Acts of Terrorism megathread

[Barrister]

Concur.  Waiting on the Russians to pin it on a Latvian.

Or domestic liberal opposition.

Nah - Russians always blame foreigners. There is no domestic opposition in Russia - only foreign agents and neo-nazis.

[celedhring]

A combined Spanish-Belgian investigation has ended up with the arrest of 9 jihadists in the Barcelona area, some of them reportedly tied with the perpetrators of the Brussels airport/subway bombings.

[Syt]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/german-soldier-syria-refugee-false-flag-terror-attack-posing-arrested-frankfurt-france-bavaria-a7705231.html

German soldier posing as a Syrian refugee arrested for planning 'false flag' terror attack

Investigators say lieutenant stashed gun at Vienna airport to be used in 'act of state-threatening violence'

A German soldier found posing as a Syrian refugee has been arrested for allegedly planning a "false flag" shooting attack that would be blamed on asylum seekers.

The unidentified soldier was detained when he went to retrieve a loaded pistol he had hidden in a bathroom at Vienna International Airport.

The public prosecutor's office in Frankfurt said the 28-year-old is suspected of planning a serious "state-threatening act of violence", fraud and violating firearms laws.

More than 90 German police officers have worked alongside Austrian and French security forces to search 16 locations across three countries on Wednesday, when a suspected accomplice was arrested in Bavaria.

Investigations have revealed that the Bundeswehr lieutenant was stationed at Illkirch-Graffenstaden in France before registering as a refugee back in Germany.

He gave false information to authorities in Giessen, Hesse, on 30 December 2015 – as Germany was overwhelmed by the arrival of almost a million asylum seekers.

Posing as a Syrian refugee but reportedly speaking in French, rather than Arabic, the man submitted an asylum application at Zirndorf in Bavaria in January last year.

"As a result, he was given shelter in a refugee home and has received monthly financial benefits under this false identity," the Frankfurt prosecutor's office said.

"These findings, as well as other evidence, point towards a xenophobic motive for the soldier's suspected plan to commit an attack using a weapon deposited at Vienna airport."

If his plan had succeeded, his fingerprints would have registered on the refugee records system and led investigators to his false identity as a Syrian asylum seeker, turning fresh scrutiny on migrants in Germany.

Isis has previously used a similar ploy, giving its militants fake Syrian passports that were found at the scene of the Paris attacks.

The man's suspected accomplice, a 24-year-old student, was arrested in Hammelburg for alleged involvement in the plot.

Police have searched the homes of the two suspects as well as their friends and workplaces, with detectives seizing "extensive material" including mobile phones, laptops and documents.

Prosecutors said the soldier had no permission for the 7.65mm pistol stashed in Vienna, while illegal weapons were also found at his accomplice's house.

Both men remain in custody in Frankfurt as the probe continues.

The soldier was arrested days after prosecutors revealed that the man who orchestrated the Dortmund bus bombings had attempted to frame Isis to make money on shares.

Sergej W, a dual German-Russian national, detonated three bombs targeting a bus carrying the Borussia Dortmund football team, seriously injuring one player on 11 April.

He left misspelled letters at the scene claiming the attack was retaliation for German military intervention against Isis, but investigations found he was not an Islamist but a trader planning to profit from short-selling shares.

A series of Isis-inspired terror attacks and plots in Germany have raised tensions leading into September's federal elections, where Angela Merkel is battling to win a fourth term as Chancellor.

Right-wing groups have blamed her decision to open borders to refugees in 2015, while extremists have launched hundreds of attacks on asylum seekers' accommodation.

At least two neo-Nazi terror plots have been uncovered, while security services have cracked down on the anti-government Reichsbürger movement after one of its members killed a police officer.

Division over asylum, immigration and security has driven clashes at protests and political rallies, driving a record year for politically-motivated crime in Germany.

[The Larch]

Now that's convoluted.

[Zanza]

The federal criminal police has arrested at least one more soldier and one civilian as supposed accomplices of the first soldier. More soldiers are being investigated. They had stolen ammunition from the army and had bought a rifle in Vienna. They found a death list with 25 names with the first soldier, among them the former federal president Gauck and the current minister of justice Maas as highest priority targets. The prosecutors believe that they had concrete plans for assassinations. This is now treated as forming a terrorist group, which is a federal felony.

The minister of defence has used the German word for "purge" with regard to our military.  I guess they'll crack down as hard as they can now, but there are lots of reactionaries and right-wing sympathizers in the armed forces.

[Duque de Bragança]

Another failed attack. Suspect is atypical though. Married and post graduate. No criminal record 

http://www.france24.com/en/20170606-suspect-shot-wounded-attack-police-officer-notre-dame-france

France

Suspect shot and wounded after attacking police outside Notre Dame cathedral


The Paris prefecture of police tweeted an alert urging people to avoid the area.

Police took to Twitter to urge people to stay away from Notre Dame and the island located in central Paris known as Île de la Cité. Numerous police cars have filled the area and an ambulance was seen leaving the scene.

Police officials said a man armed with a hammer attacked and lightly wounded a police officer who was patrolling in front of the cathedral. The attacker was then "neutralised" by police and taken to hospital.

Speaking to reporters after arriving at the scene, French Interior Minister Gérard Collomb said the attacker shouted, "This is for Syria!" before he struck. Collomb said the suspect was carrying an Algerian student identity card and appears to have acted alone.

Prosecutors said earlier that they had opened an anti-terrorism probe into the incident.

The cathedral was placed on lockdown and visitors took shelter inside as the police operation was under way in the square. Witnesses said those inside were asked to raise their hands over their heads.

France remains in a state of emergency and at its highest terror warning level after a series of terrorist attacks in recent years.

Smaller, "lone wolf" attacks have often targeted France's security forces. A police officer was killed and two others were wounded on April 20 when an attacker opened fire on their vehicle on the Champs-Élysées avenue. A 39-year-old man was killed at Paris's Orly Airport in March after attacking a soldier while a man armed with a machete attacked soldiers on patrol at the Louvre Museum in February.

Thousands of troops and armed police have been deployed to guard tourist hotspots such as the Champs-Élysées or other potential targets, including government buildings and religious sites.

France has been on high alert since January 2015, when gunmen killed 17 people in attacks at the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine and a Kosher supermarket. Several bars and restaurants in Paris, including the Bataclan concert hall, were targeted in attacks that left 130 dead on November 13 of that same year. A truck rammed through a festive crowd gathered for a Bastille Day fireworks display in Nice in July 2016, leaving more than 80 people dead.

In September last year, three women were charged in connection with a failed terror plot after seven gas cylinders was discovered in a car near Notre Dame cathedral. Officials later said the women had been planning to attack one of Paris's largest railway stations, the Gare de Lyon.

[Valmy]

Wait the French are responsible for Syria now? How? They even opposed the invasion of Iraq.

Edit: Ah ok ISIS wants its people to attack everybody attacking them.

[Duque de Bragança]

Well, I guess this is for daring to oppose Daesh.

[Duque de Bragança]

Well, the perpetrator, Massif Farid Ikken, is an interesting fellow, a 40-year old student (post-graduate) who contributed some articles to the Rue 89 website, linked to L'OBS, a left-wing intelligentsia paper. 
Described as socially conscious, and feminist. 
His thesis advisor, very much on the left, described him as sweet as a lamb.

La rédactrice en chef adjointe de Rue89, Blandine Grosjean, qui a longuement échangé avec lui par mail, décrit un journaliste "sérieux, impliqué socialement, soucieux de la cause féministe".

http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/rue89/rue89-nos-vies-connectees/20170607.OBS0374/farid-ikken-l-agresseur-de-notre-dame-un-journaliste-algerien-pigiste-en-2013-a-rue89.html

Previously, he studied journalism in Sweden. Maybe the Brain can find one of his contributions? 

[Valmy]

Damn. I guess you never can tell.

[Duque de Bragança]

Damn. I guess you never can tell.

Specially, if you are naive and see muslims, like many on the left here, as the new Damnés de la terre.
The right-wing/conservative web sphere is having a field day with this.

[Valmy]

Oh wait did he describe himself as a socially conscious feminist? What was the nature of the articles he wrote?

[Duque de Bragança]

Oh wait did he describe himself as a socially conscious feminist? What was the nature of the articles he wrote?

He did not describe himself as socially conscious, or feminist but people who worked with him described his as such.
He wrote two papers about poverty and corruption in Algeria, and insufficient healthcare for women, again in Algeria.

Le premier papier publié sur Rue89 porte sur la médecine à deux vitesses en Algérie. Il y montre que les victimes du cancer n'ont pas les mêmes chances de survie quand elles ont du piston.

"Trouver un rendez-vous pour une opération chirurgicale ou de la radiothérapie sans recourir aux « relations », comme on dit ici, relève de l'impossible aujourd'hui en Algérie. Tout le monde ne peut pas, comme le président Bouteflika, se faire soigner au Val-de-Grâce."

Le deuxième article, sur une idée de la rédactrice en chef de Rue89, parlait des femmes algériennes en exil : du long chemin qu'il faut parcourir pour être respectée dans le pays d'accueil et celui d'origine.

[mongers]

Is this an act of terrorism or maybe they were caught up in some criminal act?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40275055

lican hit' in multiple shooting14 June 2017
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A US Republican politician and aides have been shot during baseball practice in Virginia, US reports say.

Police in the upmarket Washington DC suburb of Alexandria said they were investigating a "multiple shooting" and a suspect was in custody.

Fox News said House of Representatives Majority Whip Steve Scalise and aides have been hit by gunfire.

Police tweeted they were "investigating multiple shooting 400 block E Monroe St. Suspect believed in custody."

An apparent eyewitness said on Twitter that gunfire rang out at the YMCA baseball fields, by the Eugene Simpson Stadium Park.

The witness, @ben_childers, said it happened at a congressional baseball team practice session.

Local media report there is a major police presence after the attack.

Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, texted Fox News to say that Mr Scalise had been shot in the hip and would survive.

He said someone had used a belt as a tourniquet on him.

Mr Lee said the shooter had used a long gun and was dead.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer tweeted that President Donald Trump was being briefed.

"Both @POTUS & @VP are aware of the developing situation in Virginia. Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected," Mr Spicer tweeted.

[Liep]

I have a friend in Alexandria on a business trip, he's updating from his hotel room that one congress member is dead and there's multiple shootings in the city. Then: "I'm leaving for the conference". I'd stay the fuck inside my room.