This month’s In Focus analyzes the Islamic State (IS) propaganda spotlight on stadiums and sport events in Europe as potential targets. The propaganda was disseminated during the final stages of the UEFA Champions League, and as preparation for the upcoming UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany and the Olympic games in France. Several tactics and procedures were proposed in circulating IS propaganda for adherents to carry out attacks in stadiums, including the use of weaponized rotary-wing UAVs. Subsequently, a document detailing different models of rotary-wing UAVs suitable for potential attacks was circulated in online IS chatrooms.
In recent months, Al-Qaeda (AQ) affiliated media channels have launched several new publications in their ongoing anti-West campaign. As part of this initiative, the extremist group expressed their support for two knife attacks, committed by jihadi lone wolf adherents. The first attack targeted a bishop in Sydney, Australia, while the second attack occurred in Bordeaux, France. Prior to the latter incident, AQ distributed a booklet urging its followers to assassinate French President Emanuel Macron, who has implemented policies perceived as anti-Islamic in nature. Furthermore, a written publication containing quotes from past AQ leaders justifying and promoting lone wolf attacks was circulated. Lastly, an AQ-affiliated magazine proposed a tactic to sabotage roads to deliberately cause deadly traffic accidents.
An IS-affiliated media unit known to provide cybersecurity and other IT resources to IS followers presented on April 4, 2024, a comprehensive overview of a privacy-focused messaging platform known for its end-to-end encryption, decentralized infrastructure and the ability to use the service without registering personal identifiers, such as phone numbers or email addresses.
This month’s Who’s Who? analyzes a Facebook profile that belongs to an eager jihadi supporter from Mauritius. Along with his clear support for IS and promotion of the organization’s content, like many terror supporters online, he also supports other terrorist organizations.
This month’s instant messaging applications analysis focuses on a phone number with a US country code suspected of being used by an adherent of IS ideology and for administrating a WhatsApp group intended for IS supporters. The phone number was found to be linked to several Facebook and TikTok accounts, allegedly from Peru. Additionally, we have analyzed a WhatsApp group operated by Lebanese phone numbers, spreading militant propaganda affiliated with the Amal movement in Lebanon. Most of the phone numbers in the group are Lebanese, but there are also several numbers with European and African country codes. The Amal movement and Hezbollah share a mutually beneficial relationship, particularly in financial activities. The membership of phone numbers with non-Lebanese country codes may indicate the affiliation of residents in Europe and Africa with the Amal movement and their potential support for it.
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