A slightly delayed piece for CNN on a topic I have covered repeatedly, the subject of Lone Wolves and specifically the case of Mohammed Merah in France. It has also been a quiet period of late as I am travelling in a rather far-flung place, but more on that later. In France, a new type [...]
Posts Tagged ‘shabaab’
In France, a new type of Lone Wolf Threat
Posted: April 10, 2012 in CNNTags: Afghanistan, Europe, France, Lone wolf, lone wolves, Mohammed Merah, Mohammed Muhidin Gelle, Pakistan, radicalization, shabaab, terrorism
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Al Qaeda’s Next Evolution? An Internet of Lone Wolves
Posted: March 12, 2012 in Book ChaptersTags: AQAP, azzam.com, lone wolves, online, online terrorism, radicalization, shabaab, shabab, UK jihad
I have a chapter featured in this latest book Al Qaeda After Bin Laden published by the Al Mesbar Studies & Research Centre. My chapter focuses on the evolution of the Internet as a tool for al Qaeda and affiliated groups in the west, looking in turn at the cases of the Islamic Gateway and www.azzam.com [...]
Al Shabaab’s British Accent
Posted: March 10, 2012 in CNNTags: Al Qaeda, counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, Europe, radicalization, shabaab, Somalia, terrorism, UK
A new post for CNN on the British connection with al Shabaab. Have been talking to a lot of people about this of late, and am wondering when the story is going to take off. It may be on the cusp of turning into something, but we shall see. For previous bits on the topic, [...]
What Might Boko Haram Do?
Posted: January 20, 2012 in CNNTags: Al Qaeda, AQAP, AQIM, Boko Haram, counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, jihad, radicalization, shabaab, shabab, terrorism
A new piece for CNN, this time looking in a bit more detail at the group Boko Haram to try to understand what lessons can be learned from nearby al Qaeda affiliates and fellow travellers to see about its trajectory as an global terrorist threat. My sense is that it is unlikely to start actively [...]
A Profile of Sheikh Abdulcaadir Mumin: Al-Shabaab’s Leading Theological Guide
Posted: December 1, 2011 in Terrorism MonitorTags: Abdulcaadir Mumin, ideologues, londonistan, radicalization, shabaab, shabab, Somalia, UK, UK terrorism
This is a piece that I have been cogitating about for a while, trying to find out more information about the chap. Unfortunately, most of it is in Somali, a language I confess to not understand. Nevertheless, he struck me as interesting given his history as a Somali leader who had lived until relatively recently [...]
The Islamist Terrorist Threat to Europe after Osama bin Laden’s Death
Posted: October 5, 2011 in Chatham HouseTags: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, AQAP, AQIM, counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, denmark, Europe, France, Germany, lone wolves, Osama bin laden, Pakistan, radicalization, shabaab, shabab, terrorism, UK
A longer paper on the current state of the Islamist terrorist threat to Europe ten years on from 9/11 for Chatham House. It was written and presented prior to news of Awlaki’s death, so that is not included, but I do not think it alters a huge amount the thrust of the piece, except to [...]
Al Shabaab: The American Connection
Posted: June 14, 2011 in GuardianTags: canada, counter-radicalisation, counter-terrorism, denmark, shabaab, Somalia, US, western jihadists
A new piece over at the Guardian, looking at the perennial question of al Shabaab and its western recruits. I realize the conclusion might be seen as a bit exaggerated, but it does seem to me that we are potentially running the risk of going in this direction and at the end of the day [...]
Jihadi MCs
Posted: April 12, 2011 in ProspectTags: Anwar al awlaki, AQAP, counter-terrorism, denmark, Europe, Germany, IMU, online, radicalization, shabaab, shabab, Somalia, terrorism
A new piece for Prospect, looking this time at al Shabaab and its foreign recruitment. A rich topic that I keep coming back to, though one thing I realized I missed after publishing it was any mention of Shabaab’s TV channel. As ever, any tips or thoughts are warmly appreciated. Jihadi MCs RAFFAELLO PANTUCCI — [...]
Britain’s Camera-Shy Jihadis
Posted: March 24, 2011 in Foreign PolicyTags: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, Europe, Germany, IJU, IMU, Pakistan, radicalization, shabaab, shabab, Somalia, terrorism, UK
A new piece for AfPak Channel at Foreign Policy magazine, this time looking at the odd phenomenon of why so many German jihadis appear in extremist videos, while so few Brits do. At any rate, I find it curious. Interested if anyone comes across any more material, as this is a topic I will continue [...]
Youth Movement – Somalia’s Foreign Fighters
Posted: February 16, 2011 in Jane'sTags: converts, counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, Europe, shabaab, shabab, Somalia, terrorism
I have a longer article in the latest Jane’s Intelligence Review exploring the phenomenon of young men (and even if reports are to be believed one woman) going to join the Shabaab in Somalia. The focus of the article is on the phenomenon more recently, using court docs from cases in the US, UK, Sweden [...]
