Latest Briefs
An Online Terrorist Training Manual – Part Two: Assassinations and Robberies
The last issue of Terrorism Focus discussed the first two of six terrorist training lessons posted on a pro-al-Qaeda jihadi forum (Terrorism Focus, April 1). These lessons, dealing with the creation of a terrorist cell, also briefly touched on the subject of assassination techniques. This... MORE
BRIEFS
GERMAN FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN WARNED OF ATTACKS BY GERMAN ISLAMISTS Germany’s Federal Office of Criminal Investigation (BKA) announced on April 3 that “potentially threatened institutions in Afghanistan,” including bases of the German Bundeswehr, had been warned of possible terrorist attacks from two German citizens (DDP,... MORE
An Online Terrorist Training Manual – Part One: Creating a Terrorist Cell
Jihadis continue to pursue terror training and knowledge exchange with fellow jihadis through Internet forums. Often, the jihadi forum participants post short, though significant, details pertinent to terror conduct drawn from real life experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. Recently, a forum participant posted six training... MORE
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Projects Regional Force
On March 10, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) issued a statement to jihadi forums claiming the abduction of two Austrian tourists on Tunisian soil (al-Jazeera, March 10). Though it is uncertain whether the two were actually still in Tunisia at the time of their... MORE
Jihadi Forums Detail Tactical Use of Silenced Weapons in Iraq
The latest insurgency technique of using silenced handguns to kill U.S. and government forces in Iraq is discussed in two different jihadi internet forums (hanein.info, March 18; ek-ls.org, March 17). Over five days, Islamist forum participants discussed the use of silenced weapons in killing Iraqi... MORE
Al-Qaeda in Yemen Reorganizes under Nasir al-Wahayshi
The man most responsible for the growing strength of al-Qaeda in Yemen is a 32-year-old former secretary of Osama bin Laden named Nasir al-Wahayshi. He took over the leadership of the group when it had all but been eliminated, and has slowly, over the past... MORE
Iraqi Turkmen Announce Formation of New Jihadi Group
A new Turkmen jihadist group calling itself “the Martyr Saighan Battalion” has released a communiqué announcing its creation and intention to join the insurgency in Iraq (iraqipa.net, February 15). The new formation is non-Arab, drawing its members from Iraq’s Turkmen community. The Turkmen are the... MORE
BRIEFS
AL-QAEDA IN AFGHANISTAN URGES PROFESSIONALS TO JOIN MUJAHIDEEN In a 47-minute video statement, the commander of al-Qaeda’s forces in Afghanistan issued an appeal for professionals such as physicians and engineers to join the jihad against Coalition forces in that country (Al-Sahab Media Production Organization, March... MORE