Deradicalization

Suspected Al Qaeda-linked extremist played chess on counter-terror programme Suspect ‘banned from Britain’ but arrived back after deportation from Turkey

(National-UAE) The problems faced by governments in the West dealing with returning foreign fighters have been revealed in the case of an alleged British extremist who snubbed de-radicalisation efforts to play chess with a government-assigned mentor. The married father-of-three, identified as QX, […]

Legal

Prosecuting IS returnees in Germany requires the law’s longest arm An increasing number of 'Islamic State' returnees are standing trial in Germany, including female supporters of the terror group. To make their case, federal prosecutors are relying on international criminal law.

(Deutsche Welle) Taha A.-J.*, an Iraqi man believed to have belonged to the “Islamic State” (IS), has been standing trial in Frankfurt since late April on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. At the center of his trial is […]

Government & Politics

France gives final green light to law cracking down on hate speech online The vote moved ahead amid controversy surrounding the bill’s rapporteur, accused by former assistants of hate speech and harassment.

(Politico) France adopted a law against online hate speech Wednesday that will target Silicon Valley giants amid controversy surrounding the lawmaker in charge of the bill. After months of debate, the lower house of Parliament adopted the controversial legislation, which will require […]

Law Enforcement

Germany: Alleged attacker of Turkish shops was IS supporter A man suspected of carrying out attacks on Turkish shops in Bavaria was a follower of the Islamic State (IS) armed group, local authorities have said. He had several pipe bombs in his bag when police arrested him.

(Deutsche Welle) A man suspected of carrying out attacks against Turkish-owned businesses in the Bavarian town of Waldkraiburg is a sympathizer of the Islamic State, police authorities said Sunday in an online press conference. The 25-year-old justified his hatred towards Turks and […]

Deradicalization

European prisons releasing 1,000 returned ISIS fighters in 2020 poses new security challenge UN co-ordinator tells 'The National' that counter-terrorism effort is crucial after military defeat

(National-UAE) The threat from ISIS will be greater after the release of 1,000 of its returned fighters from European prisons over the course of 2020, chief analyst at the UN told the National. Efforts to reform Europeans from the ISIS battlefields through […]

Government & Politics

Mossad gave Berlin intel on Hezbollah ops on German soil ahead of ban — report Unnamed Israeli official tells TV Germans were provided info on warehouses where terror group stashed materials for explosives, as well as money laundering networks

(Times of Israel) Israel’s Mossad spy agency gave information to Germany on Hezbollah’s activities on its soil ahead of the country banning the Lebanese terror group this week, Channel 12 news reported Saturday. Germany branded the entirety of the Iranian-backed group — […]

Government & Politics

German government bans Hezbollah — Interior Ministry Authorities have designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization and banned its activity on German soil. Police conducted raids on four associations linked to the Islamist group.

(Deutsche Welle) German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer on Thursday banned all Hezbollah activities in the country, his ministry spokesman said on Twitter. He also confirmed that “police measures are underway in several federal states concurrently,” and added that even in times of […]

Banks & Banking

HSBC to block donations to Palestinian aid charity Interpal British bank will no longer process standing orders, in Ramadan blow for one of UK's leading pro-Palestinian aid organisations

(Middle East Eye) British bank HSBC has told customers in the UK that it will stop processing standing order payments to the Palestinian aid charity Interpal from next month. The bank sent out letters earlier this month to account holders who make […]

Health & Medicine

Experts warn that high-profile ISIS terror arrest in Spain shows group is using virus lockdowns to move around Europe One of Europe's most wanted terrorists, British extremist Abdel Majed Abdel Bary, had used a coronavirus face mask as a disguise

(National-UAE) Terrorists are using the coronavirus lockdown to infiltrate Europe, experts said. One of Europe’s most high-profile ISIS terrorists, Abdel Majed Abdel Bary, was arrested in Spain on Tuesday and last week, a new ISIS terrorist cell was caught in Germany. British […]