The following are some of this week's reports from the MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Project, which translates and analyzes content from sources monitored around the clock, among them the most important jihadi websites and blogs. (To view these reports in full, you must be a paying member of the JTTM; for membership information, send an email to [email protected] with "Membership" in the subject line.)
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Between January 19 and 20, 2015, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a two part video interview with one of its senior officials, Nasser Al-Ansi. The videos make up the third part of the full interview with Al-Ansi, where he answers questions on behalf of AQAP. Similar to the previous parts, Al-Ansi reiterates the need to target the U.S. and its interests. He also says that AQAP will not delay in attacking the 'Crusader forces' that are stationed in the Gulf of Aden or in the Arabian Sea, if such opportunity becomes available. Al-Ansi also urges Muslims living the West, namely in countries that he says are fighting Islam such as the U.S., UK, France, Canada, and others, to wage individual jihad. Al-Ansi notes in that regard that attacks by Muslims living in the West against their own countries take precedence over hijra - if the damage caused to the enemy from such attacks outweighs the benefits reaped from making hijra.
The lengthy two part video interview (part I and part II are 49:58 and 48:29 respectively) touches on a variety of other topics such as AQAP's strategy in the region, including its strategy towards the Houthis, Saudi Arabia and other Arab regimes, the Palestinian cause and AQAP's efforts in that regard; AQAP's stance from the infighting among jihadi groups in Syria, AQAP's stance on the Islamic State (ISIS), and a number of other creed-related matters.
A screen shot of the Hindi daily page
An Indian Muslim youth arrested in connection with a terror plot to attack a school in Mumbai, India's financial capital, was in contact with a U.S.-based jihadi, according to Hindi-language daily Dainik Bhaskar. Anis Ansari, who was arrested in October 2014 in connection with the terror plot to target the American School situated in the Bandra-Kurla area of Mumbai, was in contact with U.S.-based jihadi youth Umar Ilhaji through Facebook chat. Ansari, using his identity as "Logan," was teaching Umar Ilhaji how to carry out an attack in the U.S. As per the media report, Umar Ilhaji (aka Al-Haji) was using his real name for the Facebook chat.
In a video-clip released on the Internet on January 20, 2015, Boko Haram Leader Abubaker Shakao said: "Charlie! May Allah curse you! François Hollande, may Allah curse you!" He set light to a Nigerian flag and cried: "Nigeria is dead!"
Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV
On January 20, the Iranian website Shia-online published a threat to harm the children of members of top Israeli officials, in response to Israel's killing of Hizbullah commander Jihad Mughniya in an airstrike in Syria. The item included a photo of the family of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen Calls On Muslims In Europe To Emulate Paris Attackers
On January 21, 2015, Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen, Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, issued a statement praising the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, calling it a "heroic operation." The statement, titled "May Our Mothers Be Bereaved Of Us Should We Fail To Avenge Our Prophet", was published in English and Arabic. In it, Al-Shabab encouraged Muslims living in the West to emulate Sa├»d and Ch├®rif Kouachi, and Amedy Coulibaly, who carried out the recent attacks in Paris, and warned France that it will not enjoy security as long as it continues its alleged hostility to Islam and belligerence against Muslims.
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Pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Twitter Account Claims It Hacked Several French Websites
A pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Twitter account claimed recently that it managed to hack at least seven French websites. The account also boasted that in the case of one 'famous' French website, it managed to obtain its members' emails. Al-Jallad wryly noted that the attack was his form of freedom of expression, thereby hinting that it was carried out in response to the January 7 attack on Charlie Hebdo and the events that followed it.
Tunisian Jihadi Group 'Uqba Bin Nafi Brigade Celebrates Charlie Hebdo Attack
On January 16, 2015, the 'Uqba Bin Nafi Brigade, a jihadist Tunisian group released a six-minute-long video titled "Victory Is in the Range of an Hour's Steadfastness". A group member nicknamed Abu Bara'ah Al-Tunsi appears in the video reading messages from the printed page while he is flanked by three of his friends. Abu Bara'ah congratulated the Islamic nation following the recent attacks in France, encouraged the mujahideen in Tunisia to persist in their struggle and threatened the Tunisian regime and especially the Tunisian interior minister Lotfi Bin Geddo.
On Twitter, Canadian ISIS Fighter Reported Killed
On December 22, 2014, a British Islamic State (ISIS) fighter whose Twitter alias is Abu Musab (@Najmu_dawla) reported on the deaths of two comrades, Abu Abdel Malik Britani and Abu Ibrahim Al-Canadi, tweeting: "May Allah accept my brothers from among the Shuhada [martyrs]: Abu Abdel Malik Al-Britani, Abu Ibrahim Al-Canadi & Abu Abdullah Al-Canadi."
Jihadi Forum: 400 Chinese, Including Missile Experts, Joined ISIS
On January 21, 2015 a notice appeared in the pro-Islamic State (ISIS) jihadi forum Al-Minbar Al-I'lami Al-Jihadi, reporting that 400 Chinese had joined the ranks of ISIS.
ISIS Supporters In Al-Raqqa: Captured Jordanian Pilot Must Be Executed
On January 17, 2015, the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria's Al-Raqqa Province released a five-minute video titled "Interviews on [the Issue of] the Jordanian Pilot." The video, apparently filmed shortly after the pilot, Muadh Al-Kasasbeh, was captured on December 24, 2014, features ostensibly spontaneous responses from four Al-Raqqa residents who are asked what his punishment should be. They are also asked what answer should be given to his family, which is seeking his release. The four all answer that the pilot should be executed and wonder why his family did not prevent him from going out to kill innocent Muslims.
In Video, Islamic State Displays Airplane It Claims To Have Downed In Syria
On January 19, 2015, the Al-Khayr (Deir Al-Zour) province media office of the Islamic State (ISIS) released a video showing the wreckage of what it said was a Crusader Nusairi coalition airplane that ISIS said that it downed. The 60-second video shows the wreckage of the airplane at an undisclosed location. Several men deliver short messages expressing satisfaction at downing the aircraft, and, later, children appear happily jumping on the wreckage.
Islamic State Fighters In Sinai Vow To Continue Fighting Egyptian Army Until It's Eradicated
On January 21, 2015, the Sinai province of the Islamic State (ISIS) released a video featuring a group of its fighters who reaffirm their commitment to continue fighting the Egyptian army and Egyptian President 'Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi. The men promise to fight until the last man, and until the Egyptian army is eradicated. The men also reiterate their support and obedience to ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, while noting that they are stationed at the surroundings of Beit Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) awaiting his orders.
Ajnad Misr Commander Vows To Oust The Egyptian Regime By Force
On January 11, 2015 the Egyptian jihad group Ajnad Misr, which operates mainly in Cairo against government institutions and has carried out a string of terrorist attacks, released via its media company, Al-Kinana, an hour-long video of an interview with its commander, Majd Al-Din Al-Masri. Al-Masri, who appears with his face masked, answers dozens of questions from participants on Islamic forums, read out to him by interviewer Mu'adh Al-Masir, who is also masked. He emphasizes the group's commitment to ousting the current Egyptian regime by force and to enacting the laws of shari'a in Egypt. He also stresses that his organization is completely independent and is neither a supporter nor an affiliate of any other jihadist organization. However, it should be noted that the group's ideology places it well within the Salafi-jihadi stream and the global jihad movement, and there are in fact indications that it may be linked to Al-Qaeda. Moreover, in placing emphasis on the local arena (namely Egypt) and claiming non-affiliation with other groups, and in concealing the identity of its leader, Ajnad Misr resembles the Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, Jabhat Al-Nusra, in its early days.
On January 15, 2015, the news website sasnewsagency.com reported that Jabhat Al-Nusra (JN) issued a warning to the residents of Al-Ghouta Al-Sharqiyya (near Damascus) against joining the Islamic State (ISIS) or providing shelter to its members. JN also threatened that anyone found involved in such acts will be considered a supporter of ISIS, and therefore a "legitimate target" for JN. JN added that it will do its utmost to avoid any armed clashes with the Muslim population, as well as with other militant groups whose names ISIS was using to hide its identity. This is in reference to the high number of militant factions in the Damascus and Al-Qalamoun areas that recently joined ISIS. JN said however that its approach of avoiding armed clashes will not be implemented if Islam or the security of Muslims were at stake. "The era of politeness has passed," JN noted.
On January 22, 2015, the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar published details from the investigation into the double suicide bombing that took place in a caf├® in the Jabal Mohsen neighborhood of Tripoli, Lebanon, on January 10. The report claimed that Lebanese military intelligence, along with general security, recently arrested 11 men who allegedly belonged to a large group that was involved in the Jabal Mohsen attack, and even planned a new wave of suicide bombings.
Among those arrested was "Zakaria H", aka Abu 'Abd Al-Rahman Al-Ansar/Abu Yahya, who recently entered Lebanon to carry out a suicide bombing. Zakaria was imprisoned in Turkey, but was released in a prisoner swap which included Turkish diplomats captured in Mosul being traded for Islamic State (ISIS) members held in Turkish prisons. The report also states that Lebanese security apparatuses were searching for "K.H.", who played a central role in the caf├® bombing, and was the last person to meet the suicide bombers - Taha Kahyal and Bilal Mar'ayan. Another man arrested was Qassem Yusef Talja, who allegedly provided the bombers with a place to stay and food, and even performed reconnaissance on the caf├® two hours before the attack. The report states that Lebanese security apparatuses fear that a man named M.A., who lives in Denmark, is involved in recruiting youths for suicide attacks in Syria and Lebanon.
Muhammad Khurasani, the spokesman of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which carried out the December 16 terror attack on a school in Peshawar, continues to publish jihad-related content on the blogging website WordPress.com.
On January 21, Khurasani posted a message that the TTP's Mujahideen Special Group (MSG) carried out an attack on a Pakistani army convoy two days earlier in the Salarzai area of Bajaur Agency, in which several officers and a TTP fighter were killed.
On January 16, he published several short excerpts from fatwas (Islamic decrees) delivered by prominent Islamic scholars of earlier times, justifying jihad against non-Muslims and their Muslim supporters. On the same day, Khurasani reported that the MSG carried out an attack in which the head of an anti-Taliban militia group Malak Darwaish was injured.
