Weekly Analyst Review

07 July 2022

Bottom Line Up Front

Since the beginning of June, Mozambique has endured no less than 35 attacks at the hands of Islamic State Central Africa (Shabaab Cult), with the vast majority of the attacks targeting Christians and burning down their villages, but consisting of tactical or military attacks as well.

For the past six months, TRAC has been monitoring the expansion efforts of Islamic State throughout Africa and though Mozambique had already been on our radar going back as far as 2018, the manner in which many attacks in June were being celebrated on Islamic State supporter channels on Telegram is an indication that IS expansion into the country is finding success. South Africa has established a military base in Macomia Region, adding another 1,200 soldiers to battle Islamic State in Mozambique. What is clear is that modern warfare will not work in the jungle terrain of Cabo Delgado, armored tanks and drones are of no use in the area.

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Other Developments

TRAC Insight:

Eco-Fascists Push Instructional Advice To Purchase Easily Obtainable Train Derailing Tool Accessible to Everyone is Advertised as Ideal Tool to ‘Create Chaos’ on Telegram

Image: Picture of the train derailing device featured in instructional guide.

An easily obtainable train derailing tool, accessible and usable by everyone is being advertised as the ideal tool to ‘create chaos’ by eco-fascist Terrorgram Collective. Though this specific tool was actually developed as a safety measure for train track maintenance and operations, eco-fascists are highlighting its use as a tool for derailing trains, as seen in anarchists' tactics in causing mass casualties. Due to the cost of this tool, which ranges from $1500 - $2500 USD, in certain Telegram chat rooms there are even 'DIY' discussions about how to weld the tool at home in order to save money and evade detection.

Anarchists frequently make use of such tools and have previously published similar instructional manuals; however, this instructional guide is another example of the 'horseshoe effect' in which both left and right-wing extremists advocate for similar attacks. Even jihadists have taken part in advocating such attacks, as back in 2017, the al-Qaeda English language magazine, Inspire, published instructions on how to design a train derailing tool, although five years ago, the instructions were far more complicated.

TRAC Incident Report:

Suspected Islamic State West Africa (ISWA/ISWAP) Ambush On Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari’s Motorcade,

Near Dutsin-Ma LGA, Katsina State, Nigeria

Image: President Muhammadu Buhari's Convoy

On 05 July 2022 suspected Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) fighters ambushed an advance convoy of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari near Dutsin-Ma LGA, Katsina State, Nigeria. The advance convoy is believed to have been sent ahead of Buhari’s visit to Daura for the Islamic Eid-el-Kabir festival. Daura is Buhari's hometown and about 150 km away from where the attack took place.

Locals report that they saw an unverifiable number of armed fighters amassing on the road near Dutsin-Ma on motorcycles, establishing ambush positions to fire on the convoy as it passed. According to the official report, the attackers were repelled by combined, military, police, and DSS personnel accompanying the convoy of presidential aides. Witnesses say that this was not an easy task, as the ambush turned into a very pitched gun battle. While the official report only claims two people suffered minor injuries during the battle, other witnesses claim a few people died. It is not clear if these casualties were combatants on either side, or innocent bystanders.

TRAC Incident Report:

Unknown Danish Man Opened Fire at Field’s Shopping Mall Injuring Multiple & Killing at Least 1, in Copenhagen, Denmark

Image: Screenshot of VBIED explosion

On 3 July 2022, a 22-year-old Danish national opened fire on visitors of the Field’s shopping mall in Copenhagen, Denmark. To date, one person has been confirmed dead, multiple people wounded and shooter arrested. Field's shopping mall is the largest mall in Denmark and once the shooting began, scores of people were seen running out of the mall.

While information on the shooter or his motives are still unclear, it cannot be ignored that the assailant is Caucasian and racist networks on Telegram were quick to celebrate the incident.

On Our Radar:

Video:

Recruitment to National Socialist Order (NSO) “Targetry”

Video:

Right Wing Extremist Burn Quran; Get Away Car Overturned by Two Muslim Women in Oslo, Norway

TRAC Incident Report:

Islamic State Khurasan (ISK) Militants Assault Taliban's (IEA) al-Farooq Corps in Two Buses, Killing & Wounding 20 People, in Herat, Afghanistan

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