The following report is a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.
Following the taking of hostages at the Lindt Chocolat Café in Sydney, Australia, many jihadis on social networks expressed their satisfaction that Australians were struck in their own home, and said that the operation was in revenge for Australia's participation in the ongoing fight against the Islamic State (ISIS). Many pointed out that this was a response to the call by ISIS spokesman Abu Muhammad Al-'Adnani to Muslims in the West to carry out terror attacks in their countries of residence as retaliation to the Western attacks on ISIS.
The following is a review of some of the jihadis' reactions to the events:
Support For The Attack
An American fighting in Somalia known as Mujahid Miski[1] cheered the attack in a series of tweets and blamed it on the Australian people. He tweeted: "This banner will go into each & every house, not just chocolate shops in Australia. Even the White House #sydneysiege."
In other tweets, he stated: "O' people of Australia, do not blame the hostage taker, rather blame your own government for massacring Muslims everywhere. #sydneysiege," and "Just remember the brothers held in #Guantanamo by the Kuffar when you see the them suffering like this. #sydneysiege."
He added that he would prefer to see a jihadi attacker who actually kills, not merely takes hostages: "It seems the one that took the hostages in #Australia was no good. I ask Allah swt to bring ont that kills not take hostages."
ISIS supporter UmmSayfillah @UmmSayfillah), who apparently lives in the West, wrote: "SubhanAllah. May they feel the true meaning of terror as our sisters have felt it! Ameen! Too numerous to ever fully appreciate. And the world is crying because these kalab escaped from a café after a couple hours.. The historical images of our people are… Wallah kiff[infidel] media makes me SICK. 'look of terror on women's faces' 'historical images…WTH? Real terror on a woman's face is seeing her family blown to pieces with horrific injuries, homes destroyed, being raped by oppostion forces."
A Dutch ISIS supporter and self-described aid worker in Latakia, Syria (@mohammadibnalbaraa) wrote: "If I were to pick a store in Sydney to siege it would more likely be Krispy Kremes or Max Brenners…Probably Max Brenners, mm Ghanima [booty]. Dat there Jewish occupational chocolate would taste so sweet with their tears beside it."
ISIS supporter @Greenbird7072_ quoted Michael Abebolaijo, perpetrator of the May 2013 London vehicular and stabbing death of British soldier Lee Rigby, writing, "'You people will never be safe' Adebolaijo said that and they thought it's a joke. #sydneysiege."
The pro-Jabhat Al Nusra account Al Muwahideen Media (@AlMuwahideenMedia) tweeted: "1000's of #Muslims killed doesn't make the news, a few #kaffir [infidel] hostages do A lesson."
Muhamad Idris tweeted: "#Sydneysiege is nothing but childsplay if #isil were the ones involved there I'm positive by now the entire Sydney would've been under khilafa."
Muhajirah Amatullah (@MuhamadIdris) tweeted: "#IS liberated vast areas of Iraq & Syria #Sydneysiege terrorist liberates a coffee shop It's a publicity stunt, some terror org is jealous… Australian Witness replied, "Even if he is Daulah[ISIS] which I doubt probably Shia this Chocolate Terrorist is a clown."
The Operation Is A Response To ISIS's Call For Attacks In The West
The Twitter account Al-Nusra Al-Maqdisiyyah (@bakoon7), which is operated by a group of ISIS supporters in Gaza, urged jihadis to depict the events in Australia and similar events as linked to ISIS, stating: "As for the hostage abduction in Sydney, and similar incidents of this nature, irrespective of whether they were caused by jihadist activity or not, we must exploit every incident in order to spread fear in the infidel West!"
A jihadi who goes by Akhu Man Khafa Allah (@1999nnff) tweeted that the attacker had heeded ISIS spokesman Abu Muhammad Al-'Adnani's call to Muslims to carry out terror attacks in the very heart of the Western countries:[2] "A single word uttered by Al-'Adnani, summoned forth lions amongst the Islamic State's supporters to strike fear in the infidel world and defend the caliphate."
ISIS supporter M-Shami-K (@y_dohak) referenced Al-'Adnani's September 2014 speech "Your Lord is Ever Watchful," in which he urged Muslims to kill non-Muslims and Westerners, tweeting: "From Canada to Australia two opposite corner on the world map, adnanis speech has caused attacks."[3]
The Attack Is Because Of Australia's Involvement In International Coalition Fighting ISIS
Many of the jihadis responding to the attack blamed Australia's involvement in the international coalition against ISIS.
For example, Farissa Rouh Muhajira (@liss_farissa) tweeted: "This is the punishment of anyone tempted to intervene in somebody else's business. Blame your country Australia and not us. Await developments with Allah's assistance!"
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The claim that the kidnapping incident serves as punishment for Australian participation in the battle against Islamic state
@abu11isis12 tweeted: "Anyone bewailing the hostages, servants of the cross: see how the Australian police treats Muslims." Later on the account owner showed a picture of an Australian policeman arresting a Muslim demonstrator bleeding from his wound.
@delete103 tweeted, addressing the Australians: "Yesterday you decided to send your soldiers and planes to take part in the war against Muslims and now the response has arrived in your very homes." Later on he attached a picture of Australian soldiers participating in the campaign against the Islamic state
The pro-ISIS account "Fighting Journalist" (@fightingjournalist) run by a group of Dutch nationals based in Syria, tweeted: "I think these guys of #sydneysiege where not allowed to leave the country 4 Jihad in Syria so they brought it to Australia. #speculation."
ISIS supporter Abu YouheR (@obinoavey) tweeted: "Australia should retreat from the Middle East and Afghanistan and Muslims living in Australia sent to #IslamicState."
Female ISIS member in Syria Muhajirah Amatullah (@BintWater), who is likely of Australian origin, tweeted: "24 hr live-feeds of an empty street w/no audio, compare that to 24 hr live-feed of what Muslims endure under Australia terrorism. #Sydneysiege."
Twitter user named Dawood wrote, "Well Tony Abbott brought terror attacks directly to Australia. How idiotic do you have to be to bomb people in Iraq and not expect revenge?"
[1] See MEMRI JTTM report Mujahid Miski – An American-Born Al-Qaeda Fighter In Somalia, May 19,2014.
[2] See MEMRI JTTM Responding To U.S.-Led Campaign, IS Spokesman Calls To Kill Westerners, Including Civilians, By Any Means Possible, September 22, 2014.
[3] See MEMRI JTTM report Responding To U.S.-Led Campaign, IS Spokesman Calls To Kill Westerners, Including Civilians, By Any Means Possible September 22, 2014.
