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In a series of coordinated assaults, at least three attacks targeted local Orthodox churches and synagogues in Derbent and Makhachkala, Dagestan, approximately 130 kilometres apart. The incidents on 23 June 2024, have resulted in multiple casualties and significant property damage.
The attacks began on Trinity Day, a significant celebration for Orthodox Christians. Armed individuals attacked a local Orthodox church and synagogue in Derbent. The perpetrators, who did not conceal their identities, opened fire on the buildings and set them ablaze using Molotov cocktails. Police patrols assigned to provide security were also targeted, resulting in the deaths of at least five police officers and injuries to nine others. Videos from the scene reveal the attackers seized a police vehicle and assaulted several police patrols attempting to stop them. Local media later reported that police forces killed at least two assailants, and two others were apprehended on a nearby beach.
The armed assault on the synagogue in Derbent occurred around 17:50, 40 minutes before the evening prayer. Following heightened security measures at Makhachkala airport in late October 2023, a police car was stationed outside the synagogue during prayer services, with private security personnel inside. During the attack, a security guard at the synagogue was killed.
Inside the Orthodox church, the attackers fatally slit the throat of a 66-year-old Orthodox priest who had devoted 40 years to the church. The priest's execution was carried out in a manner typical of the Islamic State. Both the synagogue and the church were destroyed by fire.
Simultaneously, another group of assailants launched an attack on a nearby Orthodox church, resulting in the death of a security guard. Nineteen visitors took shelter inside the church from the attackers. Contrary to numerous social media reports, there was no hostage situation. Reports of ongoing shootouts in Makhachkala continued, with the attackers assaulting a police patrol while attempting to flee.
Representatives of the Jewish diaspora claimed that a synagogue in Makhachkala was also targeted; however, this information has not been confirmed by official sources. The death toll from these attacks is increasing, and the situation remains fluid.
Authorities in Dagestan have detained multiple individuals connected to the attacks. In Derbent, two perpetrators were reported killed, and in Makhachkala, three militants were killed. Before the attacks, the perpetrators created a private Telegram chat named “Death to Infidels” for coordination and secure communication, with messages written in their native language.
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Despite the collapse of the Islamic State's core in the Middle East, its ideology continues to resonate with certain segments of the Russian population.
This incident highlights the ongoing threat posed by extremist groups in the region and the need for vigilant security measures to protect vulnerable communities and religious sites. The choice of Kurban Bayram for the attack underscores the militants' intent to exploit religious occasions to maximize impact and sow fear among the population.
In addition, TRAC wants to highlight that there have been numerous connections between IS Russian supporters and IS French supporters in France over the past week. The number of CTOs should be of concern given the Moscow attack earlier this year.
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TRAC Incident Report: Disruptions Planned During the Presidential Debate in Atlanta, Georgia, United States
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Anarchists and far-left activists are organizing an anti-Israel mass protest, dubbed ‘Stop the Debate,’ scheduled for 27 June 2024 at 7 PM local time in Atlanta, Georgia. The planned protest is set to take place in two key locations: Fowler and 10th Street NW, and Home Park. This protest is aimed at disrupting the presidential debate between President Biden and former President Donald Trump, which is scheduled for 9 PM on the same day in Atlanta.
Various groups are expected to participate in the demonstration, including Atlanta Forest Defenders/Stop Cop City, Palestine Action US, and Escalate Network. Although these leftist movements have diverse agendas, they have united to oppose the United States' support of Israel in the ongoing conflict against Hamas.
TRAC contends that the protest is unlikely to achieve its goal of preventing the debate from taking place. The CNN studios, where the debate is set to occur, will be heavily guarded by security forces. Additionally, the debate will not have a live audience, only television crews, making it more challenging for protesters to disrupt the event.
The conflict between Atlanta Forest Defenders, anarchists, and the police began in 2022 and has escalated significantly over the years. For instance, booby traps containing syringes with traces of fentanyl were reportedly spread in the woods by the Atlanta Forest Defenders. Most of those arrested in connection with these activities are not Georgia residents but have traveled from various distant locations to squat in the forest.
The Atlanta (Weelaunee) forest, which has overgrown on the old Federal Atlanta Penitentiary Farm, is currently being cleared for the construction of a new police training facility, referred to as “Cop City.” The old penitentiary farm has a contentious history, having used inmates as laborers to grow food for the prison and profit from the sale of these goods.
Palestine Action is an anti-Israel movement that employs disruptive tactics to shut down multinational arms dealers. The group targets companies based in the United Kingdom and the United States that supply weapons used in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. One of the primary targets of Palestine Action is Elbit Systems.
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(Chatter) Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) Militants Have Reportedly Moved into Kainji Lake National Park, Kebbi State, Nigeria | |
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Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) have reportedly moved into the Kainji Lake National Park area. This is of course of interest for obvious reasons, as JNIM moving into Nigeria is unheard of and will likely change the very foundation of JNIMs operations and goals.
It is imperative to note that JNIM has long aimed to move southward into the littoral states, with Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin being the main targets. This report not only confirms the groups’ expansionist efforts as they move southward but also expands the target list as well. This makes the tri-border area between Niger, Benin and Nigeria an increasing concern for the already militant-plagued Nigeria, with the former two already having a JNIM presence previously.
Concerns are rising that JNIM and Nigerian bandits across the spectrum of warlords appear to be forming a symbiotic relationship in Benin. At the root of what appears to be this blossoming relationship has to do with the connection, or rather the apparent indifference, of the occupation of the same territory on the Benin-Nigeria border. The area, which spans along the end of Niger’s southernmost territory, from Malanville to Nikki in Benin, is now home to both JNIM and Nigerian bandits, as both groups find the occupation of the territory in conjunction advantageous.
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(Video) Al-Shabaab Media House Al-Kataib Media Issues a Propaganda Video of the Eid al-Adha Series “How Can We Be Content With Abandoning Jihad?” | |
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On 18 June 2024, Al-Shabaab's media wing, Al-Kataib Media, released a propaganda video titled "How Can We Be Content With Abandoning Jihad?" This video draws inspiration from a speech of the same name by Sheikh Ibrahim Al Rabish, a senior leader and ideologue of Al-Qaeda.
This video is part of a series of publications released on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, which also includes a photoset and a booklet. The one-hour video opens with images depicting the ongoing conflict in Gaza and continues with footage and pictures illustrating the suffering of Muslim communities in Syria, Yemen, India, Bosnia, Guantanamo, Iraq, East and West Africa, and the Uyghurs in China. The video contrasts the abuses faced by the Ummah under Western influence with the role of Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups, portraying these groups as liberators of oppressed populations.
A significant portion of the video showcases hundreds of recruits graduating from the ‘Training Academy of Sheikh Osama bin Laden,’ which is part of a new ‘special forces’ unit. The video highlights extensive training programs, including firearms and missile training, mounted units, combat techniques, naval warfare, rock climbing, drive-by shootings, anti-aircraft weapons, paramilitary exercises, and demonstrations of navigation and communication skills, showcasing their equipment and technical knowledge.
The visuals are accompanied by Nasheeds and speeches from several foundational figures of the organization, such as Sheikh Ibrahim Al Rabish, Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Al-Zubair (former Al-Shabaab Emir), Sheikh Ayman Al-Zawahiri (second Emir of Al-Qaeda), Sheikh Abdullah Azzam (theorist of modern jihad and mentor to Osama bin Laden), and Osama bin Laden himself.
The video and booklet have been translated into seven languages: Somali, English, Arabic, Amharic, Oromo, Swahili, and French. This underscores Al-Shabaab's efforts to reach a broad audience and sustain their recruitment initiatives. This multimedia propaganda campaign aims to inspire and mobilize individuals across diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, bolstering the group's recruitment and radicalization efforts.
Al Shabaab continues to be the world's most underestimated jihadist group. Given the previous training camp videos, coupled with this special forces video, it would be a categorical mistake to not assume that Shabaab is planning more urban assaults across Somalia.
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TRAC Incident Report: Severed and Skinned Human Head Discovered Along With a Narco-Message in Downtown Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico | |
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On 18 June 2024, a severed and skinned human head was discovered in an icebox along Diego Hurtado de Mendoza Street in downtown Acapulco. The head, adorned with black sunglasses, was found alongside a narco-message, though authorities have not disclosed its contents.
The addition of black sunglasses to the grisly display was likely a deliberate tactic by cartel sicarios. This gruesome act is intended to demonstrate the hitmen's desensitization to violence, suggesting that they find humor in their brutality. This nonchalant attitude toward violence can also be interpreted as a threat, signaling that the sicarios may be quicker to resort to violent acts.
Acapulco has been gripped by a severe wave of violence over the past two weeks. While the connection between this incident and the recent surge in violence remains unclear, it is likely related to retaliation tactics employed by active cartels in the area, including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the Los Rusos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS), and the remnants of the Independent Acapulco Cartel (CIDA).
Cartels frequently use narco-messages to intimidate, threaten, or inform the public and rival gangs of their activities and intentions. These messages are often accompanied by violent and gory displays, as seen with the severed head in this case. The authorities have yet to reveal the content of the narco-message found at the scene, leaving the public to speculate on the intended warning or statement.
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TRAC Incident Report: Islamic State Central Africa (ISCA/Wilayat Wasat Afriqiyah) Militants Capture & Execute 22 Christians in Bamande Village, Ituri Province, Congo (DR) | |
(Chatter) Al-Azaim Media (Unofficial Islamic State Khurasan / ISK) Calls On Jihadists Globally to Move to Afghanistan (Hijrah) | |
TRAC Incident Report: Islamic State Mozambique (IS-M/Shabaab Cult) Armed Assault on the Headquarters of the Administrative Center, in Mbau, Mocimboa de Praia, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique
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