The Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) CTGo! Counter-Terrorism & Irregular Warfare Newsletter

27 November 2020 edition Please enjoy this week’s selection of news articles provided by your DKI APCSS Counter-Terrorism team:

COVID-19 and violent extremism:

Coronavirus Prompts Fall In Terrorist Activity, But Effect Could Be Shortlived https://www.forbes.com/sites/dominicdudley/2020/11/25/coronavirus-prompts-fall-in-terrorist-activity-but-downturn-could-be-shortlived/?sh=de263c07e954 UN Says Terrorist Groups Exploiting COVID-19 Pandemic With Extortion, Bio-warfare https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/un-says-terrorist-groups-exploiting-covid-19-pandemic-with-extortion-bio-warfare.html

Africa:

AQIM names veteran jihadist as new emir https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2020/11/aqim-names-veteran-jihadist-as-new-emir.php Morocco dismantles a terrorist cell affiliated with ISIS https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/101998/morocco-dismantles-terrorist-cell-affiliated.html No shortcuts to Negotiation With al-Shabaab https://www.lawfareblog.com/no-shortcuts-negotiating-al-shabaab Lead Inspector General for East Africa And North And West Africa Counterterrorism Operations I Quarterly Report to the United States Congress | July 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020 https://www.dodig.mil/Reports/Lead-Inspector-General-Reports/Article/2427451/lead-inspector-general-for-east-africa-and-north-and-west-africa-counterterrori/

Americas:

It’s ‘sweet relief’ to be home, says US boy forced to threaten TRUMP in IS video https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54995445 Parole Board raises concerns about Toronto terrorism convict ahead of his prison release https://globalnews.ca/news/7481093/parole-board-concerns-toronto-terrorism-convict-mohamed-hassan-hersi-prison-release/

Navy releases new information regarding NAS Pensacola terrorist attack https://www.wkrg.com/northwest-florida/navy-releases-new-information-regarding-nas-pensacola-terrorist-attack/ Sussex County Woman Charged with Concealing Terrorist Financing to Syrian Al-Nusra Front, a Foreign Terrorist Organization https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/sussex-county-woman-charged-concealing-terrorist-financing-syrian-al-nusra-front-foreign

Europe:

Birmingham woman arrested by terrorism police https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-55059437 Turkey nabs 3 terrorists plotting ‘sensational’ attack https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-nabs-3-terrorists-plotting-sensational-attack/2047554 Turkey deported nearly 9,000 foreign terrorists https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-deported-nearly-9-000-foreign-terrorists/2052281 Swiss authorities suspect terrorism in Lugano stabbings https://www.dw.com/en/swiss-authorities-suspect-terrorism-in-lugano-stabbi Swiss probe knife attack injuring 2 as possible terrorism https://wtop.com/europe/2020/11/swiss-probe-knife-attack-injuring-2-as-possible-terrorism/ Swiss suspect terror link in department store attack in Lugano https://news.yahoo.com/two-hurt-knife-attack-swiss-165829254.html Far-right extremist jailed for terror and explosives offences https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/filip-bednarczyk-luton-explosives-terror-jail-b1761242.html Russia says it has thwarted an ISIS terror attack in Moscow, one detained: RIA https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2020/11/25/Russia-says-it-has-thwarted-an-ISIS-terror-attack-in-Moscow-one-detained-RIA Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme, April 2019 to March 2020 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/individuals-referred-to-and-supported-through-the-prevent-programme-april-2019-to-march-2020/individuals-referred-to-and-supported-through-the-prevent-programme-april-2019-to-march-2020 New EU counter-terrorism agenda set for December https://euobserver.com/tickers/150192

Middle East:

‘Major’ ISIS target arrested at Baghdad airport https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/23112020

Top US general in the Mideast says ISIS in Iraq and Syria still long-term threat https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/11/19/top-us-general-in-the-mideast-says-isis-in-iraq-and-syria-still-long-term-threat/

North Asia:

Uyghur Convicted of Terrorism in Indonesia Pleads For Asylum After Comrades Deported to China https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/indonesian/kid-ch--uyghur-11252020135559.html

South Asia:

Targeting Mumbai: Future imperfect https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/targeting-mumbai-future-imperfect-45693/ Four ‘terrorists’ arrested in Naseerabad https://www.dawn.com/news/1592636/four-terrorists-arrested-in-naseerabad Pakistani militant leader found guilty on two more charges of terrorism financing https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/pakistani-islamist-found-guilty-on-two-more-charges-of-terrorism-financing 26-year-old Bangladeshi arrested under ISA following investigations into ‘terrorism-related activities’ https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/bangladeshi-isa-ahmed-faysal-terrorism-related-activities-mha-13628864 CTD Lahore foils terrorist attack; suicide bomber neutralized https://www.app.com.pk/national/ctd-lahore-foils-terrorist-attack-suicide-bomber-neutralized/ Afghan spy chief warns drone warfare is Taliban’s new fighting method https://intelnews.org/2020/11/24/01-2910/ Bangladesh govt asks mosque officials to propagate anti-terrorism, anti-militancy speech before Friday prayers http://www.newsonair.com/News?title=Bangladesh-govt-asks-mosque-officials-to-propagate-anti-terrorism%2C-anti-militancy-speech-before-Friday-prayers&id=404850

Southeast Asia:

Malaysian among 16 foreigners repatriated from Singapore for terrorism https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/24/malaysian-among-16-foreigners-repatriated-from-singapore-for-terrorism Thai Soldier shot in Pattani https://www.bangkokpost.com/ 3 Abu Sayyaf terrorists killed in clash off Zamboanga City https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/11/25/news/latest-stories/3-abu-sayyaf-terrorists-killed-in-clash-off-zamboanga-city/801395/

Oceania: Far-right terrorist Philip Galea jailed for 12 years after plotting against ‘Muslims and lefties’ in Melbourne https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-20/far-right-terror-plotter-phillip-galea-sentenced-in-melbourne/12903588 Growing far-right threat should spark new approach to extremism, Australian expert says https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/26/growing-far-right-threat-should-spark-new-approach-to-extremism-australian-expert-says?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Abdul Nacer Benbrika: Australia revokes citizenship of terror plotter https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-55069037

Right-wing:

Largest number of Prevent referrals related to far-right extremism https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/nov/26/just-one-in-10-prevent-referrals-found-at-risk-of-radicalisation

Transnational/General: Terror-related deaths around the world hit five-year low: analysis https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/527543-terror-related-deaths-around-the-world-hit-five-year-low-analysis Global Terrorism Index 2020: Measuring the Impact of Terrorism https://www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GTI-2020-web-1.pdf Handbook of Terrorism Prevention and Preparedness http://icct.nl/handbook-of-terrorism-prevention-and-preparedness/ 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 Podcast: Nick Rasmussen on countering violent extremism online https://www.brookings.edu/techstream/podcast-nick-rasmussen-on-countering-violent-extremism-online/ Balancing Counter-Terrorism Measures with International Human Rights https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2020/11/23/balancing-counter-terrorism-measures-with-international-human-rights/ The jihadist threat is outliving its global leaders https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/21/opinions/the-jihadist-threat-is-outliving-its-global-leaders-charles-lister/index.html

Strategic Competition & Irregular Warfare:

Designating the Houthis as Terrorists Would be a Mistake https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2020/11/designating-houthis-terrorists-would-be-mistake/170318/ Top DoD Management Challenges – Fiscal Year 2021 https://www.dodig.mil/Reports/Top-DoD-Management-Challenges/Article/2419079/top-dod-management-challenges-fiscal-year-2021/ Righting the Course for America’s Special Operators https://warontherocks.com/2020/11/righting-the-course-for-americas-special-operators/ Long-term behavioral change in a knife fight: The future of psychological operations https://www.militarytimes.com/opinion/commentary/2020/11/21/long-term-behavioral-change-in-a-knife-fight-the-future-of-psychological-operations

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