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 jttmsubs@memri.org with "Membership" in the subject line.)
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On June 14, 2016, a German pro-Islamic State (ISIS) channel on Telegram published a series of images, including of landmark New York City sites, calling for supporters to kill Western non-Muslims in their own countries, and making threats against gay pride parades, specifically the Toronto Gay Pride Parade set for July 3, 2016.
On June 16, 2016, the pro-Islamic State (ISIS) media company Al-Battar released a video titled "Orlando Attack," celebrating the June 12 shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which was carried out by Omar Mateen. The video notes that the attack was retribution for the U.S.'s killing of Muslims in the Middle East and features reactions to the attack from U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, and President Barak Obama. The video also threatens Orlando and other U.S. cities, including New York and Washington DC, stating that they too shall not be safe as long as Muslims are being attacked.
Issue 35 of the Islamic State (ISIS) weekly newsletter Al-Naba' praised the recent terrorist attacks in Orlando and the Paris suburb of Magnanville, carried out, it said, by two of its soldiers. The attacks, which appear to have been inspired by, rather than directed by, ISIS, were embraced by the group, which called them a sign of "divine support" and "glad tidings" for further attacks to be carried out by Muslims living in "Crusader" countries.
On June 7, 2016, Dayma, a YouTube-based show featuring Abdallah Al-Muhaisni, a prominent Saudi cleric affiliated with Jabhat Al-Nusra, published an interview with three fighters from the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) - an Al-Qaeda affiliate comprising mostly Uyghur fighters. The interviewed fighter acknowledged that his group of 26 people immigrating to Syria had paid some $170,000 to cross the Chinese border on their long journey, and stressed that their ultimate goal is to liberate Jerusalem.
On June 14, 2016, the pro-ISIS media group Al-Wafa posted an article in Arabic titled "Message to the People of Andalus [i.e., Spain]." The article, signed by "Abu Bakr Al-Maghribi" and distributed via the group's Telegram page, calls upon the citizens of Spain to take advantage of the upcoming elections to replace the current ruling party with "the new political movements," hinting at the left-wing party Podemos. The author, whose name suggests he is of Moroccan origin, urges the Spaniards to elect a new government that will withdraw from the cities of Melilla and Ceuta (autonomous Spanish cities in North Africa) and "stop persecuting Muslims." Otherwise, he says, they and their families "will drown in Rivers of their own blood."
On June 16, 2016, the Islamic State (ISIS) news agency 'Amaq reported, citing an unnamed source, that a "covert" ISIS unit had assassinated an "American officer" working at the Incirlik Airbase in the Turkish city of Adana.
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On June 13, 2016, French citizen Larossi Abballa (25) stabbed two police officers to death in the Paris suburb of Magnanville in the name of the Islamic State (ISIS). The following day ISIS's media apparatus released an 11-minute video of Abballa which had originally been posted on his Facebook page. In the video (apparently filmed by Abballa immediately after the murder) he pledges allegiance to ISIS, brags about his crime, and urges fellow ISIS supporters to heed the call of ISIS spokesman Al-'Adnani and carry out lone-wolf terror attacks, like he had done.
On June 15, ISIS's French-language media wing circulated via Telegram, Twitter and GooglePlus two posters threatening further attacks in France. It should be noted that the country is currently on high alert due to specific threats to the 2016 UEFA European Championship.
Following Orlando Shooting, ISIS Supporters Gloat, Threaten Further Attacks On U.S.
Shortly after the deadly shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FL, on June 12, and especially after the ISIS news agency A'maq announced that the shooter, Omar Mateen, was a member of the organization, ISIS supporters on Telegram began posting messages that included gloating, praise for the shooter, and banners and images promising further attacks on America and its symbols. Some supporters said that another attack was imminent in the U.S., and that it would be surprising in quality. The supporters all highlighted that this attack took place during Ramadan, which is considered the month of jihad.
ISIS News Agency: Orlando Shooting Carried Out By ISIS Fighter
On June 12, 2016, A'maq, an official Islamic State (ISIS) news agency said that the shooting that took place the previous night at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, claiming the lives of at least 50 people, was carried by an ISIS fighter.
ISIS News Agency Releases Video Of Larossi Abballa, Who Killed Two Police Officers In Paris Suburb
On June 15, 2016, the Islamic State (ISIS) news agency A'maq released a video of Larossi Abballa, the 25-year-old French citizen who had, the previous day, stabbed a plainclothes police officer and his partner, who is also a police officer, to death in front of his home in the Paris suburb of Magnanville.
ISIS Claims Responsibility For The Murder Of Two Police Officers In Paris Suburb
On June 13, 2016 an unidentified assailant stabbed a plainclothes police officer to death in front of his home in the Paris suburb of Magnanville. The man then entered the house, killed the officer's partner, and barricaded himself inside with the couple's three-year-old child. He was killed when police attacked the building. According to police sources, the man claimed to be acting in the name of the Islamic State (ISIS).
Post On Jihadi Forum Encourages Members To Leave Facebook, Twitter, Telegram
On June 13, pro-ISIS forum Shumoukh Al-Islam user "Manjaniq" posted a message lamenting the fact that most supporters of the group had abandoned the forum in favor of social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Telegram, and emphasized the viability of forums, which do not involve the constant need to cope with account deletions, as happens on social media. He also stressed the advantage of the fact that the forums are run by jihadis, as opposed to the social networks, which are managed "by Allah's most despicable creations." The post echoes a familiar theme on jihadi forums, which have seen membership participation and activity decline drastically in recent years.
ISIS Radio Announces New Website For Broadcasting
The Islamic State (ISIS) official radio Al-Bayan announced that it has set up a new website to broadcast its content. Al-Bayan has switched between several domains in recent months, maintaining the same domain name, bayanradio, but changing the top-domain names.
Al-Qaeda Leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri Swears Fealty To New Taliban Leader
On June 10, 2016, Al-Qaeda media wing Al-Sahab released an audio recording of the group's leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri swearing an oath of fealty to new Taliban leader Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhunzada. Akhunzada succeeded Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, who was recently killed in a U.S. drone strike in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan.
Katibat Jaish Muhammad Pledges Allegiance To Jabhat Al-Nusra
On June 10, 2016, Katibat Jaysh Muhammad (the Battalion of Muhammad's Army), a jihad group fighting in Syria, pledged allegiance to the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, Jabhat Al-Nusra (JN).
Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) Releases New Videos In Its 'Call From The Frontlines Of Jihad' Series
In the last few weeks, the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) has released several new videos in its "Call From The Frontlines Of Jihad" video series, which features messages by TIP fighters stationed on various battlefronts in Syria.The last releases featured installments number 17, 18, and 19 in the series. The videos are dated May 2016, and are between 4 and 5 minutes long.
Ansar Al-Dine Claims Attack On MINUSMA Forces In Northern Mali
On June 16, 2016 Ansar Al-Dine, a jihad group operating in Mali, claimed responsibility for a June 13 attack on the forces of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). The attack did not result in casualties. MINUSMA is regularly targeted by jihad groups in Mali; on May 29, 2016 Al-Qeada in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) ambushed and killed five peacekeepers from Togo.
AQIM Video Features Message From Swiss Hostage Beatrice Stockly
On June 16, 2016, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) released a video featuring Swiss hostage Beatrice Stockly. The group announced in January that it had kidnapped her in Mali. The video notes that Beatrice had been in AQIM custody for over 130 days but issued no demands.
Philippines Jihadi Group Abu Sayyaf Beheads Its Last Canadian Hostage
The Philippines-based jihadi group Abu Sayyaf has released a video depicting the beheading of Canadian national Robert Hall.
