Islamic State tried to recruit undercover BBC reporter — report
British broadcaster says jihadist sought to enlist journalist to carry out terror attack similar to June assault that later took place at London Bridge
The Islamic State group reportedly attempted to recruit an undercover BBC journalist to carry out a terror attack at London Bridge similar to a recent combined car-ramming and stabbing attack claimed by the terror group at the historic site.
In a BBC report airing Monday evening, a journalist for the British broadcaster described his experience communicating with an IS operative on an encrypted messaging service during a period of several weeks in July 2016, during which the terrorist implored him to carry out an attack at London Bridge.
“He was trying to persuade me into carrying out an attack and he also gave me the option of either doing it alone or along with a team,” said the journalist, whose identity was not disclosed.
The journalist also said the same IS recruiter told him in December 2016 to watch tutorials on the dark web produced by the terror group.
“One of them showed how to use a vehicle to kill people,” the reporter said. “The other showed how to use knives and homemade bombs for maximum impact.”
“Finally there was a description of how to create a fake suicide vest and how it can be used to stop the police from attacking you if you are standing next to civilians,” he added.
The report included one of the exchanges between the journalist and the IS member.
“I am nervous,” the message says. “No need. Keep asking Allah for help,” the IS operative responds.
The report did not provide any context for the exchange.
The BBC said British authorities knew of the broadcaster’s communication with the terror group.
The van used in the London Bridge terror attack on Saturday, June 3, 2017. (Metropolitan Police London via AP)
The attack plan laid out by the IS member was nearly identical to the June 2017 terror attackclaimed by the group at London Bridge.
During the attack, Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba mowed into pedestrians on London Bridge and then embarked on a stabbing spree at an adjacent nightlife area.
Eight people were killed in the attack, while the attackers — who also wore fake suicide vests during the assault — were shot dead by police.
The London attack was the third this year that IS has claimed in Britain, after a bombing in Manchester in late May and a similar attack in the heart of London in March.
Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/islamic-state-tried-to-recruit-undercover-bbc-reporter-report/
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