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Anarchists have long blamed the German company Deutsche Bahn (DB) for acquiring a substantial amount of its income by providing the logistics to the NATO forces that are responsible for transporting weapons to the Turkish army.
On 07 September 2023, German anarchists claimed to have targeted three critical infrastructure points of the Deutsch Bahn railway services in arson attacks, between Hamburg and Berlin, Germany. The fires were reported by train conductors between 2:30-4:00 a.m. The perpetrators specifically targeted the port railway in the south of Hamburg, the tracks of the DUSS terminal in Billwerder and the northern freight bypass railway. Though main stream media made little of the arson attacks, TRAC has no reason not to take the anarchists at their word, that they are indeed behind the events.
In this most recent claimed attack, in addition to declaring the sabotage to be an act against the "wealth of the exploiters of the global north to the detriment of the so-called global south" they also specifically professed solidarity with those opposed to the infrastructure project in Mexico called 'Tren Maya.' On 27 July, a group of German anarchists against 'Tren Maya' had vandalized the entrance to the Deutsche Bahn office complex in (image above.)
According the perpetrators, their intent of the 07 September attack was to limit the attack to sections of the route that are not used for passenger transport, but instead cargo; however, the incident still caused widespread disruptions, immensely affecting travel between Hamburg and Berlin.
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Even though the Deutsch Bahn company is a regular target for German anarchists, the extent of this attack should be of grave concern to German authorities. TRAC has repeatedly warned about the growing threat from extreme far-left anarchists, not just in Germany but across Europe, as well as North and South Americas. This, in combination with the publicly known and accessible key infrastructure targets, like railway cable shafts, electricity pylons, or even power plants, is a significant threat for Germany’s security and should not be taken lightly.
This recent incident also brings to mind an October 2022 attack that TRAC reported on, in which German anarchists cut fiber-optic cables belonging to the Deutsche Bahn network in Berlin and in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Generally speaking, it should be noted how frequent of a target railway systems are in terms of anarchist attacks. The frequent attacks are often the result of the use of previously published instructional manuals on how to successfully sabotage railways.
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TRAC Insight:
Massive Influx of Suspected Islamic State (IS) Jihadists in
Chloraka Village, Paphos [Pafos] District, Cyprus
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Chloraka Community Council has recently expressed concern over the alleged influx of young jihadists into Chloraka Village and other areas of the Paphos District, Cyprus. Over the past six months, the village has witnessed a surge in the settlement of Islamist jihadists predominantly in the St. Nikolas Residence. While it is not confirmed if St. Nikolas Residence is a locality or an apartment building, a simple Google search shows it as a luxury hotel in Central Chloraka.
Most of these immigrants have arrived from Turkey and a few from Lebanon; it is most likely they traveled to Chloraka by boat. What is of particular note is the fact that most of these immigrants came to Cyprus with the help of illegal non-governmental organizations (NGOs), a prominent businessman known for establishing settlements in Paphos, and a network of Syrian smugglers and exploiters based in the regions.
These faked NGOs have facilitated the asylum applications for these individuals allowing them to legally enter the country. After entering Paphos, a prominent businessman then took charge of some of them while others went on to the Syrian network. These immigrants were provided shelters at multiple locations including the St. Nikolas Residence, where they engaged in undeclared labor, theft, and drug smuggling. Upon further investigation, local authorities discovered that these individuals were involved in the black marketing of stolen goods, unregistered vehicles, and the operation of small markets in the area.
The immigrants were clearly trained to perceive Cypriots as enemies before entering the area and have reported organizing protests directly threatening to harm the locals and community leaders.
Although Cyprus does not often witness Islamic State (IS) activity, the island country was once a part of the Ottoman Empire, which IS has always maintained was a part of its Caliphate. Geographically, Cyprus offers a perfect base for IS expansion and operations. Moreover, being a resident of Cyprus comes with a great deal of perks, most notably, the ability to move across Europe undetected. With these Cyprus-based militants, IS can carry out major operations in any European country at any time.
While it cannot be certainly stated if these immigrants belong to a specific organization, TRAC posits that they are migrating to Cyprus under the Islamic State’s new organizational structure "Mekteb-i-Furkan," a new framework operating under the guise of bookstores across Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Chechnya, Turkey, Ukraine, Mali, Uganda, and Sudan. IS has been sending militants under this new framework from Turkey to the Sub-Saharan Africa region disguised as NGO workers. Taking over traditional humanitarian aid is a tried and true global tactic of Islamic State's "hearts and minds" campaign to recruit new supporters.
Therefore, these immigrants disguised as NGO workers in Chloraka perfectly fit into the Islamic State’s new strategy. The fact that they have been settled in places like St. Nikolas Residence Hotel highlights their attempt to pretend to be normal humanitarian aid workers.
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TRAC Incident Report:
Gunmen Onboard a 'Monster' Truck Shoot at a Caravan of American-Mexicans, Near the Roma–Ciudad Miguel Alemán International Bridge, Tamaulipas, Mexico
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On 09 September 2023, at 5:30 am local time, armed men traveling onboard an improvised armored truck, also known as a 'monstruo' (monster), opened fire against a caravan of 20 migrants and tourists coming from Texas. The attack took place on the Ribereña highway in the area of Los Guerra, near the Roma–Ciudad Miguel Alemán International Bridge, Tamaulipas and among the travelers were Mexicans and Mexican-Americans.
The attack led to the injury of nine, including United States nationals. The group was said to be heading to San Luis Potosí, in central Mexico. Shortly after the armed assault, local sources reported that the shooters were traveling onboard a 'monstruo'.
Also known as 'narco-tanks,' the ‘monstruos’ are military-style, heavily modified vehicles used for protection against attacks from security forces and rival gangs. The artisanal armor built around the trucks is bulletproof and also has some degree of resistance to the explosion of land mines, rockets, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), making them an ideal choice for cartels. However, a ‘monster’ truck can be perforated by using an anti-materiel rifle, which is commonly in use among several cartels for that purpose.
The Ribereña highway in Tamaulipas is well known for being a dangerous route that should be avoided, even during the morning hours, due to the presence of cartel members who demand extortion from travelers originating from the United States.
Several cartel organizations operate along the Mexican areas bordering Texas, among them the Gulf Cartel (CDG) and the Cartel del Noreste (CDN). In addition to narcotics, weapons, and migrant smuggling, the Cartels are engaged in extortion, as part of their illegal financing activities aimed at sustaining their operations.
On 04 September 2023, Tamaulipas was the ground of escalating acts of violence that led the Consulate General of the United States (USA) in Matamoros to ask its citizens working in the said town to shelter in place until 1:30 p.m. In recent months, Tamaulipas towns like Reynosa and Matamoros, which are located near the U.S. border, have been the war grounds between the Scorpion faction of the Gulf Cartel (CDG) and a coalition of rival groups formed by CDG Metros, Zetas Vieja Escuela (ZVE), and Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) Cartel, for the control of drug, weapons, and migrant smuggling routes.
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TRAC Incident Report:
Armed Clashes Broke Out Between Fatah Militants and the
Muslim Youth Group at the Ain al-Hilwa Palestinian
Refugee Camp in Sidon, Lebanon
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Some of the injured in the clashes. | |
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On 08 September 2023, armed clashes broke out between Fatah militants and the predominantly Syrian Muslim Youth group at the Ain al-Hilwa Palestinian Refugee Camp in Sidon, Lebanon. The clashes broke out during the night and lasted through the following day, leaving at least four dead and more than 30 others wounded, including children. Two of the four that were reportedly killed were Fatah militants and one other was confirmed to be a Lebanese citizen.
After more than a month of relative stability, clashes have resumed within the Ain al-Hilwa Palestinian Refugee Camp. Last reported armed clashes broke out between Fatah militants and suspected Asbat an-Ansar fighters at the end of July.
It is reported that this time, Fatah is fighting against a newly-formed group calling itself the Muslim Youth, which is allegedly composed of Syrian refugees from the Idlib governorate living within the camp. Their leader is reported to be a man named Muhammad al-Arifi. Although the specific reason for the armed clashes is unclear, it appears that the fighting began after a Palestinian security force officer attempted to arrest one of the wanted Muslim youth members.
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TRAC Insight:
Left Wing-Led City Hall Sponsors an Exhibition on the Ukrainian Neo-Nazi Azov Regiment, Sparking Antifascist Protests, Milan, Lombardia Region, Italy
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TRAC Incident Report: Attempted Assassination of Prominent Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Field Commander Badshah Khan Mehsud, Using a Roadside IED, in Paktika Province, Afghanistan
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TRAC Incident Report: Suspected Boko Haram Forces Stole Supplies and Bikes from Civilians, and Killed One, in Limani, Far North Region, Cameroon
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