June 2008

Indonesian police discover bombs, arrest terrorism suspects

…The first arrests were on June 28, which led police to a house where up to 20 bombs were found in the roof, according to the Kompas newspaper. The report describes 16 of the "high explosives" as being "ready to use" and "even more sophisticated" than those made by Jemaah Islamiah's (JI) master bomb-maker Dr Azahari Husin, who was killed during a raid in 2005. Kompas reports that police say the men are linked to JI and that one of the arrested men is a Singaporean who trained in Afghanistan and met Osama bin Laden……(ABC, 3 Jul 08)

9 Terrorism Suspects Held in Indonesia

Indonesian police transferred nine suspected terrorists, bound and wearing black hoods, to Jakarta on Thursday following their arrest in southern Sumatra. According to the police, a raid on Wednesday in the Sumatran port city of Palembang by an elite Indonesian counterterrorism team turned up more than a dozen homemade bombs and a cache of ammunition. A police spokesman refused to give further details, saying that the prisoners were being interrogated about the nature of their plan and their individual roles within the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist network……(New York Times, 3 Jul 08)

Why the Colombian Rescue Mission Matters

… In the interest of full disclosure, Ingrid Bentancourt is a friend of mine, and I have written about her in the past because of her tremendous courage in acting as a beacon of light in a narco-corrupted congress, and in defiance of her own political party. On a personal level, this was tremendously good news. As I wrote in this paper published by the NEFA Foundation just before the hostages were freed, the FARC is in a period of decline that will likely end with its implosion and fragmentation into small criminal groups. Since March the FARC has been pummeled, lost three of its seven members of the directorate, and now, its prize hostages……(Douglas Farah, 3 Jul 08)

More real estate rules for safety's sake

New federal laws and regulations dealing with money laundering and anti-terrorist financing will require real estate associates and brokers to collect and verify more personal information from buyers and sellers. Real estate associates must also now track the source of funds received during a real estate transaction, such as the deposit. The new regulations are a part of federal legislation passed last year requiring a number of industries, including real estate, to do more to help stop money laundering and terrorist financing. Regulations are enforced by the Financial Transaction and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).  Real estate associates are now required to ask for proof of identity of all buyers and sellers involved in a Canadian real estate transaction. If the client is a corporation, that information must include corporate documentation and the names of the corporation directors. Real estate associates must also ascertain whether a third party is involved in the transaction…….(Airdrie Echo, 2 Jul 08)

Morocco arrests 35 suspected Al Qaida recruiters

At least 35 members of a gang of suspected Al Qaida recruiters have been arrested in Morroco, the state news agency said on Wednesday. The gang is suspected of sending volunteers to carry out suicide bombings in Iraq or to join Islamist rebels in Algeria. Moroccan jails already hold around 1,000 Islamists on terrorism-related charges……(Gulf News, 2 Jul 08)

UK tightens Hezbollah ban, citing actions in Iraq

The British government said on Wednesday it was amending a ban on Hezbollah to cover its entire military wing, accusing the Lebanese group of supporting terrorism in Iraq and the Palestinian territories. Subject to approval by parliament, the ban replaces a previous one on Hezbollah's "external security organization." It means the group's entire military wing is outlawed in Britain……(Reuters, 2 Jul 08)

Spanish police arrest Islamic terror suspect in Azkoitia

The Interior Ministry says the three men arrested, one in the Basque Country and other two in Huelva, are of Algerian origin and are accused of fundraising for Islamic terrorist activities. Spanish police say they have broken up an al-Qaida-linked cell and arrested three people, including one person in the Basque town of Azkoitia. The Interior Ministry says the three men of Algerian origin are accused of fundraising for Islamic terrorist activities……(Eitb24, 1 Jul 08)

June 2008

US counter-terror raid kills relative of Maliki

A US Special Forces counter-terrorism unit conducted a raid that reportedly killed a relative of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, senior Iraqi government officials said yesterday. The killing touched off a high-stakes diplomatic crisis between Washington and Baghdad as US military officials refused to comment for the second day in a row…The dawn raid on Friday was in the town of Janaja, near Mr Maliki's birthplace in the southern, mostly Shia Muslim province of Karbala.  Ali Abdulhussein Razak al-Maliki, who was killed in the raid, was related to the Prime Minister and had close ties to his personal security detail……(Australian, 30 Jun 08)

Counternarcotics Effort In West Africa Widens Pentagon's Purview

The Pentagon is stepping up its counternarcotics programs in West Africa, in what can be considered the Defense Department's continuing expansion into the traditional territory of a civilian agency. West Africa has experienced "a dramatic increase in drug smuggling and associated corruption and intimidation that turns weakly governed areas into nearly ungoverned spaces," according to Joseph A. Benkert, the nominee to become the first assistant secretary of defense for global security affairs… Benkert provided the often-used link to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in justifying the new Africa initiative, saying: "Global illegal drug trade has connections to terrorism, financial crimes, corruption of governmental systems, weapons smuggling, human trafficking, major gang networks, insurgency and instability in many places worldwide."  As a general premise, he added that "trafficking, whatever the commodity . . . provides trans-national criminal organizations and terrorists revenue to purchase weapons and plan operations that threaten U.S. security interests"…..(Washington Post, 30 Jun 08)

Egypt: Over 100 terror suspects arrested, says report

Egyptian authorities have carried out anti-terror raids over the past few days and arrested 110 suspected terrorists…The Egyptian daily, al-Masri al-Youm, said on Monday that three senior terrorist leaders were believed to be among those arrested. Security sources said that the authorities had disbanded three alleged terror cells which were considered ideologically close to al-Qaeda and active in Egypt and abroad, according to the report.  The alleged leaders of the terror cells are Muhammad Farid Faraj, Ahmad Abdel Hadi and Hisham Muhiy al-Dina…..(AKI, 30 Jun 08)

‘Forces uncover torture chamber’

The Frontier Corps discovered a torture chamber during their searches of the Khyber Agency, Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik said on Sunday. He told reporters at Bala Hisar Fort that troops had also destroyed a radio station run by a militant outfit…..(Daily Times, 30 Jun 08)

Pakistani soldiers uncover Taliban 'kidnap jail'

Pakistani paramilitary troops have destroyed several Taliban outposts and uncovered a jail where they kept kidnap victims, the interior ministry says. The offensive against Taliban in Pakistan's tribal region entered its third day Monday and was almost complete….(CNN, 30 Jun 08)

Charges filed against five for mixing of cyanide with water

A charge was framed in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Nilofer Shahnawaz on Saturday against five suspects involved in mixing of cyanide with water at a Sabeel of Ashura procession. The court ordered to produce all evidences before the court on July 12. The five of the suspects Syed Mohammed Waseem alias Imran of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Karachi, Mohammed Aijaz alias Abdul Rehman of Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami, Bhambar, Azad Kashmir, Jamil Ahmed alias Wazir Akbar of Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami, Multan, Aziz Ahmed Alias Mohammed Khan of Jais-i-Mohammed, Lodhran and Mohammed Hamid alias Qasim of Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami had planned to mix cyanide with water distributed at a Sabeel during an Ashura procession in Karachi…..(The News, 29 Jun 08)

Sri Lankan troops capture LTTE-held territories in Northwest

Sri Lankan Armed forces Thursday captured territories held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Northwestern Mannar district.  "Troopers backed by air force captured seven square kilometres of area, including Periyamadu village," military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told Indo Asian News Service……(KUNA, 27 Jun 08)
 

Saudis Holding Hundreds, Citing Links to Al Qaeda

…In a statement reported by the official Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said some of those arrested had been plotting bomb attacks against an oil installation and what it called a security target, but it provided no details.

The ministry said police officers had found money, weapons and ammunition owned by the suspects, who had buried some of it in remote areas. The men, who are from Africa, Asia and other regions, were organized into cells whose leaders were based outside Saudi Arabia, the statement added……(AP, 26 Jun 08)

Supreme Court to rule on CSIS’s evidence against terror suspect

The Supreme Court of Canada is expected today to rule on classified evidence used by Canada's spy agency against a Moroccan-born terrorism suspect who was arrested and detained under a controversial security certificate. The decision by Canada's top court could have a major impact on the case against Adil Charkaoui who is accused by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service of being an al-Qaeda sleeper agent. If the court rules the spy agency used questionable evidence…..(CanWest, 26 Jun 08)

Airport-style security for UK rail stations blocked

Plans to install airport-style x-ray machines in every London underground and mainline rail stations across the UK were ruled out today amid fears of a passenger rebellion against journey delays. A handful of bag screening machines and bomb detection dogs will be placed at tube and mainline stations in London and other cities instead, the Department for Transport said.  A trial found that introducing airport-style checks would be impractical and antagonize the public. ……(Guardian, 26 Jun 08)

'Deviants' arrested over oil strike plans

Saudi Arabia has arrested 701 Islamists in recent months who were preparing attacks on oil industry installations.

Security forces "carried out several operations against followers of the deviant ideology and arrested a total of 701 people of various nationalities," said an interior ministry spokesman quoted by the official Spa news agency.
Of those arrested, "520 are still being held for their implication in the organizational and ideological plans of the deviant ideology."…..(AFP, 25 Jun 08)

US helps Thailand rub out fake passports

United States and Thai security officials spent much of June probing Bangkok-linked international gangs, after police seized thousands of counterfeit and genuine American and foreign passports and pages, including passports smuggled to Pakistan and Bangladesh. Investigators enjoyed a morale boost in mid-June when US Attorney General Michael Mukasey visited Bangkok, but no breakthrough was announced in the counterfeit passport cases. "Organized criminals seek to exploit the openness of our borders for profit and power," Mukasey told reporters in Bangkok on June 11… Thailand has long been notorious as a hub for producing fake passports and other documents, and US officials have previously assisted in breaking criminal counterfeit rings in Thailand, which some fear had done business with al-Qaeda and other transnational terror groups. But the counterfeiters' halcyon days may soon be over in Thailand……(Asia Times, 25 Jun 08)

Ship terrorism alert system flawed: report

A terrorism alert system installed in thousands of merchant ships after the September 11, 2001 attacks is flawed because it does not immediately notify local security authorities of an attack, said a report on the system. The Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) was unreliable and too slow to prevent an act of terrorism, said the report by the Singapore-based S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. "Acts of terrorism are executed with little or no time to organize preventive or mitigating actions, therefore every second is critical," said the report…..(Reuters, 24 Jun 08)

E.U. Backs Sanctions on Iran, Freezes Bank Assets

The European Union approved new sanctions against Iran on Monday, including a freeze on the assets of its largest bank, in a continuing effort to force Tehran to curtail its nuclear development programs and fully cooperate with international inspectors. The new measures signal growing impatience among European leaders with what they see as Iranian foot-dragging in negotiations over halting uranium enrichment. Iran says the program is purely peaceful, but many Western countries contend that it is secretly geared toward developing nuclear weapons……..(Washington Post, 24 Jun 08)

EU Approves Sanctions Against Iran's Largest Bank

European Union nations approved new sanctions against Iran on Monday, including an assets freeze of the country's biggest bank.  The Bank of Melli is suspected of providing services to Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and, in a similar move, was blacklisted by the United States last year……(AP, 23 Jun 08)

Australia, India to work jointly against terrorism

The Australian and Indian governments have agreed to work closer together to fight terrorism. Australia's foreign minister, Stephen Smith, and his visiting Indian counterpart, Pranab Mukherjee, have signed treaties that strengthen extradition laws and improve intelligence cooperation.  They have also approved regular meetings between the defense force chiefs of both countries……(Radio Australia, 23 Jun 08)

China holds fake "terrorist" extortionists

China has detained three men linked to a plot to extort money from a company in Olympic co-host city Qingdao by posing as terrorists and threatening to detonate a bomb, local media reported on Friday.

Last week, a company in Qingdao, which will host Olympic sailing events, received a phone call from a man who claimed to be a member of an "East Turkestan independence group" and threatened a bomb attack, the Beijing News said……(Reuters. 20 Jun 08)

New govt under pressure to co-operate in war on terror

The newly elected democratic government is under immense pressure to continue to co-operate in the war on terror or face suspension of the United States aid Pakistan has been receiving for operating as a frontline ally, a senior parliamentarian from the coalition government told Daily Times on Wednesday.  “The next three weeks are very crucial. The US has categorically told the concerned quarters in the new setup to come up with ‘final decisions’ in this regard. They (US) will take their decision depending upon our response,”…..(Daily Times, 19 Jun 08)

Philippines: Kidnap negotiators arrested

A Philippine mayor and his son who negotiated with al-Qaida-linked rebels for the release of an abducted TV news anchor and three other people have been arrested as suspects in the kidnappings, officials said Thursday. Indanan township mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son Jun will be charged with kidnapping along with 14 Abu Sayyaf militants in the June 8 abduction, said national police chief Avelino Razon. He said police have reason to suspect the mayor masterminded the kidnapping…..(AP, 19 Jun 08)

Iraq launches crackdown in southern city

Iraqi security forces launched a crackdown on Shi'ite militias in the southern city of Amara on Thursday, the latest drive in Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's campaign to restore order to Iraq.  There was no resistance and residents said they had not heard one gunshot. Amara, home to 250,000 people, is a stronghold of the Mehdi Army militia of anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Witnesses saw police raiding houses of suspected militants, backed by U.S. troops in armored vehicles blocking roads……(Reuters. 19 Jun 08)

Italian police arrest 33 Tamils on terror charges

Italian police Wednesday arrested 33 Sri Lankan Tamils charged with belonging to the outlawed Tamil Tigers group fighting a separatist insurgency against the government in Colombo, an official said. Twenty-eight people were arrested in a series of pre-dawn raids in Naples, Genoa, Bologna and Sicily suspected of membership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and of providing funding for the group, Antonio Sbordone, an official with the police counter-terrorism cell in Naples who coordinated the raids, told AFP….(AFP, 18 Jun 08)

14 terror suspects arrested, explosives seized

Law-enforcement agencies have arrested 14 terror suspects from Lahore and Rawalpindi and seized more than 330 kilogrammes of explosives from them. Sources in an intelligence agency said on Tuesday that 11 terror suspects had been arrested in the Shadhra area of Lahore and 80kg of explosives had been recovered from them. They said that law-enforcement officials had also seized explosives-laden suicide belts and a hit list containing names of important people and addresses of police stations from them. They said the suspects, from the Qari Zafar group, were arrested following a tip-off….(Daily Times, 18 Jun 08)

FATA colleges breeding ground for militants

NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman has said that education would help ‘change the mindset’ of people living in the tribal areas of NWFP. His comments referred to the tribal belt on the border with Afghanistan where ‘jihadi feelings’ refuse to die down. The United States is also making efforts to emphasise the importance of education in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in the hope that it will deliver the desired results.
US National Security Advisor Steve Hadley inaugurated the USAID-funded school in Khyber Agency last year underlining America’s efforts to change the tribesmen’s mindset…..(Daily Times, 18 Jun 08)

Philippines: US designates militant group a terrorist organization

A militant group made up of former Christian Filipinos who have converted to Islam, has been listed as a terrorist organization by the United States. The US State Department released a statement on Monday saying that the Rajah Solaiman Movement is among the list of "special terrorist organizations".  With the listing, the banks accounts and assets of the group and its various members will be frozen……(AKI, 17 Jun 08)

Navy seizes explosives' haul

An Indonesian navy patrol has seized about five tonnes of a material used to make explosives from a wooden boat off the coast of East Java and detained 12 crew members, a navy spokesman said today. Major Kariono, spokesman for the navy's eastern fleet, said that the boat, which was heading from Surabaya to Bala-Balangan island in West Sulawesi province on Sunday, was stopped and found to be carrying 107 sacks of an oxidizing substance that could be used to make home-made explosives. Mr Kariono said the substance was often used to make explosives for killing fish……(Australian, 17 Jun 08)

Man arrested under Terrorism Act

A 19-year-old man has been arrested in Bristol under the Terrorism Act, police have said.

The man, from the Easton area, is being held as part of investigations into Andrew Ibrahim, 19, who was charged under the Terrorism Act in April.  Officers from Avon and Somerset Police are conducting a forensic search of the man's address. A second nearby property is also being searched……(BBC, 16 Jun 08)

Non-profit Tamil group added to terrorism list

A Toronto-based non-profit organization has been outlawed by Cabinet under the Anti-Terrorism Act, in what may signal an aggressive new approach to combating terrorist financing in Canada. The decision to add the World Tamil Movement to Canada's list of outlawed terrorist groups marks the first time Ottawa has used the anti-terrorism law to shut down a Canadian community group for ties to terrorists……..(National Post, 16 Jun 08)

Terrorism drill deemed a success

Organizers say this week's Canadian-American anti-terrorism drill on the New Hampshire coast was a success. "The exercise really showed that we are indeed one team, one fight," said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Jim McPherson, commander of the Coast Guard's Northern New England sector. "All participating agencies, military and civilian alike from the United States and Canada, came to this week's exercise with a shared mission focus to ensure we can decisively and appropriately handle maritime security threats."…..(Seacoast Online, 15 Jun 08)

G8 vows to widen fight against "terrorism'

The Group of Eight justice ministers and security chiefs vowed on Friday to help developing countries improve their legal systems to help the global battle against terrorism. They concluded a three-day meeting on Friday ahead of their leaders' summit on July 7-9 in Toyako, a lakeside resort on the Japanese northern island of Hokkaido. "To fight terrorism or other organised crimes, not only the G8 and developed countries but all countries must have sufficient coping capability,"…..(AFP, 13 Jun 08)

Turkey’s Multifaceted Anti-PKK Strategy Continues to Unfold

Signs continue to emerge that Turkey has adopted a multifaceted strategy to combat the insurgency of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Following a series of military operations and economic reforms in Turkey’s largely Kurdish southeast region, it appears Turkey is now addressing PKK financing achieved through its role in the Eurasian narcotics trade. This latest phase in Turkey’s strategy is being undertaken in cooperation with Washington, as seen in the May 30 announcement by the United States that officially imposed sanctions on the PKK under the U.S. Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act of 1999. The designation prohibits U.S. firms and individuals from engaging in transactions with the group…….(Jamestown, 12 Jun 08)

Pope Benedict XVI sets up anti-terrorist squad

The Vatican has created an anti-terrorist unit in order to guard the Holy See and the pope from a possible attack. Vatican security forces now include an anti-bomb squad and a rapid response team, according to Domenico Giani, the head of the Holy See's 130-man gendarmerie. The Vatican will also work more closely with Interpol to gather information on any threats….(Telegraph, 12 Jun 08)

Iran defuses bomb at Iraq ambassador's home

A bomb has been discovered and defused at the entrance to the Iraqi ambassador's Tehran residence, the first such threat against the mission, the Fars news agency reported on Wednesday… The bombing attempt comes shortly after a visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to the Islamic republic…..(AFP, 11 Jun 08)

Spain Arrests 8 It Says Aided a Qaeda-Linked Cell

The Spanish police on Tuesday arrested eight men suspected of giving financial and logistical support to a terrorist group in Algeria linked to Al Qaeda, Spain’s Interior Ministry said. The antiterrorist investigation involved arrests in Barcelona, Pamplona and the northeastern province of Castellón. The eight suspects are Algerian-born and range from 27 to 39 years old…..(AFP, 11 Jun 08)

Morocco court jails 29 for 'terrorism intent'

A court in Morocco has convicted 29 men of forming a group with the intent to carry out terrorist attacks.

The men belonged to a group known as the Tetouan Cell and were given prison sentences of between one and eight years. The Tetouan Cell, named after the northern town its members came from, was accused of being a recruiting sergeant for Al Qaeda and like-minded organizations……(ABC, 11 Jun 08)

France blocks online child porn, terrorism, racism

France is joining at least five other countries where Internet service providers block access to child pornography and to content linked to terrorism and racial hatred, the French interior minister said Tuesday. The agreement will take effect in September. A blacklist will be compiled based on input from Internet users who flag sites containing offensive material, Interior Minister Michel Alliot-Marie said. All service providers in France have agreed to block offending sites…..(AP, 10 Jun 08)

Crackdown Highlights Deterioration of Moroccan-Belgian Counter-Terrorism Cooperation

Anti-terrorist cooperation between Morocco and Belgium reached its lowest point in the last few months as recent security operations conducted by Rabat exposed a lack of communication between the two nations and a vast difference in counter-terrorist methods. On May 19 Moroccan and Belgian media announced that 11 suspected terrorists had been arrested by local police in the Moroccan cities of Fez and Nador. The suspects were accused of planning a series of attacks in Brussels against the headquarters of the European Parliament (also known as “Le Caprice des Dieux”—the Whim of the Gods), a Sheraton hotel and possibly the 22-story tower where the Belgian Federal Police have their headquarters. Security forces also mentioned that the group was preparing attacks on Moroccan soil, but did not specify which targets were involved. Moreover, the network was allegedly involved in fundraising and sending prospective jihadis to Iraq and North African training camps run by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)……(Jamestown, 10 Jun 08)

Spain holds eight Algerians on terrorism charges

Spanish police have arrested eight Algerians on charges related to Islamist terrorism, the interior ministry said Tuesday. The eight were believed to belong to a cell which spread propaganda, recruited volunteers, and lent economic and logistical support to groups forming part of the North African branch of the al-Qaeda terrorist network, the Algerian-based al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Police also held 10 other people, whose possible links with the detainees were being investigated…..(DPA, 10 Jun 08)

In Southeast Asia, a Counterterrorism Strategy That's Working

…The Times article found that the major elements in combating the terrorist groups were effective law enforcement, heightened intelligence, ongoing military operations and "an erosion of public support." The implication is that an actual strategy, implemented over an extended period in a sustained fashion, has had actual success. From my perspective, the most important evidence of the change is the dramatically different approach undertaken in recent months by the government of Indonesia to sentence major figures in JI to extended prison terms, a change from the relative leniency shown such persons by Indonesia in the past…….(Counterterrorism Blog, 9 Jun 08)

Abu Sayyaf leader nabbed in Basilan

A ranking member of the Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandit group with a P500,000-bounty has been arrested by police and military intelligence agents in Lamitan City, Basilan, radio dzMM reported Monday. Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar, Basilan provincial police chief, identified the suspect as Sali Tungkal Alih alias Salim…..(ABS-CBN, 9 Jun 08)

Barclays uses US anti-terror laws to close British citizens' accounts

Barclays is closing the bank accounts of British customers, who are working in this country for businesses linked to Iran, to conform with US anti-terror laws. The bank, which has considerable business interests in the US, is using guidelines drawn up under the Patriot Act to target firms which have not broken any laws in the UK. The development emerged after a letter, which was written to lawyers representing employees of the Iranian-owned Bank Saderat and Melli Bank, was leaked to The Times newspaper…..(Telegraph, 6 Jun 08)

Pakistanis say they foiled 2nd bomb plot

Four days after a car bomb attack on the Danish Embassy in Islamabad killed at least six people, the Pakistani authorities said Friday that they had foiled a new plot when the police intercepted three vehicles laden with a ton of explosives and arrested three alleged suicide bombers. The arrests came during a security alert Thursday after the attack on the Danish Embassy……(New York Times, 6 Jun 08)

The former members of the CCC broke condition of their parole and are keeping in touch with each other

Two former members of the far-left terrorist group CCC (Cellules Communistes Combattantes) have been detained by the police for having contact with other CCC members. Bertrand Sassoye and Pierre Carette, who were both sentenced to life imprisonment in October 1988, were released on parole in July 2000 and October 2003……(Expatica, 6 Jun 08)

Dutch police arrest alleged terrorist sought by Spain

Dutch police have arrested a 26-year-old Pakistani man sought in Spain on terrorism charges, the prosecution service of The Netherlands said on Friday. Aqueel Ur Rehman Abbasi was arrested Thursday "in his prison cell in Vught where he was being held by the immigration and naturalization services, at the request of the Spanish authorities,"…..(AFP, 6 Jun 08)

Turkish authorities find 82 kg of explosives in SE

Turkish authorities found 82 kilograms of explosives in the southeastern part of the country, saying Friday that members of the Kurdish Workers Party had planted them there.  The Security Directorate said the explosives were hidden at a farm in Diyarbakr, of Kurdish majority, adding that the bomb squad had neutralized the explosives after first evacuating the area…..(KUNA, 6 Jun 08)

Police arrest militant, recover explosive in raid on mosque in Pakistan

Pakistani police arrested an alleged Taliban militant on Thursday and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition in an operation on a mosque in a northern city that also left a policeman killed.  Police conducted a raid on the mosque in Nowshehra city, about 100 kilometers north of Islamabad, when at a checkpoint police officials signaled a car to stop for checking…..(KUNA, 5 Jun 08)

Pakistan: US to deliver new fighter jets

The US Congress has approved the delivery of ten refurbished F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, diplomatic sources told the Pakistani daily Dawn. Four of the aircraft will be delivered to Pakistan by the end of June and four others by the end of July. Pakistan has already received two such aircraft. Two refurbished F-16s are with the manufacturers and will be delivered soon. Besides the refurbished planes, Pakistan is buying 18 new F-16 fighter jets from the United States……(AKI, 5 Jun 08)

Australian defense chief wants Afghanistan surge

An additional 10,000 troops are needed to quell a Taliban and al-Qaida insurgency in southern Afghanistan, but European NATO partners appear unwilling to deploy more soldiers, Australia's defense minister said Thursday.

"At least 10,000 would give us the critical mass necessary to do what we need to do on the military front,"… About 65,000 international troops are stationed in Afghanistan, including 51,000 from the 40-nation NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. The United States has about 33,000 troops in the country……(AP, 5 Jun 08)

U.S. Pushes to Rely More on Remotely Piloted Craft

Early last year, the Air Force was able to keep no more than 11 of the remotely piloted, armed Predator surveillance aircraft flying over Iraq and Afghanistan at any one time. By this past Sunday, that number had more than doubled to 25, and Air Force officials now say they can guarantee at least that many of the hunter-killer aircraft will be aloft around the clock, a new element of the buildup in American forces for the two wars……(New York Times, 5 Jun 08)

Report: Iran, Turkey coordinate Iraq strikes

A Turkish TV station is quoting a senior military commander as saying that Turkey and Iran have carried out coordinated strikes against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq.

CNN-Turk television reports that Gen. Ilker Basbug has confirmed for the first time that the two countries share intelligence against the rebels. He said the two countries plan to launch more coordinated operations against the rebel group in the future. …..(AP, 5 Jun 08)

Merkel government widens anti-terrorism powers for police

The government of Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed Wednesday to enhance the powers of federal police to spy on terrorists, but the planned legislation faces criticism from German civil liberties groups. Instead of tapping phones and tailing suspects, federal police will be able to use 21st-century methods including computer viruses and video surveillance if judges approve. In a major advance, federal police will no longer have to do the bidding of the 16 state police forces in preventive anti-terrorism inquiries, but will be able to mount nationwide investigations of their own before terrorists strike……(DPA, 4 Jun 08)

Extremists arrested for rally attack

Indonesian police raided the headquarters of a radical Islamist group, detaining 59 alleged extremists over a violent attack on a peaceful rally for religious tolerance.  Police said the pre-dawn operation involving more than 1000 officers yesterday was in response to Sunday's attack at the Monas national monument in Jakarta by stick-wielding fanatics from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI)……(AFP, 4 Jun 08)

U.K. Announces New Strategy to "Prevent Violent Extremism"
The U.K. Home Office announced a new approach "to prevent violent extremism" that will include: "extending police-led multi-agency projects to identify and support people at risk of being targeted by violent extremists", "working closely with young people whose criminal backgrounds have left them open to extremist views", "working in prisons to tackle identify and stop the spread of radicalization there", and "getting more involved with grassroots projects designed to help communities dealing with extremist residents."…..(NEFA, 3 Jun 08)

Moroccan police investigates in explosive workshops

A Moroccan special security squad has moved recently to Beni Drar area, Oujda outskirts, in order to investigate in the murder of the chief of the network specialized in smuggling and supplying Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb with explosives on borders, Algerian security sources told El Khabar.  The same sources mentioned that the Moroccan Intelligence services requested information from their counterpart in Algeria on the murdered smuggler, name of which was mentioned in investigations opened in Algeria on a network funding Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb…..(El Khabar, 3 Jun 08)

US gives $15.5-M military aid to Philippines

… According to a Philippine military report seen by Reuters, the US Department of Defense will fund a navy plan to acquire and install a network of high-frequency radio communications equipment for the southern region of the archipelago. The Sulu and the Celebes seas, which separate the Philippines from Malaysia and Indonesia, contain busy shipping lanes and fishing areas but are also infested by pirate gangs and Muslim radicals……(Reuters, 3 Jun 08)

Mauritania: Weapons seized from al-Qaida-linked group

Authorities in Mauritania say they have seized a large quantity of weapons believed to belong to an al-Qaida-linked group.  Security chief Mohamed Lemine Ould Ahmed says police seized the weapons in early May using information given by suspected terrorists arrested in sting operations in April…..(Jerusalem Post, 2 Jun 08)

3 Other Bombs Reportedly Found Inside Abdeh Army Post
Three bombs were reportedly found inside a Lebanese army intelligence post near the northern city of Tripoli but did not explode, according to a report published Monday. The daily Al Liwa said investigation showed that the force of an explosion which killed a Lebanese army soldier in the Abdeh post on Saturday had apparently disabled the other bombs from blowing up……(Naharnet, 2 Jun 08)

US accused over 'floating prisons' for suspected extremists

The United States has operated more than a dozen "floating prisons" to hold and question suspected Islamist extremists as part of its so-called "war on terror", a British rights group said Monday. Reprieve, the legal action charity, said it believed as many as 17 ships had been used to interrogate prisoners "under torturous conditions before being rendered to other, often undisclosed, locations"…..(AFP, 2 Jun 08)

Australia ends Iraq combat operations

Australia, a staunch U.S. ally and one of the first countries to commit troops to the war in Iraq five years ago, ended combat operations there Sunday. Soldiers lowered the Australian flag that had flown over Camp Terendak in the southern Iraqi city of Talil. The combat troops were expected to return to Australia over the next few weeks, with the first of them arriving home Sunday……(AP, 2 Jun 08)

Algeria to scrap SIM cards in terror fight

Algerian mobile telephone operators must deactivate more than 3 million unregistered SIM cards today to help prevent Islamist guerrillas from setting off bombs using the devices, a security official said. Some recent bombings claimed by al-Qaeda's North African wing were carried out remotely using signals sent from handsets equipped with unregistered SIM cards, said the official, who declined to be identified. For years, operators in the North African country have been allowed to sell the cards over the counter without asking to see identification and registering the buyer's personal details. But this year the government introduced regulations requiring personal details to be recorded…..(Reuters, 1 Jun 08)

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