Terrorism Watch

Three terrorists have been killed in an encounter at Jammu and Kashmir. The encounter took place at Amargarh in Sopore. The terrorists are said to be part of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. A police personnelwas injured in the encounter that broke out between the security forces and terrorists early Saturday morning. Security officials said that arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site. The incident occurred when the security forces were carrying out a search operations. During the operation, terrorists fired at the forces following which the encounter broke out. Police said that after receiving specific inputs, the Amargarh area was cordoned around midnight. The militants were hiding inside a house, and the gun battle began around 2am and ended at 5.55am, police said. Though the fire fight ended, security forces launched a search operation, police said. The bodies of all the three militants were recovered and they have been identified. Three AK-47 rifles were recovered fr

Terror experts have warned the Irish-UK border makes us vulnerable to Barcelona-style attacks and that bollards should be placed in pedestrian zones to protect against Isil supporters. Writing in today's Sunday Independent, Sir Ivor Roberts, a UK diplomat and Counter Extremism Project board member, warned Ireland is vulnerable to Isil planning an attack from here because of how easy it is to cross the border into Northern Ireland. He believes Ireland could be used as a base for Isil to launch attacks in the UK before retreating here again to launch further attacks elsewhere in Europe. Brexit also poses security challenges as the Irish and UK Governments seek to keep the border as fluid as possible when Britain exits the EU. His comments come as a Garda watch list monitoring jihadi sympathisers has doubled to more than 70 as networks here provide logistical and fundraising support for Islamist activists. "Ireland's land border with the UK - and

Which humanitarian topics are on IRIN’s radar and should be on yours? Check out our curation of upcoming events, topical reports, opinion, and quality journalism: The gag effect It’s been nearly six months since President Donald Trump, like all Republican administrations before him since  the Gipper , instituted the  Mexico City policy . Known by opponents as the "global gag rule", this bars foreign organisations that receive US aid from providing abortions, referring patients for the procedure, or even counselling termination as an option. It will take time for the directive to play out on the ground, although some reproductive healthcare providers are already  feeling the pain . This week, Sweden’s international aid agency,  Sida , said it was halting funding for reproductive health programmes that go along with the US policy. A Sida spokesperson said it was not clear yet how how many groups would be impacted by the move, but  mentioned  Save the Children as one that

WARNING: This story contains graphic details some readers may find disturbing Vendors and passersby walk along a street in the 3Z neighbourhood on July 28, where confrontations between Kamuina Nsapu militia and security forces are known to have taken place, in Tshikapa. (Junior D. Kannah/AFP/Getty Images)  A militia group blamed for atrocities in Congo is largely composed of children, while a militia formed to defeat it is suspected of a campaign of ethnically-based massacres and rapes, UN investigators said on Friday. Their report, detailing violence that the UN said may amount to crimes against humanity, shines a light onto the role of children in a disturbing conflict that has killed thousands. It was based on testimonies from people who had fled from the violence in Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola. "Their accounts should serve as a grave warning to the government of the DRC to act now to prevent such violence from tipping into wider ethnic cleansing." U

New laws giving the UK beefed up powers to impose its own sanctions against terror groups after Brexit are to be introduced by the Government. Although modelled on existing EU sanctions, the new Sanctions Bill will make it easier to cut off funding, freeze assets and block access to bank accounts. At present, the Government must "reasonably believe" a person is or has been involved in terrorism and that freezing their assets is necessary to protect the public. But under the new plans, ministers would only need to have "reasonable grounds" to suspect a person or group is or has been involved in terrorism and that sanctions are an "appropriate action". The Government says the legislation will enable post-Brexit Britain to continue to play a central role in global sanctions to combat the threats of terrorism, conflict and nuclear weapons. "The new Sanctions Bill will ensure that when the UK leaves the EU, we retain the ability to impose, upd

July 14, three Arab citizens of Israel entered Jerusalem’s Temple Mount armed to attack. They shot and killed two Israeli police officers — Hayil Satawi, 30, and Kamil Dhanaan, 22, members of the Israeli Druze community. The terrorists were shot and killed. Their families will receive monthly reward checks from the Palestinian Authority for the rest of their lives. A week later, on July 21, a 19-year-old Palestinian terrorist walked into a Jewish home during a Shabbat meal and stabbed three Israelis to death: Yosef Salomon, 70, and two of his children; Chaya Salomon, 46, and Elad Salomon, 36. The Palestinian Authority will send a monthly check to this terrorist who will sit in prison for the rest of his life — as compensation this heinous attack. In March of last year, a 28-year-old American student named Taylor Force was visiting Israel on a school trip. While walking near the beach in Tel Aviv, a 22-year-old Palestinian stabbed him to death in a terror attack. Taylor Force was

As the war in Mosul comes to an end and ISIS retreats, legions of young victims are being left behind. Without help, they may pose a long-term threat to the security of the region and the world at large.  Children were uniquely victimized by ISIS. First, as bystanders caught in a brutal war, but more shockingly, as soldiers who were recruited, indoctrinated with a deadly ideology, then trained to kill and fight on the battlefield. As they are freed from ISIS, traumatized and untreated, they're now melting back into society -- still heavily influenced by their experience.  "Children of ISIS" will be featured in the premiere " CBSN: On Assignment " -- a new primetime documentary series which first airs Monday, July 31, 2017, (10 p.m. ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and on  CBSN , the network's 24/7 streaming news service. Sherri Talabany is one of the loudest voices calling for help. A former U.S. diplomat now living in the northern Iraqi city of

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines – The country’s biggest navy ship, Boat of the Republic of the Philippines (BRP) Davao Del Sur, delivered military supplies and 7 tons of relief goods on Thursday, August 3, for Marawi City. The BRP Davao del Sur docked at the Iligan City Port on Wednesday night, but the unloading of cargo began on Thursday, with fresh military supplies and hardware first. Amphibious Assault Vehicles of the Philippine Marines were delivered to the main battle area of Marawi to help flush and clear the city of terrorists. Commander Bonifacio Manzano, commanding officer of BRP Davao del Sur said the delivery today was their third supply since the Marawi crisis begun. RELIEF GOODS. A volunteer carries relief goods for a waiting vehicle inside the deck of the BRP Davao del Sur. Photo by Bobby Lagsa/Rappler  The 7 tons of relief goods were for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Manzano said hey brought relief goods from different governmen

Osama bin Laden gave his first television interview in March 1997. (CNN) In the remote mountains of the Hindu Kush in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, CNN correspondent Peter Arnett asked Osama bin Laden, "What are your future plans?" With the slightest smirk,  bin Laden replied , "You'll see them and hear about them in the media, God willing."  That interview took place in March 1997. It was bin Laden's first television interview, and it was the first time the al-Qaeda leader declared war on the United States to a Western audience. But there's another reason why this interview still stands out two decades later. It shows how much the features of terrorism that we live with today -- from jihadist acts to eruptions of violence from the far right to the concept of the "lone wolf" -- all had their roots in the 1990s. For most Americans, the era of jihadist terrorism aimed at the United States began on September 11, 2001. Bu

A senior Indonesian counter-terrorism officer has questioned where Australian convicted terrorist Jack Roche is, while criticising Australia's approach to monitoring former members of networks, like Jemaah Islamiah (JI). The deputy of International Cooperation at the counter-terrorism agency known as the BNPT, Inspector General Hamidin, said he believed old terrorism cells were active in Australia. In an interview with the ABC, the Inspector General said he was concerned that at a recent event to discuss countering violent extremism in Sydney and Canberra, Australian officials said they did not know the exact whereabouts of Roche. "I wanted to know where he is but no-one knew," Inspector General Hamidin, who goes by one name, said. "Some said he had returned to Indonesia. While here in Indonesia, wherever ex-terrorists are, we always maintain communication with them." He said Indonesian authorities were looking for him. The ABC has been told Roche

Taha Hussain became increasingly involved in terrorist activities over a two-year-period and posted messages saying no one should feel sorry for the deaths of non-Muslims An extremist who drove through the streets shouting 'Allahu Akbar' while playing music associated with ISIS has been found guilty of  terror offences  .  Taha Hussain, 21, also set up a YouTube channel where he gave the message no one should "feel sorry" for the deaths of non-Muslims. Hussain, formally from Slough, in Berkshire, was found guilty of seven counts of disseminating terrorist publications contrary to section 2(1) of Terrorism Act 2006 following a 15-day trial at the Old Bailey. Over a two year period, Hussain became increasingly involved in extremist activities where he encouraged others to instigate, prepare or commit acts of terror. After he was arrested in August 2016 police found disturbing photos on his phone, reports  Get Reading  .  Officers also found a YouTube chann

This undated file image posted on a militant website on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014 shows fighters from the al-Qaida linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) marching in Raqqa, Syria. AP File Photo/militant website UNITED NATIONS—A United Nation study of 43 people who left their countries to become “foreign terrorist fighters” in Syria has found that most came from disadvantaged backgrounds, lacked good education and decent jobs—and saw their Muslim religion “in terms of justice and injustice rather than in terms of piety and spirituality.” The study for the U.N. Counter-Terrorism Center released Thursday said that based on interviews with the 42 men and one woman, a typical “foreign terrorist fighter,” or FTF, is most likely to be young, male and feel “their life lacked meaning.” But Professor Hamed el-Said of Manchester Metropolitan University and British terrorism expert Richard Barrett, who conducted the study, said beyond that it’s difficult to generalize why they