The Memo: 19 Aug—25 Aug 2024
The Memo from 9 Aug—25 Aug 2024: Summary of incidents, ranging from terrorism, covert actions, organised crimes, regional conflicts to cybersecurity incidents.
In brief:
- Gunmen attacked Pakistan school bus, killing two children.
- Delhi Police arrested 11 suspects in Al-Qaeda-inspired cell raids.
- IS militants killed six in a Salahudin province family home.
- Two car explosions in France were treated as terrorism.
- Russian forces killed four IS-linked inmates after hostage standoff.
- Syrian man detained in Germany after deadly stabbing attack.
- Ex-mayor accused of espionage flees Philippines, sparking national outrage.
- Indonesia's parliament postponed election rule changes after violent protests.
- Police raided Davao City compound but Quiboloy evaded arrest.
- Pavel Durov was arrested in France, sparking international reactions.
Terrorism and insurgency
- Pakistan
Gunmen opened fire on a school bus in Pakistan’s Punjab province, killing two children and wounding five others. The attack, which targeted the driver, occurred in Attock district. Police believe the motive may stem from a family feud but are also investigating potential links to terrorism. - India
Delhi Police raided a suspected Al-Qaeda-inspired cell on Thursday, arresting 11 individuals and detaining three others across Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. They conducted 15 raids with local police, seizing weapons and explosives. The cell, led by Dr. Ishtiyaq from Ranchi, planned to establish 'khilafat' and carry out terrorist activities. The suspects trained in the Aravalli Hills and were reportedly preparing for an attack in northern India during the upcoming festive season. - Iraq
IS militants attacked a family home in Salahudin province, Iraq, killing six people, including a man, two women, and three children. The attack occurred near Samarra, 120 km north of Baghdad. Iraqi security forces searched for the attackers, who fled the scene. - France
Two cars exploded outside the Ben Yacoov synagogue in La Grande Motte, France, one of which contained a hidden gas canister. French police arrested the suspect in Nîmes, who allegedly opened fire on officers during the arrest. The incident is being treated as a terrorist and antisemitic act. - Russia
On August 23, Russian security forces shot dead four inmates who had taken hostages at a penal colony in the Volgograd region. The inmates, claiming allegiance to IS, had fatally stabbed four prison staff and posted videos online showing the violence. Special forces snipers neutralized the attackers and freed the hostages. The incident, occurring just two months after a similar prison uprising. The attackers were identified as citizens of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with unclear demands. - Germany
A 26-year-old Syrian man is in German custody after a stabbing rampage in Solingen that killed three and injured eight. Authorities are investigating his possible ties to the IS, which claimed responsibility for the attack.
Intelligence, Espionage, Assassination and Covert Actions
- The Philippines
An ex-mayor accused of spying for China and ties with criminal syndicates has fled the Philippines, sparking outrage. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to hold officials accountable after Alice Guo left the country undetected, travelling through Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Guo, who has been out of public view since July, is accused of enabling human trafficking and scam operations under the guise of online casinos. Despite denying all allegations, she illegally skipped border checks. Marcos has ordered the cancellation of her Philippine passport and promised to expose those who facilitated her escape.
Conflict and unrests
- Indonesia
Indonesia's parliament postponed proposed changes to election rules after mass protests in Jakarta turned violent. Demonstrators, including students and office workers, clashed with police and attempted to storm parliament. The changes were seen as benefiting outgoing President Widodo's political dynasty, particularly his sons. Parliament deferred the revisions to the incoming legislature, leaving this year's regional elections unaffected.
Organized Crimes
- The Philippines
Hundreds of police officers raided the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City to arrest preacher Apollo Quiboloy, accused of child abuse and human trafficking. Despite the large operation, Quiboloy was not found and has gone into hiding. Supporters filmed the raid, questioning its legality, while police insisted on the seriousness of the charges.
Cybersecurity and lawful access
- France
Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris after landing on a private jet, reportedly due to an outstanding arrest warrant in France. His detention sparked warnings from Moscow and criticism from Elon Musk, who claimed that free speech in Europe was under threat. French authorities have not officially confirmed the arrest, which is linked to an investigation into Telegram's alleged lack of moderation and cooperation with police. Russia has demanded access to Durov, who holds French and UAE citizenship.
ICYMI: Exclusive access to paid subscribers only...
- Flashpoint on Deadly Mosque Attack Shocks Oman: Nine Dead as IS Claims Responsibility.
- Insight on Navigating the Strategic and Policy Implications of Jemaah Islamiyah's Dissolution in Indonesia.
- Insight on Contextualising Al-Qaeda's Call To Arms and Implications for Southeast Asia's Militants.
- Flashpoint on U.S. Sanctions on Malaysian Semiconductor Trading Firm.
- Insight on Reassessing the Ulu Tiram Incident: The Subjectivity of Terror Labels.
- Insight on Jemaah Islamiyah Arrests in Sulawesi: Contextualising the Threat Perception by Alif Satria.
- Insight on India's Elections and Beyond: Balancing Nationalism with Global Aspirations by Hari Prasad.
- The Deep Dive on Shalom Avitan and Illicit Arms Trade in Malaysia's Periphery. A useful read to understand Thailand-Malaysia gunrunning.
- Flashpoint analysis on Iran-Israel Standoff: Navigating a No-Win Situation - Recent military exchanges between Israel and Iran have heightened regional tensions. What implications might this have for global stability?
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