Terrorism

INNOVATION: With terrorism moving increasingly online, the use of steganography – embedding potentially dangerous data inside seemingly innocent files – is becoming a growing concern for law enforcement; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at this new technology being adopted by terrorist organisations, and the efforts being made to counter their activity.

FEATURE: The announcement last week by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern that she will be stepping down within the next two weeks caught many of the public – and members of her own party – by surprise; but as Policing Insight’s Andy Staniforth explains, while Ms Ardern may no longer be holding high office, she will leave a lasting legacy globally in the fight against terrorism and online extremism.

ANALYSIS: New research by Dr Jens Binder of Nottingham Trent University and Dr Chris Baker-Beall of Bournemouth University has found that terrorism radicalisation now takes place predominantly online, and that those recruited without face-to-face interaction are less likely to carry out violent attacks – but there is still a thin line between online only activity and mixed radicalisation processes, so internet extremism must still be taken seriously.

FEATURE: Despite several examples of terrorist attacks being livestreamed and online games being used to spread extreme propaganda and groom young fanatics, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth warns that the full extent of the terrorist use of the internet remains poorly understood by many frontline practitioners, and a multi-faceted, holistic approach is essential to tackle the threat.

FEATURE: This week the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation announced that the country’s terror threat level was to be reduced; Dr John Coyne, head of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Northern Australia Strategic Policy Centre, warns that while the move should be welcomed, extremist ideologies still exist in Australia and will need continued careful and close monitoring to prevent any further acts of violence.

OPINION: A recent incident in which a car was driven into a crowded UK Christmas market has highlighted once again the vulnerabilities of such public festive events; while there were no injuries and the incident was not terror related, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth argues that, given the sustained terror threat to crowded places, a review of protective security measures at Christmas markets is urgently needed.

ANALYSIS: The CIA’s assassination earlier this month of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri – regarded as the ‘operational brains’ behind the 9/11 attacks – marked another stage in the ongoing international effort to prevent terrorist atrocities; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the impact of al-Qaeda and 9/11 on shaping the UK’s current counter-terror landscape.

ANALYSIS: While the latest US drone strike highlighted the continuing physical global terrorist threat, extremist organisations are increasingly launching their own websites to spread their views and propaganda, and recruit new members; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the online threat posed by terrorists, and the work of Tech Against Terrorism to try and counter that threat.

INTERVIEW: As terrorists continue to find new and creative ways in which to use the internet to progress and promote their violent and extremist causes, cyber expert Professor Stuart Macdonald, Director of the Cyber Threats Research Centre (CYTREC) at Swansea University, spoke to Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth about ways in which how police officers can engage, support, and participate in research to investigate terrorism and the use of social media.

FEATURE: As the ‘big four’ social media companies continue to successfully tighten up the identification and removal of harmful terrorist content, delegates at the recent Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) discussed how extremist organisations and those intent on violence are looking for alternative ‘low-tech’ online routes to broadcast their message, as Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports.

OPINION: Violent extremism is on the rise globally, and in countries such as Pakistan, vulnerable young people are routinely targeted and manipulated by extremist groups; new research by PhD student Umair Asif and Professor Tegwen Gadais of the Université du Québec à Montréal, and Associate Professor Simon Rosenbaum of UNSW Sydney, highlights the valuable role that sport can play in countering violent extremism and terrorism.

ANALYSIS: The recent horrific mass shootings in the US have once again highlighted how social media and online platforms are used to broadcast terrorists’ aims and actions; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at ongoing European efforts to target online terrorist content, including this month’s Terrorism and Social Media Conference in Swansea.

ANALYSIS: Dr Muhammad Dan Suleiman, Research Fellow at the UWA Africa Research & Engagement Centre at the University of Western Australia, identifies the key enablers of political extremism in West Africa.

ANALYSIS: As we approach the fifth anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the lessons that need to be learned in relation to protecting public spaces from terror attack, and the important balance between community security and the rights of individual citizens.

ANALYSIS: As recent terrorist attacks in Israel have increased tensions again in the region, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks back at the first incident of exported terrorism from the UK – the 2003 bombing of Mike’s Place in Tel Aviv – and considers how such events have shaped the country’s counter-terror stance and response to home-grown terrorism.

FEATURE: Five years after the Westminster Bridge attack in which PC Keith Palmer and four members of the public died, a new review by Lord Toby Harris into London’s preparedness and ability to respond to potential terror attacks has found “very substantial progress” – but warns against complacency, and highlights the damaging impact of austerity and funding cuts on counter-terror policing and wider partnership networks, as Policing Insight’s Keith Potter reports.

FEATURE: In his latest Annual Threat Assessment Mike Burgess, Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), has revealed that minors now account for half of ASIO’s priority counter-terrorism investigations, as the online radicalisation that went into overdrive during Covid lockdowns has created a new wave of more intense extremists ready to use violence.

ANALYSIS: The surge in terrorist content online has presented law enforcement agencies and tech companies with significant challenges in tackling dangerous extremists; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at European efforts to target such activities and online material, including new draft legislation governing how the EU can work with third countries to exchange data.

ANALYSIS: The recent siege in a synagogue in Texas highlighted once again that terrorists increasingly view places of worship as legitimate and accessible targets; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports on a new EU operational briefing published this week, providing guidance for law enforcement, faith leaders and their communities on improving protection at places of worship.

ANALYSIS: Politically motivated crime has been recognised as an issue needing specific attention for more than a century, but with multiple agencies now active in the sector, co-ordinating that response can be difficult; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the challenges presented by politically motivated crimes, and the importance of differentiating between extremism and terrorism.

FEATURE: Europol’s latest terrorism trends report has highlighted the success of far-right extremists in exploiting the isolation and increased internet use driven by the pandemic to spread right-wing ideologies and propaganda; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the nature of the online far-right terrorism threat, and how COVID-19 has created a breeding ground for extremism.

FEATURE: The 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York’s World Trade Centre caused a devastating loss of life as well as having a huge impact on businesses and the city’s federal purse; 20 years on, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the long-term impact of 9/11 – both physical and financial – and the legacy of a ‘War on Terror’ which is far from won.

FEATURE: The terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils four years ago this month left 14 people dead and more than 130 injured; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy launched by the Spanish Government since those attacks, as well as the continuing threat and risk posed to Spain by both violent jihadist terrorism and returning foreign terrorist fighters.

FEATURE: Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports on a terrorist drone attack in India that has raised concerns among security policymakers around the world, and highlighted the fact that unmanned aerial vehicles present a clear and present danger to the public – one for which police and security authorities remain poorly prepared.