BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT: On 16 September 2021 German anarchists committed an arson attack on a prison construction office owned by Hentschke Bau, a company involved in the construction of the new prison system in Zwickau, Germany. Along with making the claim, the group of anarchists also published an instructional manual. Just a day before this incident, a violent protest erupted in Germany in solidarity with Lina E. and her fellow comrades, which are currently on trial in Dresden. Lina E. and her group are accused of attacking several people with ties to the right-wing scene between 2018 and 2020. The fact that the construction offices were proven vulnerable to penetration should be of real concern considering that the instructional guide also included advice on how to disguise your shape, your gait, and size of your head. Given the instructions are simple and easy to follow with no special equipment needed, combined with the fact that these arsonists were never caught, it should be expected that more arson attacks will occur at least in Germany. Additionally, Lina E. is proving to be quite a motivational martyr for the anarchist cause having now inspired both arson and violent clashes in mere days leading up to her trial.
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Image: Screenshots from video
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TRAC Incident Report: al-Shabaab Detonates VBIED Near Presidential Palace Killing Eight and Wounding Nine, in Green Zone, Mogadishu, Somalia |
On 25 September 2021, an al-Shabaab militant detonated a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) at a security checkpoint at the El-Gab junction leading to Mogadishu's Presidential Palace, Villa Somalia. The blast resulted in the death of eight people, including Hibaq Abukar, the PM Office advisor of women and human rights affairs, and the wounding of another nine.
Al-Shabaab later claimed responsibility for the attack, indicating that it was intended to target government officials. This attack is arguably one of the most high-profile attacks launched by al-Shabaab this year. The ability to detonate a VBIED bomb so close to security checkpoints leading to Mogadishu's Presidential Palace underscores, the vulnerability of Somalia's capital. This attack also comes amidst ongoing elections and intense rifts between President Farmajo and Prime Minister Roble. Further, it is one in a series of targeted assassinations and attacks on government officials and military personnel. Ultimately, the attack underlines how al-Shabaab is exploiting the weak security situation in Somalia's capital as well as the tumultuous political landscape to further its agenda as elections loom near.
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TRAC INCIDENT REPORT: FSB Dismantles a Taliban Cell/ Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) in Yekaterinburg, Ural Federal District, Russia |
On 22 September 2021, the FSB detained 15 Taliban recruiters in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The recruitment cell was comprised of 4 immigrants from Tajikistan, 1 Russian national, and 10 immigrants from the Central Asian region. Of particular note is that this 15-man cell appears to have been in direct contact with the Taliban in Afghanistan. This is a clear indication that the Taliban have aspirations outside their own borders, so early after the fall of Kabul. Interestingly, the following day, an adult male, with an Arabic accent, called into the Yekaterinburg public hot line threatening Vladimir Putin. Activity of Taliban supporters has increased in the Russian Federation since the fall of Kabul in August 2021. New recruits are mostly immigrants from former Soviet republics living in Russia. Given the current situation in Afghanistan, it should be expected that more and more IEA cells will be discovered throughout Russia and the nations from the former USSR. It should be noted that Russian security forces often do not make distinctions between ideologies, though it was reported to be Taliban activity, it could possibly be al-Qaeda activity mislabeled.
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Images (Above): Photos of two of the men who were part of the 15-man Taliban cell.
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Image (Above): Scene from the attack.
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TRAC Incident Report: Islamic State Central Africa (Wilayat Wasat Ifriqiyah / ISCA) Launches Ambushes on Komanda, Killing Five Villagers, Kidnapping Several, Including Red Cross Volunteer, Razing Homes, Ituri Province, Congo (DRC) |
On the evening of 23 September 2021, the Islamic State of Central Africa (ISCA) launched an ambush on the village of Komanda, located in Congo's (DRC) Ituri province. The ambush forced locals to flee the town as militants burned a number of houses. The attack left five villagers dead and several kidnapped, including a Red Cross volunteer identified as Berogan Udaga. Eleven homes were burned to the ground. The northeastern regions of Congo (DRC) continue to be targeted by Islamic State Central Africa (Wilayat Wasat Ifriqiyah / ISCA / ISDRC / ISISCA) militants. This latest devastating ambush, that forced residents to flee as the group burned their homes, is only one in a series of brutal ISCA attacks on civilians this year. On 3 August 2021, the group conducted a raid on Idohu village, killing 17. Following that, on 4 September 2021, ISCA militants conducted a raid on a local village in Ituri, brutally massacring 30 villagers. |
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TRAC Insight: Neo-Nazi Telegram Channel Encourages Subscribers To Conduct Arson Attacks: "Terror on a Budget? Worry Not, Fire is Free" |
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TRAC INCIDENT REPORT: One Week After Being Targeted in 'Operacion Samuel', Leader of the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) 'Western War Front', 'Fabian', Taken Into Custody, Where He Died of His Injuries, Colombia |
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TRAC INCIDENT REPORT : #131 Crew / NSC 131 Weapons Training "Granite State 131 - Hate Hike!" in Cardigan Mountain, Northern New Hampshire, United States |
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Attend Weekly Analyst Briefing
As many of our clients know, we invite one organization a week to sit in on our Analyst Briefing. The briefings take place at 10 AM US eastern time and last an hour. We meet virtually in TRAC's online conference center.
If your organization is interested in attending, please schedule with the link below. We look forward to having you join us and ask questions.
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07 July 2021
12 May 2021
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