(Herald Sun, 2 May 08)

Saudi Arabia Tries to Rehabilitate Its Jihadists

The idea of rehabilitating committed jihadists remains controversial in counterterrorism circles, but an ambitious Saudi program is winning praise from the U.S. State Department. "Saudi Arabia has implemented an effective model rehabilitation program for returning jihadis to turn them against violent extremism and to reintegrate them as peaceful citizens," the department concluded in its annual report on terrorism. Saudi Arabia says that some 2,000 extremists have passed through its de-radicalization program, where prisoners receive extensive counseling and educational sessions. As many as 700 have been released, and Saudi officials claim recidivism has been negligible. But Saudi society remains relatively opaque, which has made independent assessments of the program very difficult…..(US News, 2 May 08)

Moroccan Police Arrest One of Nine Escaped Terrorists Linked to Deadly 2003 Bombings

…Police arrested Mohamed Chetbi and two men who helped him to hide out, the agency said. It did not say where the arrests occurred or provide other information. Chetbi and eight others escaped last month from the prison in the town of Kinitra, about 30 miles northeast of the capital, Rabat. The disappearances were noted on the morning of April 7, the Justice Ministry said at the time.  Chetbi had been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in a series of nearly simultaneous suicide bombings in 2003 in downtown Casablanca that killed 45 people, including the 12 bombers. Chetbi's exact role was not clear…..(AP, 1 May 08)

Canada reaches out to Taliban

Canadian troops are reaching out to the Taliban for the first time, military and diplomatic officials say, as Canada softens its ban on speaking with the insurgents. After years of rejecting any contact with the insurgents, Canadian officials say those involved with the mission are now rethinking the policy in hopes of helping peace efforts led by the Afghan government. The Canadian work on political solutions follows two separate tracks: tactical discussions at a local level in Kandahar, and strategic talks through the Kabul government and its allies…..(Globe & Mail, 1 May 08)

April 2008

Turkey and Pakistan Cooperate on Counter-Terrorism Efforts

Facing well-entrenched insurgencies and numerous acts of terrorism, Turkey and Pakistan have initiated cooperative efforts to increase their security in the face of these threats. Following a two-day, high-level official visit to Pakistan by Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, the two nations announced “strategic” cooperation on a number of fronts, including defense, trade, and diplomacy… Foreign Minister Babacan made explicit mention of Turkey’s desire for an enhanced level of defense industry cooperation with Pakistan. Babacan described the volume of trade with Pakistan as having risen to the level of $690 million in the past five years, noting that—with the increased efforts of private-sector firms in both nations and the creation by Turkey and Pakistan of a business-friendly environment—there was the hoped-for potential of reaching one billion dollars in trade in the next two years……(Jamestown, 30 Apr 08)

Egyptian police uncover 200 kilograms TNT explosives cache in central Sinai

An Egyptian security official says police uncovered an explosives cache containing 200 kilograms (441 pounds) of TNT hidden in sacks in the Sinai peninsula. The official says the cache was buried in a deserted area near the central Sinai town of Nekhel, around 150 kilometers (94 miles) south of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip…..(AP, 30 Apr 08)

Osama Bin Laden’s son Omar Ossama is banned from Britain

…Officials have told Omar Ossama bin Laden that there is evidence that he is still loyal to his father, who is held responsible for the deaths of 52 innocent people in the London bombings of July 7, 2005.  Mr bin Laden, 27, is appealing against the refusal to grant him a visa and says that it is wrong to ban him from Britain on the basis of his parentage and inaccurate media reports about his beliefs. He wants to live in Cheshire with his British wife, Zaina Alsabah bin Laden, 52, formerly known as Jane Felix-Browne…..(Times Online, 30 Apr 08)

Bristol teenager Andrew Ibrahim charged under Terrorism Act

A 19-year-old, arrested before three controlled explosions were carried out at his Bristol home, has been charged under the Terrorism Act. Andrew Ibrahim, of Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, has also been charged with explosives offences, Avon and Somerset police said tonight…..(Telegraph, 30 Apr 08)

2 charged in Mauritania attacks

…One of the men, Khadim Ould Semane, is charged with masterminding a February attack on Israel's embassy, Adda said. Semane also is suspected of involvement in a firefight with police earlier this month that left three people dead…A third man and his wife also were detained on suspicion of involvement in the April clashes. It was not clear if all four were captured together. Another man, Sidi Ould Sidna, was charged with planning and executing the December killings of four French tourists. He was extradited by Guinea-Bissau in January but later escaped from authorities….(AP, 30 Apr 08)

Iran: EU may boycott top bank, says report

The European Union may as soon as Friday agree to impose sanctions against Iran's influential Bank Melli, the Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday. The move follows delayed approval from Italy, which reportedly removed its objection to the move at a meeting of the EU's political and security committee in Brussels on Friday. The newspaper quoted unnamed Italian government sources saying this was an early indication that Italy's conservative prime minister-elect, Silvio Berlusconi, would adopt a different policy towards Iran……(AKI, 29 Apr 08)

UK arrests in Tamil Tigers probe

Three men have been arrested by counter-terror police as part of an investigation into the Tamil Tigers.  The arrests are said to be part of a long-term investigation into the Sri-Lankan-based group.  Two men, aged 39 and 46, were arrested in dawn raids at separate addresses in Newtown, Powys, and a third, aged 33, arrested in Mitcham, south-west London……(BBC, 29 Apr 08)

Terror claims trap Canadian in Khartoum

Abousfian Abdelrazik, a 46-year-old Sudanese Canadian fingered by CSIS as a terrorist suspect, has been marooned in Khartoum for nearly five years as successive Canadian governments have refused him a passport and thwarted other efforts to bring him home to his family in Montreal. Mr. Abdelrazik - who faces no criminal charges - denies he belongs to al-Qaeda or has ever been to Afghanistan. He can't explain why Canadian, French and U.S. counterterrorist agencies have labelled him a terrorist……(Globe & Mail, 28 Apr 08)

U.S., Allies See Progress in Selling Al-Qaeda As an Enemy to the Muslim World

The top White House terrorism expert thinks some gains are being made in the worldwide public relations battle against al-Qaeda, as the administration and its overseas allies press efforts to show that Osama bin Laden's network is killing Muslim civilians rather than defending its interests. "More and more Muslim and Arab populations -- [including] clerics and scholars -- are questioning the value of al-Qaeda's program," Juan Carlos Zarate, deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for combating terrorism, said Wednesday at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy……(Washington Post, 28 Apr 08)

Thai police seize more than 1,000 fake passports in raid

Thai authorities have seized more than a thousand fake Asian and Western passports and arrested a man in one of the biggest anti-counterfeiting operations in recent years, police said on Sunday. Mohammed Karim, a 56-year-old from Bangladesh, was nabbed in a Bangkok townhouse late on Saturday where they found a sophisticated passport making operation and more than 1,000 finished and unfinished documents….(Reuters, 27 Apr 08)

Egypt charges 5 in Hamas attack plot

Egypt charged two leaders of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, two Sinai Beduins and a Palestinian with plotting a terrorist attack with Hamas, a security official said Sunday. Brotherhood leaders Abdel-Hai al-Faramawy, a professor at Cairo's Al-Azhar university, and Mohammed Wahdan were charged with paying the equivalent of US$3,600 (€2,300) to two Beduins to buy 30 jerry cans of fuel, spare parts and a remote control for an unmanned aircraft.  Al-Faramawy denied the charges, while Hamas said the reports were completely false….(AP, Jerusalem Post, 27 Apr 08)

Al Qaeda wouldn't hesitate to blow away a city: That's why we need 42-day detention, says ex MI6 boss

The former head of MI6 is backing controversial Government plans to hold terror suspects for 42 days without charge, saying it might prevent a dirty-bomb attack on Britain. MI6 prides itself on avoiding political debates but former chief Sir Richard Dearlove warns that the UK would "regret" not bringing in longer detention for terror suspects.  Sir Richard, 63, who retired from MI6 in 2004, says that in some serious cases the current 28-day limit is not enough to build a case or to gather intelligence on the scale of the threat faced by Britain…..(Daily Mail, 26 Apr 08)

Germany and US to Share Intimate Data on Terror Suspects

The US and Germany recently signed a deal that would allow them to share data on suspected terrorists. Now it turns out that the new agreement allows for the countries to swap data on suspects' ethnic origin, religious beliefs and union membership -- and even sex lives.  When Germany and the US recently signed a bilateral agreement (more...) allowing them to swap data on terror suspects, civil rights activists accused the deal of violating German privacy laws. Now union leaders and opposition politicians are up in arms after it has been revealed that the agreement clears the way for sharing very personal information -- including data on a suspect's sex life…..(Spiegel, 26 Apr 08)

Algeria: Two alleged al-Qaeda terrorists arrested

Algerian police have arrested two suspected members of al-Qaeda, according to a report on the Algerian newspaper Ech-Chourouk. The report said that the two wanted men were captured between Tuesday and Wednesday.  The men were found in a restaurant in the Shashar district……(AKI, 25 Apr 08)

US Embassy: US provides Jordan with anti-terrorism computer equipment

The United States has provided Jordan with US$237,000 worth of computer equipment to fight terrorism.

The US Embassy in Amman says the shipment includes special forensic computers used to track cyber crimes and terrorists online. In a statement issued Thursday, the embassy says the equipment is one of the largest grants provided by the U.S. Department of State's Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistance Programs, or ATA……(AP/Jerusalem Post, 24 Apr 08)

UK Court Invalidates Terrorist Asset Freezing Regime as Unconstitutional

Today, the UK's high court invalidated the country's asset freezing regime against terrorists, ruling it to be unconstitutional. The ruling has been described as devastating to the UK's strategy against terrorism. It was based on the court finding that the UK government could not simply implement UN Security Council resolutions directly, but had to go to Parliament first to get them authorized.  It is not clear from initial reports whether this means that the government is supposed to go to Parliament every time it wishes to freeze the assets of a designated terrorist, or after each UN security counsel resolution. Either requirement would likely mean delays in implementing sanctions based on UN decisions, giving the terrorists time and opportunity to move funds out of harm's way during the period of legislative consideration…..(Counterterrorism Blog, 24 Apr 08)

Police Suspect Islamist Group of Recruiting Militants

Police on Wednesday, April 23, raided 16 locations across Germany, including homes, cultural associations and a publishing office, that were allegedly linked to nine suspected radical Islamists accused of spreading extremist material and recruiting militants for jihad abroad, authorities said.  The inquiry did not allege terrorism but the lesser charge of forming a criminal group. The aim of the group was reportedly to encourage radicalism among ethnic minority Muslims and among German converts to Islam, police said….(Deutsche Welle, 23 Apr 08)

German Police Conduct Nationwide Raids on Suspected Islamists

German police raided 16 locations across the country, including apartments and cultural centers, in search of information on nine people accused of recruiting followers for "Jihadist activity" in the country and abroad… The suspects ran a cultural organization out of Neu-Ulm that began in September 2005 to "Islamize and radicalize" individuals with a strict form of Islam using literature, video and audio tapes as well as seminars, the prosecutor said. The group aimed to prepare followers for action in Germany and overseas……(Bloomberg, 23 Apr 08)

Police Raid Homes of Suspected Islamists

…The Munich public prosecutor's office, which is leading the investigation, said the raids were directed at Islamists who are suspected of "forming a criminal network." The nine men are German nationals aged between 25 and 47. Most of them are of immigrant background. The men are accused of trying to radicalize Muslims and non-Muslims in the period since September 2005. According to investigators, their base was a former community center called the Multicultural House in Neu-Ulm, a notorious meeting point for radical Islamists. The suspects are believed to have focused their efforts on German converts to Islam……(Spiegel, 23 Apr 08)

Al-Qaeda Sahara Network Spurs U.S. to Train Chad, Mali Forces

Bands of Islamist fighters, terrorist trainers and arms suppliers roaming the mountainous southern Sahara Desert are new targets in the U.S. war against al-Qaeda. The groups, originally linked to rebels fighting the government of Algeria, operate under the umbrella of Algeria- based al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, U.S. military officials say. AQIM has claimed responsibility for at least six attacks, including a failed attempt to assassinate Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, that have killed more than 100…..(Bloomberg, 23 Apr 08)

Iran and Turkey Move Closer on Counter-Terrorism Cooperation

There are signs that Turkey and Iran intend to increase cooperation in their mutual struggle against militant Kurdish nationalists based in northern Iraq. The Turkish Interior Ministry announced in a statement on April 17 that “ Turkish and Iranian officials have signed a memorandum of understanding expressing their willingness to develop cooperation in security issues.” According to the statement, issued after the conclusion of the 12th High Security Commission (HSC) meeting between Turkey and Iran: “The increase in some terrorist movements in the region damages both countries, and the most influential way to battle this outlawed problem is the exchange of intelligence and security cooperation” (Hurriyet, April 17). The main movements alluded to in this statement are the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which seeks autonomy for Kurds in Turkey, and the closely related Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK), whose members are militants from the heavily Kurdish northwestern provinces of Iran who carry out cross-border strikes into Iran……(Jamestown, 22 Apr 08)

Pakistan’s New Government Launches Peace Initiative with Islamist Militants in Swat

Maulana Sufi Mohammad, the aged leader of the banned Islamic group, Tanzim Nifaz Shariat-i-Mohammadi (TNSM), was released in Peshawar on April 21 after more than six years of imprisonment as part of the reconciliation efforts undertaken by the newly-elected coalition government of Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) (The News International [Islamabad], April 22). His release is part of an effort to tackle the conflict in the militancy-hit Swat district and restore order in the once peaceful valley. It coincided with the signing of an agreement between the TNSM and the government. Under the six-point agreement, the TNSM renounced the use of force in achieving its goal of enforcing Shari’a (Islamic law) in Swat and other parts of Malakand region (Dawn [Islamabad], April 22). It pledged to respect the institutions of the state and accept the government’s right to establish its writ. The TNSM also distanced itself from elements involved in attacks on security forces in Swat and elsewhere. In return, the government withdrew all pending cases against Sufi Mohammad, commuted his remaining prison term and set him free unconditionally……(Jamestown, 22 Apr 08)

Two arrested under anti-terrorism laws

Police arrested two men under anti-terrorism laws at Heathrow airport on Tuesday, suspecting both to be involved in activities overseas, police sources said. Mohammed Abushamma and Qasim Abukar, both aged 20 and from north London, would appear in court on Wednesday, a Scotland Yard spokesman said. He said they were charged with preparing to commit acts of terrorism…..(Reuters, 22 Apr 08)

UNIFIL finds Hezbollah arms; gunmen scatter peacekeepers

Armed Hezbollah militants warded off members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) last month when the peacekeepers discovered a truck carrying weapons and ammunition belonging to the Lebanon-based guerilla group. The incident was referred to briefly in a semi-yearly report submitted to the UN Security Council by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. The incident was the first time that UNIFIL forces were confronted by armed Hezbollah men south of Lebanon's Litani River, an area which Security Council resolution 1701 prohibits Hezbollah from entering….(Haaretz, 22 Apr 08)

Somali forces storm hijacked Dubai ship, arrest pirates

Security forces in northern Somalia stormed a hijacked ship Tuesday, rescuing the hostages and arresting seven pirates in an operation that wounded three people, officials said. The Dubai-flagged ship, which was seized Monday, originated from the United Arab Emirates, said Abdullahi Said Samatar, security affairs minister in Somalia's semiautonomous Puntland region……(AP/Jerusalem Post, 22 Apr 08)

US Government donates books on terrorism

A selection of award-winning books on terrorism and counter-terrorism are now available at the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism here for researchers and participants of courses conducted at the centre. The United States government donated 53 books to add to the collection of SEARCCT, located in Persiaran Mahameru. The US government has also donated training equipment and reference materials. US Ambassador to Malaysia James Keith said that researchers now had at their disposal a selection of award-winning materials…..(NST, 22 Apr 08)

Judges set to deliver new blow on terror

Gordon Brown is facing a new battle over key anti-terrorism laws this week with the High Court set to rule against powers to freeze suspects’ bank accounts. Five men who deny any link to terrorism and have no previous convictions are challenging the Government’s powers to freeze bank accounts, stop benefit payments and control the spending of people it has designated terror suspects…..(Times Online, 22 Apr 08)

US seeks to block Zimbabwe-bound Chinese arms

The Bush administration is intervening with governments in southern Africa to prevent a Chinese ship carrying weapons for Zimbabwe's security forces from unloading its cargo, The Associated Press has learned.

At the same time, the State Department's top Africa hand, Jendayi Frazer, plans to visit the region this week to underscore U.S. concerns about the shipment. Frazer also will try to persuade Zimbabwe's neighbors to step up pressure on President Robert Mugabe's government to publish results from a disputed election that the opposition claims to have won…..(AP, 22 Apr 08)

Female Rangers Battle Terrorists