Forbes Nikita Malik, Contributor Cybersecurity Last year, I began to research terrorists with a background of domestic violence.Sadly, violence is common in family court cases to do with children being made wards of court due to fear of radicalisation. Many fathers in these cases have been abusive, either to their wives or to their children.That’s not to say that correlation goes hand in hand with causation. The majority of domestic abusers don’t go on to become terrorists, and many terrorists have no reported background of domestic violence.However, there seem to be some patterns in common.Take Rachid Redouane, one of the three terrorists behind the London Bridge attack last year, for example. Redouane married an Irish woman and moved to London with her in 2012. They had a daughter in 2015. At some point in their relationship, he became more religious, violent, and controlling. They broke up in 2017 because of...

Source: White House National Security & Defense THE PATH TO VICTORY: President Donald J. Trump is releasing a new National Strategy for Counterterrorism that will protect American citizens and interests at home and abroad. Today, President Trump is releasing his National Strategy for Counterterrorism, the United States’ first robust and fully-articulated strategy on counterterrorism since 2011. The Administration is outlining a new approach to counter and prevent the evolving terrorist threat, making it clear that we will take all steps necessary to keep our country safe. President Trump’s National Strategy for Counterterrorism focuses on: Pursuing terrorists to their source; Isolating terrorists from their sources of support; Modernizing and integrating the United States’ counterterrorism tools; Protecting American infrastructure and enhancing resilience; Countering terrorist radicalization and recruitment; and Strengthening the counterterrorism abilities of our international partners. A NEW APPROACH: The new strategy builds on lessons learned from past counterterrorism efforts and offers...

Aviation International NewsWith hundreds of thousands of personal UAVs currently in public hands, the question of will a serious drone strike on an aircraft occur, is no longer a matter of if, but when, in the minds of many experts. While tests on bird strikes have been conducted for decades, what kind of damage a drone would cause was still virtually unknown…until now. ...

The Jerusalem Post CAIRO- The Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack on an election rally in the Afghan province of Nangarhar on Tuesday, according to a statement on the group's Amaq news agency.The militant group said a bomber had killed 35 and wounded more than 50 after detonating his suicide vest. Afghan officials earlier said at least 13 were killed and more than 30 wounded, warning the toll was likely to rise.The Islamic State has claimed a series of attacks this year that have killed scores of people in Nangarhar, on the border with Pakistan. Read more: https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Islamic-State-claims-election-rally-attack-in-Afghanistan-568503...

CBS News By Peter Martinez Five law enforcement officers were shot Wednesday in Florence, South Carolina, CBS affiliate WBTW-TV reports, and a suspect is in custody. A total of three Florence County deputies and two city officers were wounded, Florence County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Glen Kirby said.The suspect surrendered to deputies after talking with a negotiator, according to Kirby. Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela said that some of the officers are in "serious condition."The Florence County Emergency Management Department tweeted that the "active shooting situation is over and the suspect is in custody." Officials urged people to stay away from the area.South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster posted on Twitter that Wednesday's incident is "simply devastating" and called out the "selfless acts of bravery from the men and women in law enforcement." Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/5-police-officers-shot-in-florence-south-carolina-suspect-in-custody-today-live-updates-2018-10-03/...

FCW Cybersecurity By Derek B. Johnson A month out from the 2018 midterms, all eyes are on the Department of Homeland Security as it approaches its first real test since being given a broader election security mandate in the wake of the 2016 presidential elections.Speaking at a cybersecurity event hosted by the Washington Post, DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen highlighted improvements in information sharing across the federal government and with state and local officials as well as closer relationships with stakeholders that will lead to faster coordination in the wake of an emerging threat."First of all, the information sharing is much stronger than it even has been before," said Nielsen when asked what had changed in the department's approach since 2016. "So [we're] working very closely with the intel community, and the moment that we see something significant we are -- in conjunction with the IC -- sharing with our state...

ABC 7 ELIZABETH MCLAUGHLIN Two envelopes suspected of containing ricin poison, one addressed to Defense Secretary James Mattis, were identified in the Pentagon's Central Processing Center, according to a U.S. official.Later on Monday, the Secret Service reported it had also intercepted a suspicious envelope addressed to President Donald Trump, though that envelope was not received, nor did it enter the White House. The envelopes found at the Pentagon's mail center were addressed to Mattis and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, the official said. Those pieces of mail, flagged as part of the Pentagon's normal processing procedures, are being examined to determine whether they test positive for the deadly poison, the FBI said in a statement.The Secret Service said it's also cooperating with law enforcement to fully investigate the suspicious envelope addressed to the president."Further, all threats directed towards the President, or any Secret Service protectee, are treated seriously...

Opinion Washington Post by Bernard Hudson  Bernard Hudson is the former director of counterterrorism at the CIA and is a nonresident fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center. A failed assassination attempt against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday was mounted with explosive-armed drones, according to news reports. Nine days earlier, and on the other side of the world, terrorists claimed to have sent an armed drone to attack the international airport in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. No one was killed in either case, and the circumstances of both remain murky. But a new and dangerous era in non-state-sponsored terrorism clearly has begun, and no one is adequately prepared to counter it. In Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, government officials said one or more drones detonated explosives above the audience at a nationally televised military event. Several people were injured, though not the president or his wife, Cilia...

New York Times By Benjamin WeiserFederal prosecutors in Manhattan told a judge on Friday that they intend to seek the death penalty if a jury convicts Sayfullo Saipov, the Uzbek man charged in the 2017 truck attack that killed eight people on a crowded Manhattan bike path.The Halloween Day attack was the deadliest in New York City since Sept. 11, 2001.The decision to seek capital punishment ultimately rested with Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Mr. Saipov’s lawyers had asked the judge to block the government from seeking the death penalty, citing tweets by President Trump that called for Mr. Saipov’s execution.Shortly after the attack, Mr. Trump posted messages on Twitter declaring, “SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY” and “Should move fast. DEATH PENALTY.” The government’s decision was announced in a submission to the judge, Vernon S. Broderick of Federal District Court in Manhattan, by the office of Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States...

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE arrests 150 aliens in Los Angeles-area 40 percent had ICE holds but released from local custody LOS ANGELES – A man with a conviction for attempted murder and a woman who has seven convictions for driving under the influence are among the 150 criminal aliens and immigration violators arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers this week. Approximately 40 percent of those aliens apprehended by ICE this week had previously been released by local law enforcement agencies despite ICE placing a detainer, which asks an arresting agency to notify immigration officers prior to an alien’s release from custody. Of those arrested in Los Angeles and surrounding areas from Sunday through Tuesday, approximately 90 percent had criminal convictions. “The state laws preventing ICE from working in the jails is significantly impacting public safety by letting serious repeat offenders back out onto our streets,”...

Pensacola News Journal From staff reports A Pensacola man has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism for allegedly threatening to carry out at mass shooting at a local elementary school and to detonate explosives at the county courthouse.Kelyton Maxwell, 32, was arrested Friday by Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents, who were assisted by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, according to an FDLE news release.In May, FDLE agents began to investigate multiple telephone calls to the Escambia County Courthouse, the county’s 911 call centers and the Pensacola Police Department threatening to detonate explosive devices inside and outside the courthouse.The courthouse was evacuated for nearly three hours Mary 14 as authorities investigated a bomb threat before clearing the building. Read more: https://www.pnj.com/story/news/crime/2018/09/28/pensacola-man-charged-terrorism-accused-threatening-bombings-school-shooting/1459153002/...

In Public SafetyBy Dr. Jarrod Sadulski, Faculty Member, Criminal Justice, American Military UniversityThere are more than 900,000 law enforcement officers in the United States who are sworn to protect and serve. The majority of these officers serve at the local, county or state level. Because of their daily responsibilities, they have significant public interactions that involve traffic stops, field investigations and non-emergency calls.These public interactions provide an important opportunity for officers to recognize signs of domestic terrorism that threaten the community. However, in order for officers to be able to recognize and address potential terrorist activity, they must have proper training, as well as knowledge of available resources and proper protocols to follow.The Role of the Office for State and Local Law EnforcementTo aid in local law enforcement’s ability to respond to domestic terrorism, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has created the Office for State and Local Law Enforcement....

by FOX6 News FRANKLIN — Franklin police say a 20-year-old man is now in custody after a report of a suicidal subject with a bomb vest attached to his chest near the Franklin Walmart late Tuesday, Sept. 25.Officials say West Allis police arrested the 20-year-old shortly before 2 a.m. on Wednesday. He is not being identified — and charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.Investigators say the incident late Tuesday happened near the Walmart in Franklin. Because of the report, the Walmart and Sam’s Club next door were evacuated. Bomb-sniffing dogs from the Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office were also called to the scene.The stores were later reopened. Read more: https://fox6now.com/2018/09/26/police-man-arrested-after-report-of-suicide-bomber-near-franklin-walmart/...

Financial Times Beijing believes its growing international interests must be protected from terrorism by Ben Bland and Nicolle Liu in Hong KongChina wants its elite counter-terrorism forces to play a bigger role overseas, protecting its growing international interests as President Xi Jinping pursues a more muscular foreign policy.“Counter-terrorism preparations must follow the expansion of the country’s strategic interests,” Zhang Xiaoqi, the head of intelligence for China’s People’s Armed Police, which runs the country’s counter-terrorism forces, told Xinhua, the national news agency, at the weekend.“We must strive to become a deterrent force to safeguard national security, a pioneering force to protect overseas interests and an elite force for universal fighting.”China passed a wide-ranging new counter-terrorism law in 2015 that allows the army and police to conduct or join counter-terrorism missions overseas. While the law does not clearly define the international role for China’s counter-terrorism forces, a report by the European Council...

KTLA 5 The US military’s F-35B joint strike fighter conducted its first-ever airstrike on Thursday, according to the US Marine Corps and three US defense officials.The strike took place in Afghanistan against a fixed Taliban target. The aircraft involved were the US Marine Corps’ variant of the aircraft flying from the USS Essex amphibious assault ship.The Marines confirmed the strike in a statement: “During this mission the F-35B conducted an air strike in support of ground clearance operations, and the strike was deemed successful by the ground force commander.”The F-35 stealth jet has been called the most expensive weapons system in history, and its development was beset by multiple delays before it was deemed combat ready.It is touted as the future of military aviation: a lethal and versatile aircraft that combines stealth capabilities, supersonic speed, extreme agility and state-of-the-art sensor fusion technology, according to Lockheed Martin, the plane’s primary contractor.The...

Reuters ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A Turkish-U.S. citizen and former NASA scientist jailed in Turkey on terrorism charges plans to file an appeal to Turkey’s top court after a lower appeals court reduced his sentence this week, his lawyer said on Friday. Serkan Golge was visiting family in southern Turkey when he was arrested in a crackdown following a failed military coup in 2016 which the government blames on supporters of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. Golge’s case is similar to that of American pastor Andrew Brunson, whose ongoing detention in Turkey in connection with the coup attempt is the cause of a major row between NATO allies Washington and Ankara, and has led to U.S. President Donald Trump imposing sanctions on Turkey. In a ruling on Wednesday, Turkey’s Court of Appeals changed Golge’s conviction charge to aiding, rather than being a member of, a terror organization, and to reduce his...

Eurasia Review by James M. Dorsey A Financial Action Task Force (FATF) report criticizing Saudi Arabia’s anti-money laundering and terrorism finance measures puts the kingdom on the spot 17 years after the 9/11 attacks and casts a shadow over its diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar on the grounds that the Gulf state supports militants.In a nod to the kingdom, the international watchdog described as “understandable” the fact the kingdom’s “almost exclusive focus of authorities on domestic (terrorist financing) offences means the authorities are not prioritizing disruption of support for threats outside the kingdom.”The 246-page report contrasted starkly with US President Donald J. Trump’s assessment expressed in his address to the United Nations general assembly. “Following my trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Gulf countries opened a new centre to target terrorist financing. They are enforcing new sanctions. They are working with us to identify and track terrorist networks...

BBC News Police in the Netherlands have arrested seven men over an alleged plot to carry out what they describe as a major terrorist attack involving guns and explosives.Police say the men were trying to source AK47s, hand grenades and bomb materials to carry out their attack.The men, aged between 21 and 34, were arrested on Thursday.Three had been arrested previously for trying to travel abroad to join foreign militants.Prosecutors say the man at the centre of the group is a 34-year-old of Iraqi origin, who was convicted in 2017 for trying to travel to fight for the Islamic State group.They say they were tipped off about the plot in April 2018 by intelligence services, who said the main suspect wanted to target "a large event in the Netherlands where there would be a lot of victims".The seven men were arrested in the central city of Arnhem and southern municipality...

Virginian Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller was an all-American hero who served in conflicts around the world including the Pacific in World War II and the Korean War in the 1950s. He was a Marine, and even although he died almost 50 years ago, he is still a legend within the ranks of that elite U.S. military outfit. ...

Accusers say he was a Chinese spy tasked with gaining intelligence on potential recruits for a Chinese intelligence service. By Geoff Dempsey CHICAGO, IL — A Chinese national has been arrested on suspicion of spying on the United States for China, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's office. Ji Chaoqun, 27, was living in Chicago while working as an agent for a Chinese intelligence agencies, the government says.Ji "worked at the direction of a high-level intelligence officer in the Jiangsu Province Ministry of State Security," the press release said. Accusers say his mission was to obtain biographical information on eight people for potential recruitment by the Chinese intelligence agency.Some of the individuals targeted for recruitment were Chinese nationals working in highly competitive STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — fields in the U.S., including some U.S. defense contractors.Ji is charged with one count of "knowingly acting...