Jihadists celebrate Nice terror attack as ISIS and al-Qaeda supporters call for more attacks against France in sickening online propaganda

 Online jihadists celebrated the latest terror attack on France today after three people were murdered by a knifeman in Nice on a day which also saw a gunman killed in Avignon and a guard attacked at a French consulate in Saudi Arabia. 

The latest in a long line of violent attacks in France was 'already being celebrated massively across jihadi communities' by late Thursday, according to the SITE Intelligence monitoring group. 

SITE director Rita Katz said it was 'hard to recall social media celebration this massive for terrorism' with jihadists taking to Twitter and Facebook to welcome the latest grisly murders. 

No group has yet claimed responsibility for today's violence, but it comes amid high tensions between France and the Muslim world after a teacher was beheaded for showing Prophet Mohammed cartoons to his class two weeks ago. 

An armed French police officer secures a street near the entrance of the Notre Dame Basilica in Nice where three people were murdered in a terror attack today 

Katz said that jihadists were celebrating the attackers 'freedom of action' after three violent episodes in the space of a few hours. 

'These new attacks comes amid a massive and enduring wave of jihadi media condemning France and its cartoonists,' she said. 

A report by SITE said that jihadists were 'overjoyed' by the news from Nice, Avignon and Saudi Arabia today.  

Extremists linked to both ISIS and al-Qaeda have seized on the beheading of Samuel Paty earlier this month to incite more attacks against France. 

Katz said that the 'prospect of co-ordination' between the various attackers seemed 'increasingly plausible', although not confirmed. 

The Nice attack began around 9am at the Notre Dame basilica where a knifeman killed a male church warden, an elderly female parishioner and a second woman, wounded several others, and was then shot and arrested by police.  

Both ISIS and Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks, which were the beginning of a wave of terrorism across France. 

Anger at France has not been confined to extremists, with many in the Islamic world staging protests and calling for boycotts over Charlie Hebdo's controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. 

Macron has vowed to defend freedom of expression and the right to insult religion, but leaders of Muslim countries have warned his stance could lead to violence. 

Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been among those to feud with France, reacting angrily to an offensive cartoon of him on the front of Charlie Hebdo.

'I don't need to say anything to those scoundrels who insult my beloved prophet on such a scale,' Erdogan said on Wednesday, calling it a 'disgusting attack'.

Erdogan's top press aide today sought to fend off suggestions that Turkey's strident rhetoric had encouraged violence. 

'We will continue to confront any politician who insults our religion and values,' Fahrettin Altun said, condemning the attacks in Nice. 

'We feel we owe no apology to anyone for expressing our strong opposition to racism and xenophobia. We categorically deny any effort to associate us with any kind of violence.'

Abdallah Zekri, director general of the French Council of Muslim Worship (CFCM), also condemned the attack in Nice today. 

'I can only denounce as strongly as possible this act of cowardice against the innocent,' he said. 

Zekri called on French Muslims to cancel festivities to mark Mohammed's birthday, which end on Thursday, 'in solidarity with the victims and their loved ones.'

There was also condemnation of today's attack from abroad, with UK prime minister Boris Johnson saying he was 'appalled' by news of a 'barbaric attack'. 

'Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and the UK stands steadfastly with France against terror and intolerance,' the PM said. 

Angela Merkel's spokesman said the German chancellor was 'deeply shocked about the gruesome murders in a church in Nice'. 

Italy's prime minister Giuseppe Conte condemned a 'vile attack' but vowed it 'will not shake the common front defending the values of freedom and peace.'  

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8893873/Jihadists-celebrate-Nice-terror-attack-ISIS-al-Qaeda-call-violence.html?ito=push-notification&ci=45505&si=12789690

Knife attack in Nice: Woman decapitated as three die in 'suspected terror incident'

 

Several people have been injured in the attack, French police said

A woman has been decapitated in a suspected terror attack in Nice, French police say.

Three people have died and several others are injured after a knife attack took place near the Notre Dame church.

In a separate incident shortly after, French police confirmed a man was shot dead near Avignon, after threatening passers-by with a handgun in the district of Montfavet.

A woman is comforted at the scene in Nice

In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a man was arrested after stabbing and wounding a guard at the French consulate, state media reported.

Nice's mayor Christian Estrosi tweeted the attacker shouted "Allahu Akbar" several times. "Everything suggests a terrorist attack," he added.

https://news.sky.com/story/two-dead-in-suspected-terror-attack-in-nice-12117574

Trump plans to axe defense secretary, FBI, CIA directors, if re-elected.

 

IF RE-ELECTED IN NOVEMBER, United States President Donald Trump has laid out plans to replace the secretary of defense, as well as the directors of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), according to a new report. The website Axios, which published the report on Sunday, said the US president and his senior advisors have drafted a much longer list of names of senior military and intelligence officials who will be axed in November. However, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, FBI Director Christopher Wray and CIA Director Gina Haspel top the list, said Axios.

The website cited two sources who have allegedly discussed with President Trump himself the fate of these and other officials. The sources told Axios that CIA Director Haspel is “despised and distrusted almost universally” within the president’s inner circle, whose members view her motives with “a lot of suspicion”. Another source familiar with “conversations at the CIA” told Axios that Haspel intends to step down —and possibly retire— “regardless of who wins the election” in November.

Trump is also “incensed” with FBI Director Wray, because he told Congress last month that the Bureau had not detected significant election-related fraud with either online activity or mail-in ballots, according to Axios. Additionally, the president reportedly lost trust in Defense Secretary Esper after he objected to the White House’s plan to deploy active-duty military personnel in major American cities, in response to popular protests sparked by allegations of abusive practices by law enforcement.

Axios added that, despite President Trump’s critical comments about his Attorney General, William Barr, in recent weeks, he has no “formal plans” to replace him at the present time.

Author: Joseph Fitsanakis

https://intelnews.org/2020/10/26/01-2891/

Israel's Mossad 'obtains Chinese vaccine' in bid to fight pandemic

 

ISRAELI intelligence agency Mossad has brought China's coronavirus vaccine back to Israel for research purposes, according to media reports.

As a second wave of the deadly pathogen sweeps through Europe, Israeli scientists are now thought to be studying the content of the Chinese coronavirus vaccine. According to Israeli media reports, Mossad, the nation's international intelligence agency, has successfully obtained a Chinese-developed new coronavirus vaccine. Israel's Channel 12 said multiple government sources had indirectly confirmed Mossad had secured samples of the Chinese vaccine. Mossad has recently teamed up with the Health Ministry in a bid to fight the pandemic.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Mossad chief Yossi Cohen to be prepared.

The Israeli prime minister said: “We do not know what the next day, or the next month, will bring.

Israel's use of its spy agency to obtain the Chinese vaccine may be an effort to circumvent having to conduct the vaccine transfer diplomatically.

Tel Aviv may have hoped Mossad's quiet purchase of the vaccine would not draw the attention of the US to their dealings with Beijing.

Obtaining the Chinese vaccine could complicate matters with the US amid increased tensions between Washington and Beijing.

Israeli is also developing its own coronavirus vaccine, called Brilife.

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz said recently: “This is a day of hope for the citizens of Israel.

“Just two months ago, I received the first bottle of the vaccine.

"Today, we already have 25,000 vaccine doses.”

A senior official with knowledge of the Israeli Ministry of Health said that nation is trying to acquire potential new coronavirus vaccines from other nations.

The official told the Jerusalem Post: “We have made a number of diplomatic efforts behind the scenes.

"We are doing everything we can to ensure that Israeli citizens get the vaccine as soon as possible.”

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1352728/coronavirus-vaccine-china-vaccine-Israel-mossad-covid19

TEACHER SLAIN Paris attack: Gunman wearing bomb vest ‘beheads teacher outside school’ before being shot dead by cops

 A GUNMAN thought to be wearing a bomb vest has been shot dead by cops near Paris after allegedly beheading a school teacher with a knife.

The victim was said to be a history teacher who previously angered parents by displaying cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed to pupils.

A picture of a body lying in the road was shared on Twitter after French anti-terror prosecutors confirmed a man had been decapitated

A source told Le Parisien: "The victim had recently given a lesson to his students on freedom of expression and had shown the caricatures of Muhammad."

It led to a parent confronting the teacher with a kitchen knife before cutting his head off, the source reportedly said.

The first bloodbath took place near a school in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, a suburb some 25 miles from the centre of the French capital on Friday.

French anti-terror prosecutors confirmed they were investigating an attack in which a man was decapitated on the outskirts of Paris.

An investigating source said: "The body of a decapitated man was found at around 5.30 in the afternoon.

"When police arrived, the person thought to be responsible was still present and threatened them with his weapons."

The unidentified killer is said to have fled to the nearby town of Eragny-sur-Oise, around two miles away, where he refused to surrender.

"He was waving a gun by this time and further threatened officers," the source said.

"This is when he was shot dead by police. Around ten shots were heard."

Anti-terrorist prosecutors immediately began investigating the incident, the source said, adding that the attacker was being viewed as a "suspected terrorist". 

Witnesses watched the man decapitating his unnamed victim – who was also male – in broad daylight close to a school.

Officers rushed to the scene after the alarm was raised and watched the killer run towards Eragny.

By 7pm, the scene of the suspected murder, and the scene where the killer was himself gunned down, had been sealed off.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin was "making his way to the scene of the attack," said a spokesman for his ministry, who also confirmed as a terrorist enquiry.

If confirmed as being terror related, today's incident would be the 33rd terror attack in France since 2017.

It follows a terrorism enquiry being launched in Paris last month after two news agency staff were stabbed outside the former offices of Charlie Hebdo – the magazine where staff members were murdered in 2015 after publishing cartoons mocking the Prophet.

Those on trial range in age from 29 to 68, and are charged with providing logistics to the terrorists, including cash, weapons and vehicles.

 Paris-born brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi murdered 12 people in the Charlie Hebdo offices using Kalashnikovs, before escaping in a stolen car, and later being killed by police.

A third terrorist, Amedy Coulibaly, gunned down four shoppers in a kosher supermarket and a policewoman during three days of carnage before he too was killed.

Charlie Hebdo  now produces its magazine from a top secret location, and in September re-published the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed which had provoked outrage in the Muslim world.  

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12942960/gunman-bomb-vest-beheads-man-paris/

MI5 undercover officer named as key witness in biggest IRA trial since 1980

 

A man who spent years as an undercover officer for Britain’s Security Service (MI5) has been named as a key witness in a long-awaited trial, described by experts as the largest against violent Irish republicans in 25 years. The accused include leading figures in dissident Irish republicanism, who are members of a group calling itself the New Irish Republican Army (New IRA).

The case represents the culmination of Operation ARBACIA, which was launched nearly a decade ago against dissident Irish republicans by MI5 in collaboration with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The case centers on the evidence provided by Dennis McFadden, who has just been identified as a key witness for the prosecution. It has been reported that McFadden, born in Scotland, was a police officer before he joined MI5. He spent two decades as an MI5 officer, much of that undercover.

At first, McFadden joined Sinn Féin, which is widely considered to have operated as the political wing of the Provisional IRA (PIRA). From the late 1960s until 2005, the PIRA waged an armed campaign for the reunification of British-ruled Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland. Following the dissolution of the Provisional IRA, McFadden kept contact with dissident Irish republicans, a term used to identify those who disagreed with the Provisional IRA’s decision to end its armed campaign. McFadden joined the New IRA as soon as it was founded in 2012.

Gradually, McFadden rose through the ranks of the New IRA until he joined the group’s high command. This gave him access to the New IRA’s network of safe houses in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Many of these locations were eventually bugged by MI5, and the information acquired from these bugs is expected to be used as evidence in the trial of the New IRA’s leaders next year. Ten people —almost all in their 40s and early 50s— have been arrested as part of Operation ARBACIA. They include a 62-year-old Palestinian doctor who lives in the United Kingdom, who is accused of having participated in the preparation of terrorist acts. Some observers have also stated that the court will be hearing evidence connecting the New IRA with Arab militant groups in the Middle East.

The MI5 moved McFadden out of Northern Ireland last summer, just as the Real IRA suspects were arrested by authorities in a series of coordinated raids. He is believed to be living in a secret location under police protection. Meanwhile, the 10 suspects are being held in Maghaberry prison, a high-security complex in Lisburn, a city located a few miles southwest of Belfast.

Author: Joseph Fitsanakis 

https://intelnews.org/2020/10/13/01-2886/

North Korea’s missing ambassador may be most senior defector since 1997

 

North Korea’s ambassador to Italy, who disappeared without trace in 2018, is believed to have resettled in South Korea. If true, this would make him the most senior official to defect from North Korea in over 20 years. Jo Song-gil (pictured), 48, a career diplomat who is fluent in Italian, French and English, presented his diplomatic credentials to the Italian government in May of 2015. In October 2017 he became his country’s acting ambassador, after Italian authorities expelled Ambassador Mun Jong-nam from the country.

Jo comes from a high-ranking family of North Korean officials with a long history in the ruling Workers Party of Korea. His father is a retired diplomat and his wife’s father, Lee Do-seop, spent many years as Pyongyang’s envoy in Hong Kong and Thailand. It is believed that Jo had been permitted to take his wife and children with him to Rome, a privilege that is bestowed only to the most loyal of North Korean government official. But in November of 2018, Jo suddenly vanished along with his wife and children. The disappearance occurred a month before Jo was to be replaced as acting ambassador to Italy. At the time of Jo’s disappearance, South Korean media reported that the diplomat and his family “were in a safe place” under the protection of the Italian government, while they negotiated their defection. However, this was never confirmed.

On Tuesday of this week, a social media post by a South Korean parliamentarian claimed that Jo and his wife were living in South Korea under the protection of the government, but provided no evidence of this claim. Yesterday, this information appeared to be confirmed by another South Korean parliamentarian, Jeon Hae-cheol, who chairs the Intelligence Committee of the Korean National Assembly (South Korea’s parliament). Jeon said the North Korean diplomat had been living in South Korea since the summer of 2019. He added that Jo had arrived in South Korea after having “repeatedly expressed his wish to come to South Korea”.

This information has not been officially verified by the South Korean government. Additionally, the South Korean National Intelligence Service has not issued a statement on the matter. If this information is confirmed, it would make Jo the most senior North Korean official to have defected since 1997. That year saw the sensational defection of Hwang Jang-yop, Pyongyang’s primary theorist and the ideological architect of juche, the philosophy of self-reliance, which is North Korea’s officially sanctioned state dogma. Until his death from heart failure in April 2010, Hwang had been living in the South with around-the-clock security protection.

Some reports have suggested that Jo’s teenage daughter refused to follow her parents to South Korea and that she was “repatriated” to North Korea in February of 2019, at her own request. Her whereabouts remain unknown.

https://intelnews.org/2020/10/08/01-2884/

Foreign spies target Walter Reed hospital for Trump’s health data.

 

Intelligence agencies from all over the world are almost certainly targeting the medical facilities and personnel involved in providing healthcare to United States President Donald Trump, according to intelligence insiders. The purpose of these efforts, which are considered “routine tasking” in intelligence circles, is to determine the status of America’s continuity of government plans and to acquire advanced warning of the plans and intentions of the White House, according to sources.

At least two reports emerged in the past few days about the strong probability that foreign intelligence operatives are currently seeking to collect sensitive biomedical information about Trump, who is battling a coronavirus infection. SpyTalk’s Jeff Stein wrote on Sunday that foreign spies are likely involved in efforts to place sources in places where discussions about the health of the American president are occurring. The targets of these efforts are not necessarily White House or other Trump administration officials. On the contrary, according to Politico’s Lara Seligman and Natasha Bertrand, these operations can target hospital staff, including doctors and administrators, as well as cleaners who have access to the US president’s bodily fluids and waste.

Some observers have criticized conflicting information given to the media about the US president’s health, as illustrated by White House physician Sean Conley’s comical efforts to evade the topic last week, after he was asked repeatedly by reporters if Mr. Trump had been on supplemental oxygen. Foreign spies are likely to have accessed detailed information about the US president’s health, and may have better information on the subject than the American public, said Politico.

Another intelligence tasking that foreign spies may be involved in is exploiting Mr. Trump’s time of physical weakness for propaganda purposes. The aim of such efforts would be “to paint America as unable to handle the pandemic”, thus creating “a crisis of confidence in the chain of command” and casting doubt on the ability of America to protect its senior leadership from the pandemic, according to intelligence insiders.

https://intelnews.org/2020/10/06/01-2882/