Category: Terrorism

Louvre visitors learn of attack by loudspeaker, told to sit

Visitors to the Louvre learned by loudspeaker announcement of Friday’s attempted attack on the Paris museum and there was no panic, witnesses said, though some children cried as guards directed people to sit tight together and away from windows. A French soldier shot and wounded a man armed with a machete and carrying two bags on his back as he tried to enter the world-renowned museum in what the government said appeared to have been a terrorist attack.

Yemen Aftermath: Trump’s First Military Raid Continues To Raise Questions

The tribal delegation visiting Sheikh Abdelraouf al-Dhahab was still talking in the very early hours of the morning last Sunday when his nephew, Abdullah, noticed strangers approaching on foot across the rocky, inhospitable terrain of central Yemen. According to accounts by locals, this was the way the battle began with U.S. special operations forces and some of their allies, which would unfold over several hours on the ground – and end with an aerial bombardment.

Supermarket worker convicted of planning to join terror group in Philippines

A supermarket worker who had copies of a bomb-making manual and bought flights and equipment to travel to fight with a group linked to Islamic State in the Philippines has been found guilty of terrorism offences. Ryan Counsell, of Russell Road, Forest Fields, Nottingham, was in the “advanced stages of planning” to visit a remote part of the south-east Asian country and had bought military equipment to “engage in combat or support an extremist group”.

How Trump’s first counter-terror operation in Yemen turned into chaos

Greek special forces and US Navy Seals clear a stairwell during Sarisa 16, an annual Greek exercise, near Thessaloniki, Greece, last year. Photo / US Army Their aim was to detain Yemeni tribal leaders collaborating with al-Qaeda and gather intelligence that could plug a critical gap in US understanding of one of the world’s most dangerous militant groups.

List of some terrorism cases in Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau branded the Quebec mosque massacre as a terrorist attack, although the accused in the rampage is only facing murder charges. Here are some recent high-profile cases involving terrorism-related offences: Hiva Alizadeh: The Ottawa resident, who wanted to form a terrorist group dedicated to violent jihad in Canada, pleaded guilty to explosives possession with the intent to cause harm as part of a terrorist conspiracy in 2014.

The Latest: Group sues on behalf of US green-card holders

The Latest on President Donald Trump, his travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries and other immigration actions : A civil rights group in Michigan has sued on behalf of U.S. green-card holders objecting to President Donald Trump’s order temporarily banning refugees and immigrants from seven mostly Muslim countries. The Arab-American Civil Rights League argues in the suit filed Tuesday in Detroit’s U.S. District Court that the executive action is unconstitutional and targets immigrant communities.

Mosque shooting suspect in Canada known for far-right views

The French Canadian university student charged with killing six Muslim men during evening prayers at a mosque was known for far-right, nationalist views and his support of the French rightist party led by Marine Le Pen. Alexandre Bissonnette was charged Monday with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder over the shooting rampage at a Quebec City mosque that Canada’s prime minister called an act of terrorism against Muslims.

Trump’s immigration curbs no surprise, those affected say

Many citizens of Muslim-majority countries affected by President Donald Trump’s curbs on travel to the United States say they were hardly surprised the restrictions rank among his first orders of business. The new commander-in-chief had, after all, once called for a “complete and total shutdown” of Muslim arrivals, and in his inaugural speech vowed to eradicate “radical Islamic terrorism” from the face of the earth.

Trump poised to seek new military options for defeating IS

President Donald Trump is expected to ask the Pentagon for ways to accelerate the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, and officials said the options probably would include steps the Obama administration considered but never acted on, from adding significantly more U.S. troops to boosting military aid to Kurdish fighters Trump’s visit Friday to the Defense Department’s headquarters will start the conversation over how to fulfill his inauguration address pledge to eradicate radical Islamic terrorism “completely from the face of the Earth.”

The IDF discarded my son, and my family collapsed

Elor Azariya, the soldier convicted of killing a wounded terrorist in Hevron, arrived this morning to the military court at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, for the beginning of the sentencing process. The soldier was received with applause; the judges were escorted by bodyguards.

The Latest: Palestinians condemn Israeli settlement plans

The Latest on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, after Israel announced the construction of 2,500 new settler homes in the West Bank : A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says the Israeli plans announced Tuesday deal a new blow to attempts to bring peace to the region and will promote extremism and terrorism. Nabil Abu Rdeneh says the decision “disregards” international opposition to the settlements and is calling on the international community to take a “real and serious position” against Israel.

NATO, Pentagon Chiefs Discuss Military Budgets, Terrorism

NATO’s chief and new U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis have discussed military spending and combating terrorism, the source of criticism of the alliance by President Donald Trump. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s office said Tuesday that the two men “agreed on the fundamental and enduring value of NATO for the security of both Europe and North America.”

The Latest: First day of Syria talks concludes

The latest on Syria talks that are being held in Kazakhstan and developments on the ground in the war-torn country : A Syrian opposition spokesman says the first day of talks has concluded, after rebel representatives met Russia’s presidential envoy to the talks to discuss ways to reinforce a shaky cease-fire. Yahya al-Aridi, the spokesman for the rebel delegation to the talks, says the opposition also met Monday with the Russian and Turkish delegations in the presence of the U.N. envoy to Syria to discuss a nationwide cease-fire.

Talks on Syria’s civil war off to a rocky start

Talks between the Syrian government and representatives of rebel factions got off to a rocky start Monday after their first face-to-face meeting in Kazakhstan that marked a major shift in the war’s dynamics and confirmed Russia’s role as regional heavyweight. The gathering in Astana, the Kazakh capital, is the latest in a long line of diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the nearly 6-year-old civil war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced half of Syria’s population.

Talks on Syria’s civil war off to a rocky start

Talks between the Syrian government and representatives of rebel factions got off to a rocky start Monday after their first face-to-face meeting in Kazakhstan that marked a major shift in the war’s dynamics and confirmed Russia’s role as regional heavyweight. The gathering in Astana, the Kazakh capital, is the latest in a long line of diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the nearly 6-year-old civil war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced half of Syria’s population.

Trump Properties Face Global Terror Risk With Presidency

Businesses around the world bearing U.S. President Donald Trump’s name face an increased risk now that he is in the White House, security experts warn, especially as several are in areas previously targeted by violence. As Trump remains a brand overseas, criminal gangs or militants could target buildings bearing his name in gold, abduct workers associated with his enterprises for ransom or worse, they say.

Rivals at Astana talks agree on call for a ceasefire in Syria but differ on their political agendas

Syrian government and rebel delegates at the opening session of talks in the Kazakh capital Astana both called for a shaky ceasefire to be bolstered , but differed starkly on what purpose the truce would serve. The talks, sponsored by government allies Russia and Iran and opposition backer Turkey, should consolidate the ceasefire for a limited period, the head of the government delegation said in an opening statement reported by Syrian state news agency SANA.

Trump’s Vainglorious Affront to the C.I.A.

The death of Robert Ames, who was America’s top intelligence officer for the Middle East, is commemorated among the hundred and seventeen stars on the white marble Memorial Wall at C.I.A. headquarters, in Langley, Virginia. He served long years in the region’s hellholes-Beirut; Tehran; Sanaa, Yemen; Kuwait City; and Cairo-often in the midst of war or turmoil.

Fact Check: Trump starts on familiar note: with exaggeration

Donald Trump’s inaugural address held familiar echoes of the campaign speeches that led to his presidential win: downbeat about the state of the nation, to the point of hyperbole. A look at some of his assertions Friday: TRUMP: “The jobs left, and the factories closed the wealth, strength and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon.”

Turkey rounds up 27 with links to suspected nightclub gunman

Turkish police rounded up 27 people linked to the suspected gunman in Istanbul’s New Year’s Eve nightclub attack and the justice minister said Wednesday that the capture of the suspect will lead to a better understanding of the Islamic State group’s operations in Turkey. The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Abdulkadir Masharipov, was caught late Monday in a police operation in Istanbul.

Ukraine takes Russia to the UN High Court

The Ukraine has filed a case against Russia at the United Nations’ highest court, accusing Moscow of illegally annexing Crimea and illicitly funding separatist rebel groups in eastern Ukraine. In the case announced Tuesday by the International Court of Justice, Ukraine accused Moscow of “intervening militarily in Ukraine, financing acts of terrorism, and violating the human rights of millions of Ukraine’s citizens.”

Spain arrests Moroccan suspected of praising terrorism

Spain’s Interior Ministry says police have arrested a Moroccan suspected of praising terrorism by promoting armed Islamic groups on the internet. A ministry statement said the man arrested Tuesday on the Canary Islands’ city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria used a popular social media network to spread propaganda for the teachings and armed actions of extremist groups such as Syria’s Fatah al-Sham Front, which is considered linked to al-Qaida.

France wants JeM chief Masood Azhar to be declared as international terrorist by UN

Days after China blocked India’s proposal in the UN, the world body’s key member France has pitched for designating Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as an international terrorist, saying there are “very strong arguments in favour” of such a move. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who was on a four-day India visit, also sent out a veiled message to China without naming it, saying “the international community’s determination to combat terrorism must be the same everywhere, regardless of the threat.”

Iraqi forces battle on in Mosul university complex

Iraqi special forces drove back Islamic State militants in the Mosul University campus on Saturday, while elite police units took over large areas along the east bank of the Tigris river, military officials said. The head of Iraq’s Counter Terrorism Service said security forces were close to seizing the entire east bank of the Tigris, which bisects Mosul north to south.

Syria says Israeli missiles struck near military airport

Syria accused Israel of firing missiles early on Friday that struck near a major military airport west of Damascus, sparking a fire, and warned Israel of repercussions without specifying whether it would retaliate for the attack. In a statement carried on the official news agency SANA, the Syrian military said several missiles were launched just after midnight from an area near Lake Tiberias.

New charges for NGO official accused of aiding Hamas

Muhammad el-Halabi, a member of Hamas and manager of the World Vision charity’s operations in the Gaza Strip, was indicted on August 4, 2016, for diverting the charity’s funds to the terrorist organization. Israel on Wednesday announced new charges against the Gaza head of a major US-based NGO accused of diverting millions of dollars in aid to Hamas.

US adds 2 members of Hezbollah to terrorism sanctions list

Mughniyeh is a Hezbollah commander with extensive family links to the Lebanon-based militant group. He’s the nephew of Hezbollah’s previous military commander, Mustafa Badreddine, who was killed in an explosion near the Syrian capital in last year, and the son of military commander Imad Mughniyeh, who was killed in a 2008 car bombing in Damascus that Hezbollah blamed on Israel.

World reacts to death of former Iranian leader Rafsanjani

Reactions from around the world to the death of former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who suffered a heart attack Sunday at the age of 82. The foreign minister of the tiny island nation, which long has accused Iran of meddling in its internal affairs, simply said “God bless” Rafsanjani in a post on Twitter. A separate condolence from King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Iran said he was “praying to almighty God for his soul to rest in peace and inspire Iran’s president, its people and his family.”