Introduction
Vitally important to Al-Qaeda and its Western sympathizers and recruits, and aimed at audiences both Muslim and non-Muslim, the Ansar Al-Mujahideen English Forum (AMEF), ansar1.info, is considered the primary English-language jihadi forum, disseminating the majority of Al-Qaeda's propaganda for the English-speaking West. It is currently hosted by Softronics in Switzerland, and registered to Mr. Ali Mahmoud, Postbus 291, Brussels, Belgium, phone +32-6293343078, [email protected]
AMEF was established in 2008 in Arabic, and later launched multiple language pages, including English; it has thousands of threads and individual messages.
Problems that have plagued most jihadi websites, such as interruptions in provision of website services and/or removal, have largely not affected AMEF. Although the host and location are known, AMEF maintains a steady online presence, enabling it to continue operating as a tool of Al-Qaeda in the West even though it has been at the center of multiple terrorism cases.
On December 27, 2011, AMEF, which had until then been partially closed to public readership, opened registration for new members and released a statement warning readers of "traps" laid by "the infidels" for "would-be Jihadis," to apprehend them "before they are actually able to involve themselves in any serious activity... before they get in contact with true Mujahideen." It noted, "Not only does this occur in Masjids [mosques], but also online. Our beloved forum was used more than once in this manner..." (As of January 4, 2012, registration had closed.)[1]
AMEF Incites and Instructs Activists to Carry Out Terrorist Acts
Multiple individuals connected with the Arabic page of Ansar Al-Mujahedeen were arrested worldwide in 2011, in Germany, Belgium, and elsewhere and even killed in jihadi fronts.[2]
In the U.S., 22-year-old Penn State University student Emerson Winfield Begolly was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 14, 2011 for allegedly acting as an AMEF moderator. According to the indictment, beginning in July 2010 Begolly posted a number of items on AMEF encouraging attacks in the U.S., including the use of firearms, explosives, and propane tanks against targets such as police stations, post offices, synagogues, military facilities, train lines, bridges, cell phone towers, and water plants.
Following October 2010 shootings at the Pentagon and at the Marine Corps Museum, Begolly posted a comment praising the shootings and expressing his hope that the shooter had acted in accordance with his previous postings encouraging similar acts of violence that, he wrote, might "seem small, but cause big damage."
Then, on Dec. 28, 2010, Begolly posted links to a 101-page document with instructions for setting up a basic laboratory to manufacture explosives.
In June 2011, in response to the killing of Osama bin Laden, AMEF posted what it called an "Al-Qaeda Hit List" of 40 Americans, including President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, and Department of Defense and Bush administration officials. U.S. government agencies concerned about the post included the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the Secret Service, and the Department of Justice.
October 27, 2011: AMEF Begins Tweeting
On October 27, 2011, AMEF opened a Twitter account, and has since then posted over 850 tweets, approximately a dozen a day. The majority of the tweets include links to its main website.
AMEF Tweets News From Jihad Fronts
The AMEF tweets focus on jihad news, from fronts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Russia, Kazakhstan, Dagestan, Syria, Somalia, Kenya, Libya, Uzbekistan, Albania, Bosnia, and the West. They include links to speeches and videos of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, and of Abu Yahya Al-Libi, Anwar Al-Awlaki, Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisi, and other jihadist leaders.
Groups tweeted about by AMEF include: Al-Qaeda Central, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Al-Shabab, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Taliban, Tehreek e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ISI, Jund Al-Khilafa, Abdullah Azzam Brigades, Boko Haram, Fath Al-Islam, Ansar al-Jihad in the Sinai Peninsula, Abu Sayyaf Brigades in the Philippines, Islamic Party of Turkestan, and Western Islamists such as Anjem Choudary of Sharia4UK, Muslims Against Crusaders, Shariah 4 Belguim, Hani Sibai, and others.
AMEF Tweets Al-Qaeda Propaganda
The AMEF Twitter account follows and helps disseminate the propaganda of Al-Qaeda and its affiliate groups, as well as of other supporting online jihad groups. These include other jihad forums such as Shumoukh Al-Islam forum, Al-Qimmah forum, and Ansar Al-Mujahideen in Arabic, as well as As-Sahab, Al-Shabaab Al-Mujahideen, Al-Ma'sada Media, Minbar, GIMF, Al-Fajr Media, Al-Malahim, Al-Andalus Media, Umar Media, Abna-e-Hafsa Studio, Islamic Emirate Afghanistan press releases, Jundullah Media (IMU), Kavkaz Center, Mada News Agency, Khilafat Media, Al-Kataib Media, IMAM TV, Badr At-Tawheed Studio, Dar al-Jabhah Publications and Distribution, Sawt al-Islam, Al-Yaqin Media Center, Al-Furqan Media, and others (to read examples of these tweets, see Appendix II).
AMEF Tweets News of Western Jihadist and Occupy Wall Street
AMEF also tweets news of attacks on U.S. and NATO forces and of Western hostages held by jihadi groups, including U.S. citizen Warren Weinstein held by Al-Qaeda in Pakistan and U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl held by the Taliban, and others. Other tweets are about "American detainees" such as Tarek Mehanna, convicted in December 2011 by a federal jury in Boston of supporting Al-Qaeda,[3] and other American Al-Qaeda sympathizers such as Walli Mujahid and Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif,[4] convicted and accused respectively of planning an attack in Seattle. Additionally, some tweets have included links to articles written by Revolution Muslim founder Younes Abdullah Mohammad. Another topic of AMEF tweets is current events such as the Occupy movement in the U.S.
AMEF Tweets News of Latest Counterterrorism Efforts
AMEF Counters DHS Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program
AMEF3 |For The Individual Mujahid |DHS Bomb Making Materials Awareness Program:
*بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم* ... http://bit.ly/vzOnle #JIHAD, 4 Nov
AMEF also follows and spreads news about security affairs in the West, including at airports and other potential terrorist targets. One notable tweet, above, addressed to "The Individual Mujahid," linked to a thread on the AMEF website concerning a bulletin issued by the FBI-DHS as part of the DHS Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program and advising potential terrorists on avoiding detection (for the entire post see Appendix II, below). The thread that the tweet linked to on the AMEF website dealt with each individual point in the bulletin, which focused on recognizing suspicious behavior, and also referred to instructions for making bombs published in Al-Qaeda's English-language Inspire magazine.
APPENDIX I: AMEF Tweets Advice to Potential Terrorists on Avoiding Detection
The following is the thread on the AMEF website linked to by AMEF tweet titled "For The Individual Mujahid| DHS Bomb Making Materials Awareness Program,"[5] as it appears on the AMEF website. The thread included the original FBI-DHS bulletin.
"Assalaamualaikum,
"As a part of their 'counter-terrorism' efforts, the Department of Homeland Security, USA has been running a Bomb Making Material Awareness Program targeted at US citizens in general and US private business sectors in particular. As a part of this program DHS is circulating fliers and user guides to businesses and asking them to report any suspicious activity. Given below is one such poster on 'Suspicous [sic] Behaviour Indicators' which asks some key questions for the businesses to consider and which would give an indication of a terrorism suspect.
"We have been observing a pattern among the arrests of the individual mujahids (may Allah reward them and hasten their release) – most of them were undone by the businesses where they purchased the materials. Therefore, as a part of our counter-counter-terror efforts, following is a detour to the above questions for the aid of the Individual Mujahid.
"# Have any customers attempted to purchase unusual or large quantities of peroxide products, acetone or strong acid products (Muriatic Acid, drain cleaner, etc.)?
"Ans. Never purchase bulk quantities of raw materials for explosives. Go drop by drop. And never purchase direct raw materials online.
"# Have any customers displayed nervous or evasive behavior when purchasing or attempting to purchase peroxide products or unusual quantities of acetone or acids?
"Ans. Research well with Improvised Explosives Manuals to improvise the materials needed from household items. There are many bomb making recipies which do not need acids or peroxide or acetone. The INSPIRE recipe is the easiest. And when buying the raw materials shop cleverly. Say for INSPIRE recipe you need matchsticks....then buy charcoal too. Or say you want to buy floor cleaner for improvisation.....then buy the mop...the bucket and the scrub too. Drown the required product in compatible products. Do not let it stand out.
"# Is the customer a regular customer, is this the first time he/she has visited your store?
"Ans. If you stick to improvisation from household materials, you can get it from the mart you frequent.
"# Did the customer give evasive responses when questioned?
"Ans. Always have a cover story before you buy the materials. Research well and expect the unexpected questions. Read the manual by GIMF on how to do secret work for more information(hxxp://www.mediafire.com/?f132fsmlyapu1w3).
"# Did the customer lack the knowledge of the product's proper use?
"Ans. You should have the answer for this.
"# Did the customer refuse to purchase a substitute product?
"Ans. This is to trap you. In such a situation, follow his lead and don't resist the alternate product. Learn about its cons and you will have a reason to resist the alternate product. Patience is the key.
"# Did the customer insist on in-store pick up rather than delivery to a specific address?
"Ans. This should not arise if you go drop by drop.
"# Did the customer insist on cash payments?
"Ans. If you purchase small quantities this should not be a problem. Have a believable cover story always for pro and con situation and practice it well before the mirror until it comes naturally. Or you can follow his lead and open your wallet to take out the credit card and pretend to have forgotten and offer to pay cash or come back with the card. Or if its common household item, it should not be a problem to pay with the card.
"# Did the customer have any burns or unusual discolorations on his/her hands or arms?
"Ans. Don't do anything or appear to stand out from the crowd. Prepare yourself for this. Don't don yourself with unseasonal clothing or the likes of which would make you stand out.
"# Did the customer emit any unusual odor or chemical smell?
"Ans. Take care of this. Even in such a situation, have a good cover story.
"# Would you recognize this person if you saw him/her again?
"Ans. If you would have taken care of the above points and would have a believable cover story for everything you did, you shouldn't be paranoid about being recognized. Don't go overboard to disguise yourself in such a way that would make you standout. Better shop at a mart which is always crowded or at the peak time. The cashier or the salesman will not be able to have a second glimpse at you. Be calm and normal. Be confident while relying on Allah, you will succeed.
"Finally, remember the saying of the Prophet pbuh that a Believer is never stung twice from the same hole. Learn from the mistakes of others and let not the obstacles unnerve you. May Allah grant you victory for you have chosen to retaliate against the aggression and oppression of the Crusader enemy.....ameen
"wasalaamualaikum"
Appendix II: AMEF Tweets Al-Qaeda Propaganda
AMEF Twitter
AMEF: https://twitter.com/#!/AMEF3
AMEF3
AMEF: Al Qaeda in Yemen targets more American recruits: Anwar Al-Awlaki may have been killed in a drone s... #JIHAD
January 12, 2012
AMEF3
AMEF: News about the release of sheik Abu Musab Al-Suri: Image: #JIHAD
January 11, 2012
AMEF3
AMEF: Ex-US soldier charged with trying to join Shebab:
#JIHAD
January 9, 2012
AMEF3
AMEF: Feds charge ex-Kosovo man in Florida Islamic plot: As'Salaamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.... #JIHAD
January 9, 2012
AMEF3
AMEF: Gunman in Afghan uniform kills US soldier on base: As'Salaamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.... #JIHAD
January 9, 2012
AMEF3
AMEF: ::: Commander ::: New Images of Sheikh Abu Mansoor Al-Amriki | 2012 | (May Allah protect him): Imag... #JIHAD
January 7, 2012
AMEF 3
AMEF: Al-Farouq Media :: A Book Written by Sheikh Ahmad Ashoush H.A :: Bilal Fadl is a Muadzin of Shaytan...
1 Jan
AMEF 3
AMEF: As-Sahab Media -presents- Wonderful Video Release :: Daily Life of a Mujahid (5): *بسم الله الرحمن ...
1Jan
AMEF 3
AMEF: |For Dissemination| Al-Fajr Media presents a New Book entitled: “Abu Dujana al-Khorasani: The Full ...
1 Jan
AMEF 3
AMEF: Ansar Al-Islam: Detonating two IED'S... Resulted in the killing and wounding of approximately 150 a...
31 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Statement from the Judicial Council of Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Mujahidin :: Announced the Establishmen...
30 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Ibn Taymiyyah Media: Presents the First Documentary Released || Free the Prisoners from the Tight B...
30 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: new:::: shoumoukh islamic forum is back: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد لله ربّ العالمين the broth...
30 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: ::: Member ::: Martyred member of Ansar Al-Mujahideen network (May Allah accept him): " وَلاَ تَقُو...
30 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Sawt al-Islam :: present :: A Video Lecture Entitled :: Reason of The Victory: *بسم الله الرحمن الر...
30 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Harakaat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen: Voice Recording of the Burundi PoW (12/27/2011): **بسم الله الرح...
28 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Al Masadh Media :: The English Translation of the Speech by Mujahid Sheikh Ayman Al-Zawahiri Messag...
28 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Statistics of the Jihad in the Caucasus Emirate for the month of Muharram 1433 (November 27to Decem...
27 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Islamic State of Iraq: Statement regarding the expedition of Thursday in Baghdad (12-27-2011): *بسم...
27 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Abdullah Azzam Brigades || Statement regarding the "Damascus bombings": **بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم I...
27 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Wilayah Dagestan - Statement from the Dagestani Mujahideen: "Be vigilant!": Wilayah Dagestan - Stat...
26 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: IslamDin : Brief message from the Amir of the South-Western sector, Abu Hassan (ha): *بسم الله الرح...
25 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Compilition of all Sheikh Atiyyatullah al Libi's lectures and messages: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبر...
24 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: al-Yaqin Media Center and al-Furqan Media — “Methodological Expertise in the Collection of Informat...
22 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Sawt al-Islam :: present :: Lovers of Paradise # 6 (Uyghur Language): [بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم * ال...
22 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: # New Jihadi Front # Ansar al-Jihad in the Sinai Peninsula - Statement No. (#1) “The Establishment ...
21 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Sawt al-Islam :: present :: Lovers of Paradise # 5 (Uyghur Language): بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم المر...
20 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: GIMF & Dar al-Jabhah Publications and Distribution: Presents a New Book: “Bilal Fadl: Muezzin (Call...
19 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Glad Tidings and Vexation for the Enemies of Allah: Statement Announcing the Establishment of al-Ib...
19 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Statement of Jund Al-Khliafa regarding the events of Zhanaozen: “Overthrow the tyrant”: Image: http...
18 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: shariah4belgium with Islamic Flag opposite royal palace: "Our Flag Will Soon Be Flying on Top of Al...
18 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Ansar Al-Sharia launches a local radio in Shabwa: Image: Locals in t...
18 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Ansarullah Bangla ::Presents:: Audio Conversion of Ustad Ahmed Farooq's (Hafizallahu) Interview ...
18 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: GIMF ::Important and Urgent warning to our members:: Statement regarding the distribution of corrup...
15 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Badr Al-Tawheed ::: presents ::: Lessons of Jihaad 2 ::: Sheikh Mujaahid Abu Yahya Al-Leebi (Hafidh...
15 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Badr Al-Tawheed ::: presents ::: Islamic Jihaad Union (IJU) Operations 1431: اصدار جديد من اتحاد ال...
15 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: TTP :: An Amazing Operation to Destroy the Vehicle of the Special Security Paramilitary Forces in ...
15 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Al-Fajr :: Lesson in Incitement to Jihad by Sheikh Attiyatullah R.A: *بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم* ...
13 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Islamic State of Iraq (Unofficial Video) ::: Gift for the Brothers of Tawheed ::: The Blessed Opera...
13 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: New Article by Younes Abdullah Muhammad: CAMP VICTORY: SPINNING THE CONQUEST OF IRAQ INTO A WIN FOR...
13 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Brigades Abu Sayyaf :: Ambush Philippine's Soldeirs in Basilan (YouTube): *بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ...
12 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: ..::.. Muslim Prisoners Presents ..::.. Letter from Rahin Ahmed: ..::.. Muslim Prisoners ..::.. Ne...
12 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: AQIM :: The Adoption of Kidnapping Two French Spies and Three Europeans in Mali: *بسم الله الرحمن ا...
11 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: 'Al-Qaeda splinter group' claims kidnap of Westerners: 'Al-Qaeda splinter group' claims kidnap of W...
10 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Abdullah Azzam Brigades: On the Martyrdom of the Mujahid Scholar Shaykh Atiyyatullah al-Libi: بسم ا...
10 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan military operations against the kafirs, munafiqs and t...
8 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: GIMF- General Command:: Statement on the Martyrdom of One of Its Commanders and Knight of Knights T...
8 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Masadah al-Mujahideen in Palestine :: Eulogy for the Striving Scholar Sheikh Attiya Allah al-Libi: ...
7 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: IslamDin : Mujahideen Operations in Wilayah KBK - Part 2: *بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم* Image:
6 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: :::IMPORTANT::: Al-Qaeda Demands for the Release of Warren Weinstein: Image:
4 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Message From Dr Nassar Al-Awlaki(Imaam Anwar Al-Awlaki's Father):
3 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Islamic Nigerian group declares capture of a British citizen: Image:
3 Dec
AMEF 3
AMEF: Dr. Aymen Al-Zawahiri declares the capture of the Zio-Crusader Warren Weinstein: Image: ....
1 Dec
*Steven Stalinsky is the Executive Director of The Middle East Media Research Institute.
Endnotes:
[2] For example, an AMEF tweet on December 30, 2011 referred to a "Martyred member of Ansar Al-Mujahideen network (May Allah accept him)"
[3] Boston.com, December 20, 2011
[4] Kirotv.com, June 23, 2011; Q13 FOX News Online, December 8, 2011
[5] "For The Individual Mujahid |DHS Bomb Making Materials Awareness Program," November 4, 2011.
