Washington Examiner Shootings in New York City up 205% in weeks since disbandment of plainclothes unit compared to last year By Haley Victory SmithAfter making the decision to disband its plainclothes "anti-crime" unit, New York City has seen a 205% increase in shootings in comparison to the same time period last year.According to the New York Post, 116 shootings took place in the city since the officers were reassigned on June 15 to July 2, a 205% increase from the same period in 2019 when there were 38 shootings.New York City saw 205 shootings last month, making it the city's "bloodiest June in 24 years.""I feel like we are giving the streets back to the criminals," said the mother of one shooting victim, whose son was shot just days after the unit was disbanded. "Whatever the problem they have, address it. But don’t disband the unit. Many lives would have...

InHomelandSecurity.com China Has ‘First-Strike’ Capability To Melt U.S. Power Grid With Electromagnetic Pulse Weapon Last week, the Department of Homeland Security issued a scary report on China’s ability to conduct an Electromagnetic Pulse attack on the United States. The key takeaway, according to Dr. Peter Pry, executive director of the department’s EMP task force, is that China now has super-EMP weapons, knows how to protect itself against an EMP attack, and has developed protocols to conduct a first-strike attack, even as they deny they would ever do so.According to the Center for Strategic International Studies, China has the most active ballistic missile development program in the world, so this is doubly troubling. China used stolen U.S. technology to develop at least three types of high-tech weapons to attack the electric grid and key technologies that could cause a surprise “Pearl Harbor” attack that could produce a deadly blackout to the...

WIRED by Lily Hay Newman Schools Already Struggled With Cybersecurity. Then Came Covid-19 "The coronavirus pandemic has had major cybersecurity implications around the world. Tailored phishing attacks and contact-tracing scams prey on fear and uncertainty. Fraudsters are targeting economic relief and unemployment payments. The stakes are higher than ever for ransomware attacks that target health care providers and other critical infrastructure. For businesses, the transition to remote work has created new exposures and magnified existing ones.School districts in the United States already had significant cybersecurity shortcomings. They often lack dedicated funding and skilled personnel to continuously vet and improve cybersecurity defenses. As a result, many schools make basic system setup errors or leave old vulnerabilities unpatched—essentially propping a door open for hackers and scammers. Schools and students also face potential exposure from third-party education technology firms that fail to adequately secure data in their platforms.The pandemic amplified these risks, as...

The New York Times Two Wealth Sri Lankan Brothers Became Suicide Bombers. But Why? By Samanth SubramanianT here’s a video of the exact moment Inshaf Ibrahim decided to abandon his life as a rich young man and turn into a mass murderer. In one sense, he had made up his mind weeks earlier, which was why he was loitering in the Cinnamon Grand hotel’s breakfast buffet on Easter Sunday last year in Colombo, strapped into a knapsack of explosives. Once he arrived, though, he appeared to dither. Later, investigators picked him out of CCTV footage, standing near a vacant table, wearing a baseball cap and a T-shirt, his back to the camera. In the footage, he moves like a perplexed penguin. Two steps forward, half a step back, a turn, another turn: a choreography of hesitation. Perhaps he is reconsidering? But no, the investigators concluded; he is waiting for more...

More than 30 arrested as Seattle cops clear CHOP zoneQ13 FOX SEATTLE - Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan issued an emergency order Wednesday morning directing protesters to leave the area of the CHOP, Capitol Hill Organized Protest, and Cal Anderson Park area. More than 30 protesters were arrested, police said.Officers in riot gear moved into the area at 5:00 a.m. and issued a dispersal order over the loudspeaker.  Police said on Twitter at 9:25 a.m. that at least 31 people were arrested for failure to disperse, obstruction, resisting arrest, and assault. "One of the arrestees, a 29-year-old man, was in possession of a large metal pipe and kitchen knife when he was taken into custody," police said. Read more: https://www.q13fox.com/news/more-than-30-arrested-as-seattle-cops-clear-chop-zone...

Daily Nation Kenya: Nyanza, Western, New Breeding Ground For Terrorists, Survey Shows By Rushdie OudiaKisumu, Siaya and Vihiga counties are the new breeding grounds for terrorist groups, a baseline survey conducted in 10 counties of Western Kenya has revealed.The new study shows how terrorist groups such as the Al-Shabaab are changing tactics and recruiting from new regions as opposed to the usual Coast, North Eastern and Nairobi areas.The survey revealed that apart from the three counties, Bungoma and Kakamega have for a while remained active recruitment grounds in Western Region having had some members in the past who were recruited to the terrorist group Al Shabaab prior to the Dusit attack. The survey was carried out by Dr Tom Mboya, a lecturer of Political Science at Maseno University, and Mr Jeremiah Owiti between November 2019 and February 2020 for Champions of Peace, National Counter Terrorism Centre with the support from...

AllAfrica.com Dalsan Radio Somalia: Fierce Battle As Alshabaab Attacks Somalia Military Base In Hiran Al-Shabab militants attacked a Somalia National Army base Baladweyne of Hiran region on Monday night, prompting a fierce battle.Residents told Radio Dalsan both sides exchanged heavy and small weaponry that could be heard from remote distances during the confrontation.There are casualties although the casualty figure on both warring sides are not established.The latest clashes came barely less than a week after special trained Danab forces liberated Jaana-Abdale, Helishid, Mayonde and Garascebe villages in Lower Jubba.On Friday the military killed four militants killed including senior Nepalese trainer in Lower Jubba of southern Somalia. Read more: https://allafrica.com/stories/202006300669.html...

Associated Press French, Spanish And African Leaders Meet To Combat Extremism DAKAR, Senegal — Leaders from the five countries of West Africa’s Sahel region — Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger — on Tuesday called for intensifying counter-terrorism operations supported by the French military that have already seen successes in the recent months despite growing jihadist attacks in the region.The heads of state from the five Sahel countries said the stability of the region below the Sahara Desert remains challenged by persistant attacks, a deteriorating security situation in Libya and the COVID-19 pandemic, and renewed calls for the cancellation of external debts as they deal with the pandemic.The statements came after meetings between the heads of states Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott to discuss military operations against Islamic extremists in the region. Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/06/30/world/africa/ap-af-west-africa-france-summit.html...

DHS deploys special federal unit to protect monuments over July 4 weekend amid vandalism fears 'DHS will be forward leaning in preparing to protect federal facilities and property'By Adam Shaw | Fox NewsEXCLUSIVE: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is deploying a special federal unit across the country for the July 4 weekend in order to protect federal monuments and statues from a possible fresh wave of vandalism.“The upcoming July 4th holiday weekend has the potential for increased disruptive activity at specific locations across the country that could threaten our personnel and the Federal facilities and property they protect,” a soon-to-be-released memo penned by acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf, and obtained by Fox News, says. “DHS will be forward leaning in preparing to protect federal facilities and property.” Rapid Deployment Teams (RDTs) from the Protecting American Communities Task Force (PACT), and consisting of law enforcement officers specially trained in areas...

New Haven Register Firefighters rescue man who fell into well beneath Guilford homeBy Meghan Friedmann GUILFORD — Firefighters rescued a man who fell through the floor of a Guilford home Sunday evening and into a well beneath the building, according to Assistant Fire Chief Michael Shove.Teams arrived at 925 Little Meadow Road to find the victim treading water in the well, which was about five feet in diameter and 20 feet deep, Shove said.The man, Dr. Christopher Town of Guilford, was helping a new tenant move into the home when the accident occurred, he said.While putting together a bed frame, “the floor just gave out from underneath me,” Town said. “I thought it would be, you know, a six-inch fall.” But Town found himself in water above his head. He realized he must have fallen at least 12 feet, he said. Read more: https://www.nhregister.com/shoreline/article/Firefighters-rescue-man-who-fell-into-well-15373690.php...

Chicago to deploy 1,200 additional police officers over concerns of a violent July 4 weekend The two previous weekends ended with a combined total of 111 people being shot By Greg Norman | Fox News Chicago is gearing up to deploy an additional 1,200 police officers throughout the city’s streets for this upcoming Fourth of July weekend, following recent gun violence that didn't even spare young children.The two weekends heading into the long holiday this year ended with a combined total of 111 people being shot in Chicago, 24 fatally. The victims included a 1-year-old riding in a car with his mother and a 10-year-old girl who was inside her home when a bullet fired a block away pierced a window and struck her in the head.“We didn’t do it last weekend and the Memorial Day weekend,” Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department David Brown told reporters Monday. “This weekend......

Reuters Counter-Terrorism Police Charge Man With Three Murders After Knife Attack In English Town LONDON (Reuters) - A suspect has been charged with three counts of murder over a knife attack in the English town of Reading described by police as a terrorist incident, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Saturday. A man wielding a five-inch knife attacked people out enjoying the sun at Forbury Gardens, a Reading park, on the evening of June 20, killing three people and injuring three others.“The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised Counter Terrorism Policing South East to charge Khairi Saadallah, 25, with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder,” the CPS said.Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-security-reading/counter-terrorism-police-charge-man-with-three-murders-after-knife-attack-in-england-idUSKBN23Y0SH...

NBC News DOJ Appeals Court's Decision To Release Hezbollah Money Man Early The Justice Department argues Kassim Tajideen does not qualify to be freed on "compassionate grounds" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By Dan De Luce and Michael KosnarWASHINGTON — The Justice Department is appealing a federal judge’s decision to grant an early release to a Lebanese man labeled by U.S. authorities as a Hezbollah financier, arguing he does not qualify to be freed on “compassionate grounds” due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to court documents.Kassim Tajideen, 65, had pleaded guilty to money-laundering charges, forfeited $50 million and was sentenced in 2019 to five years in prison. But U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton last month ordered his release and reduced his sentence to time served after Tajideen’s lawyers argued their client was “extremely vulnerable” to contracting COVID-19 due to his age and health.With Tajideen due to fly back to Lebanon...

'I Got Your Six': Locals show support for law enforcement Porterville Recorder By ALEXIS ESPINOZAEven though the temperature was more than 100 degrees, a group of more than 20 Porterville locals gathered in front of the Porterville Police Department (PPD) on Friday evening to show there support for local law enforcement personnel and to let them know they’ve “got their six.”“I Got Your Six became significant in World War II,” said Amy Carpenter who spoke to the crowd on Friday evening. “The pilots would indicate to one another ‘I got your six,’ as in your 6 o’clock position, I have your back. That’s why we’re here today. We want to let law enforcement know that we’ve got your back. It’s got to be very difficult putting that badge on every day and come to work feeling unappreciated. But I’m here out of the community, as all these people are for...

Express UK Nigeria at risk of 'Rwandan-style genocide' as 60k killed by Boko Haram and ISIS in decade NIGERIA is in danger of a "Rwandan-style genocide" as Islamist extremists pursue campaigns of mass-murder, a human rights group has warned. By David Williamson, Deputy Political Editor The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law states that more than 60,000 killings have taken place since 2010, with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) terrorising communities. It cites research by the International Committee on Nigeria (Icon), claiming that Boko Haram has killed 43,242 Nigerians since 2010. In addition, extremists among the nomadic Fulani population are reported to have killed 17,284 further Nigerians in the same time period. The group warns: “From the way things are speedily unfolding, the country is likely to be thrown into the Rwandan style genocide and other forms of mass bloodletting.”Last year the influential French...

FOX 13 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The US Coast Guard unloaded some 6,800 pounds of cocaine at Port Everglades, Florida on June 23, a week after the $100 million-plus haul was seized off the shores of Costa Rica.This footage shows crew on the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant offloading the drugs, which an accompanying statement said were bundled into a total of 122 bales.The Coast Guard said the cocaine was seized in two operations off the coast of Limon, Costa Rica, on June 15. According to press reports, an initial interdiction yielded 77 bales, while a second turned up 45. Read more: https://www.fox13news.com/news/coast-guard-unloads-more-than-3-tons-of-cocaine-in-florida...

DVIDS Northern Strike 20 to continue as National Guard’s premier joint fires exercise, with COVID-19 precautions in place by Capt. Andrew Layton Michigan National GuardLANSING, Mich. – Since 2012, exercise Northern Strike has been held annually at Michigan National Guard training facilities, morphing over time into the Department of Defense’s largest annual joint, reserve component readiness event. This year the exercise will look different, but will still take place as the DoD’s premier joint fires integration training opportunity.Northern Strike 20 will be held July 19-31 at Michigan’s newly renamed National All-Domain Warfighting Center, encompassing Camp Grayling Maneuver Training Center and Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. The Michigan National Guard, in partnership with public health officials, has developed a comprehensive plan that allows Northern Strike to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic while safeguarding participants and local communities.“Northern Strike is designed to challenge training audiences with multiple forms of convergence that advance...

American Military News US fighter jets intercept Russian warplanes near Alaska for 5th time in 2 weeks by Laura Widener U.S. planes intercepted another group of Russian warplanes near Alaska, marking the fifth intercept in the past three weeks out of eight total this year.North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) F-22s and a U.S. KC-135 Stratotanker intercepted two Russian IL-38 maritime patrol aircraft in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) within 50 miles of Alaskan territory. The Russian warplanes remained in the ADIZ for four hours, though they remained in international airspace.“The IL-38s remained in international airspace and at no time did the aircraft enter United States or Canadian sovereign airspace,” NORAD said in a statement. Read more: https://americanmilitarynews.com/2020/06/us-fighter-jets-intercept-russian-warplanes-near-alaska-for-5th-time-in-2-weeks/...

Cleveland Jewish News Israeli officer wounded in terror attack near Jerusalem; assailant shot dead A Israeli Border Police officer was lightly injured on Tuesday when a Palestinian driver attempted to run her over at a checkpoint linking the town of Abu Dis, a suburb of Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. The attacker was then shot dead by other officers on the scene.“A short while ago near Jerusalem in the area of Abu Dis a suspect vehicle attempted to run over a Border Police officer,” police spokesman Miki Rosenfeld said in a statement. “Border Police responded at the scene by opening fire at the vehicle. The terrorist was shot.”Tensions have been high in recent weeks in parts of Judea and Samaria due to the Israeli government’s stated intention to apply its sovereignty to parts of the territories beginning in July. Read more: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jns/israeli-officer-wounded-in-terror-attack-near-jerusalem-assailant-shot-dead/article_23825cb3-c89f-585b-8902-bbd4c1cae83c.html...

InPublicSafety.com The Evolution of Modern Terrorism July 23, 2015    By Dr. James Hess, Faculty Director and Associate Professor of Intelligence Studies at American Military UniversityIn September 1901, President William McKinley was assassinated by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist terrorist. McKinley’s successor was President Theodore Roosevelt—who called for the end of terrorism everywhere.One hundred years before 9/11, terrorism was present in America. Given this history with terrorism, I will discuss the roots of modern terrorism, the scholarly perspective on the evolution of terrorism, and the importance of understanding the motivations and strategies of terrorists.The Starting Point for TerrorismMost experts in the study of terrorism point to the French Revolution as the starting point for modern terrorism. Not surprisingly, there was a period during the French Revolution known as the Reign of Terror. During the Reign of Terror, tens of thousands were executed for their perceived resistance to the revolution.   Read more:...