US consular affairs issued a warning to Americans remaining in Afghanistan to avoid coming to #Kabul airport, and those there to “leave immediately.” This seems to be directly related to #ISIS, which is going to attempt to capitalize on chaos and hinder US exit.
Following last night's warning of an imminent threat, Pentagon has confirmed an explosion outside #KabulAiport. Casualties are not confirmed but Pentagon states there will be update.
From @BBCWorld, the explosion occurred at the Abbey gate entrance, and a US official told Reuters that the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber.
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No group has claimed responsibility, but this bears the hallmarks of an #ISIS strike.
Between 11 and 13 killed and wounded - including Taliban guards and women and children, in what was an attack carried out by two people, one a suicide bomber and the other a gunman who opened fire after the blast in a sewage canal where documents were being vetted.
Reports stating that three Americans have been wounded in the blasts and gunfire at #Kabulairport, no confirmation though. Scenes from the attack are brutal, with severely wounded people including kids being taken to hospital.
It is clear that the U.S. intel that led to last night’s warning was accurate. An attack was said to be imminent and has now taken place. Sadly, despite this intel, the attackers were still able to infiltrate.
Vid of the 2nd blast at Baron Hotel near Abbey gate posted online. Pentagon has confirmed U.S. casualties, though dead or wounded is unclear, in what was a “complex” attack. Other reports are indicating U.S. service members are wounded.
The more we learn about the attacks the more it is apparent that #ISIS Khorasan Province carried out this attack, and may still carry out more. Since Taliban took over, the group has repeatedly warned of upcoming attacks in Afghanistan, and Kabul has long been a top target.
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1) Over the next 36 hours, I will be tweeting commentary, analysis and breaking news around the impact of the 9/11 anniversary on terrorist and extremist groups in the U.S. and worldwide.
2) The 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks justifiably has U.S. security agencies on high alert. It is important to remain vigilant, as with every anniversary of the tragedy, which is consistently celebrated by al-Qaeda and their supporters worldwide.
3) However, what is new this year is the fact that al-Qaeda and the jihadist landscape has been transformed in recent weeks. They've expanded propaganda and recruitment campaigns, celebrating what they see as their biggest victory since 2001: Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
Thread
1)Jihadists aren’t the only extremists mobilized by Afghanistan: white supremacist &neo-Nazis are capitalizing on events, expressing desire to emulate Taliban’s defeat of “western Imperialism”:“If they can. We can”) & violent rhetoric about “invasions” by displaced Afghans
2) Our forthcoming bulletin on far-right extremists lays out these alarming red flags in detail. We've seen an outpouring of violent anti-refugee commentary, threatening refugees and those willing to host them.
3) Users discuss armed resistance to stop the “Great Replacement” of whites, and targeted attacks on refugee assistance organizations ("burn the offices"... "This is an enemy invasion! Arm yourself!")
#ISIS Furqan Media Foundation, dedicated to statements from leadership, announced forthcoming release. Last release was Oct. 2020 w/ a speech by ISIS spokesman Abu Hamza al-Qurashi. Should be noted that ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi has not yet been featured.
ISIS' #Furqan release is another audio message from spokesman Abu Hamza al-Qurashi, titled: “And You Will be Superior (in Victory) if You are Indeed (True) Believers.”
Speech goes through province by province, speaking to fighters, similar in format to the last from Oct. 2020
Abu Hamza al-Qurashi sends special greeting to fighters in W Africa, Commends their "work to eradicate and bury the strife of the Khawarij”--a seeming reference to BokoHaram/Shekau. Says they returned the to right path pledged to ISIS, which spox says was accepted by ISIS leader.
1) Latest issue of #ISIS’ Naba gives lengthy bio of the group’s immensely influential media official Abu Muhammad al-Furqan, who was killed in 2016 in Raqqah via a US airstrike. Even shows picture of him after his death for first time. Unclear why it waited five years to do so.
2) The Naba biography details Al-Furqan’s resume prior to #ISIS’ (which he was critical in helping grow): studying pediatric medicine, co-founding al-Qaeda in Iraq, being appointed by Zarqawi to head media operations, his capture and influence among fellow prisoners.
3) Al-Furqan pledged to Zarqawi after the Iraq War began and took a hands-on role in video production “to plant fear of the mujahideen in the hearts of the polytheists.” These productions of course look shabby now, but were revolutionary to the global jihadi movement at the time.
As mis/disinformation infects #Election2020, citizens are right to examine what is happening on social media platforms like @Facebook, @Twitter, and @YouTube. But as they ban conspiracy theorists & others, these users are increasingly resorting to “alternative” platforms.
Such accounts are growing on platforms like MeWe, Gab, Parler, and Bitchute. When I say growing, I mean *growing.* Below is a compilation of screenshots from #QAnon groups we’ve been tracking at @SITE_FRFL this past month on Gab, showing increases by the tens of thousands.
Same type of growth indicators can be seen on Parler, which has gained popularity as high-profile Trump allies have embraced it this past year. Here’s the account of General Flynn, who has become a prophet-like figure within #QAnon, nearly quadrupling in followers.
1) A couple important points about Brian Maiorana, the 54-year-old sex offender who called for “extermination of anyone that claims to be democrat…as well as their family members” in retaliation for #Election2020. washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11…
2) Maiorana was a rabid white supremacist & anti-Semite. “The Turner Diaries must come to life,” he wrote, referencing the popular far-right novel in which race war in America leads to extermination of non-whites & other enemies. But his ideology is actually the least scary part.
3) Maiorana’s calls to kill dems & their families is far from anomalous. All over soc media, users—not just white supremacists—musing of “rivers of Blue Blood in the Streets” & “Trump: Kill Em All.” Others declaring “Trump or War.”