Poland exhumes late leader’s body in probe of 2010 plane crash in Russia

Authorities in Poland have exhumed the body of the country’s late prime minister and his wife as part of an investigation into the 2010 airplane disaster that killed them and nearly 100 others in Russia. The move has reignited persistent rumors that the crash that killed everyone onboard the plane, including Polish President Lech Kaczyński and his wife Maria, was not an accident. At the time of their death, the couple were leading a delegation of Polish officials and journalists traveling to Russia to participate in commemorations marking 70 years from the so-called ‘Katyn massacre’. The term refers to the extermination of approximately 22,000 Polish soldiers and civilians that was carried out by the Soviet military and secret services in 1940, following the Soviet invasion of Poland.

Investigations of the air disaster have been carried out by Russia and by the previous Polish administration, headed by the centrist Civic Platform party, which governed the country from 2010 until 2015. Both concluded that the crash was an accident. But the governing Law and Justice Party (PiS), headed by Jarosław Kaczyński, twin brother of the late president, insists that previous investigations were incomplete and has initiated its own probe into the matter. Almost as soon as it formed a national government last year, the rightwing PiS reopened the investigation into the 2010 air crash. The exhumation of the victims’ bodies, which began on Monday, is the first step of the new probe.

Many supporters of the new investigation claim that bombs hidden onboard the plane caused it to crash. Others suggest that the Polish government at the time is to blame for the crash, because it neglected to properly service the plane. Some have even suggested that Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister at the time of the crash, who now heads the European Council, should be put on trial for the murder of President Kaczyński. Critics note that no credible evidence has been put forward to support the assassination theory or the deliberate neglect theory, barring some circumstantial discrepancies in the Russian-language documents. The current probe is expected to last several months.

► Author: Joseph Fitsanakis

https://intelnews.org/2016/11/15/01-2009/

Turkey's Erdogan says Belgium a center for PKK militants and coup plotters

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday accused Belgium of being an important centre for supporters of both the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the cleric Ankara says orchestrated a failed July coup.

Erdogan, speaking to reporters in Ankara before leaving on an official visit to Pakistan, also said he has showed German officials documentary proof that an organization in Germany was collecting money for the PKK militants.

The PKK, which has carried out a three-decade armed insurgency in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast, is considered a terrorist group by Europe, the United States and Turkey. Ankara says its Western allies are not doing enough to fight the group.

http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Turkeys-Erdogan-says-Belgium-a-center-for-PKK-militants-and-coup-plotters-472764

Germany launches raids across 60 cities, bans group on suspicion of Islamic State recruiting

German police in 60 cities staged sweeping raids early Tuesday targeting an Islamist missionary group on accusations that it recruits for the Islamic State, as authorities intensified a crackdown on religious extremists.

Authorities have launched hundreds of raids in recent months as they grapple with a heightened threat of terrorism after a spate of attacks in Germany and neighboring countries as well as elevated fears of homegrown radicalization.

Police searched 190 mosques, apartments and offices connected to True Religion, an ultraconservative Muslim organization that is ubiquitous in Germany, with members setting up highly visible welcome tables on busy streets. The Salafist group — also known as Read! — distributes free translated copies of the Koran and attempts to spread the faith.

But what on the surface seemed like a legitimate religious organization was also a recruiting operation for the Islamic State, Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière said Tuesday. He added that 140 people affiliated with the group had gone on to fight in Syria.

De Maizière announced that the group would be banned in Germany for inciting hate and spreading extremism. “Today’s measure is a clear signal we are taking decisive and comprehensive action against all efforts directed against our freedom and our fundamental values,” he said.

Germany has been expanding its counterterrorism operations. Last week, authorities arrested five men who allegedly raised money and aided in the recruitment of fighters for the Islamic State.

On Tuesday, de Maizière sought to make clear that Germany is not targeting freedom of religion. “Today’s ban does not target the promotion, practice or propagation of the Islamic faith in general.

Muslim life has a permanent and secure place in Germany and in our society,” he said.

In the raids, police carted away documents and computers. Officials said the operation was aimed at seizing evidence to back up the ban and that no arrests were made.

Palestinian-born Ibrahim Abou-Nagie leads True Religion, founded in 2005. German media outlets reported that the organization has distributed about 3.5 million copies of the Koran in German city centers.

But German security officials accuse the group of using the Koran campaign as a cover for a several-hundred-strong network promoting radical Islamist ideology. Abou-Nagie has previously been charged with incitement. But, thus far, his only conviction is for fraud relating to illegally received social benefits worth more than 50,000 euros ($53,600). He served a 13-month suspended sentence.

The Facebook page and the website of True Religion were down Tuesday. But via Twitter, it condemned the raids, saying: “Dear brothers and sisters, the Quran has been banned in Germany. We brought Allah’s message to everyone. Allah u Akbar.”

Later, the group tweeted a link to what appeared to be the Facebook page of its branch in Britain.

Peter Beuth, the interior minister in the state of Hesse, said in a statement, “We do not tolerate any fanatics in our city centers who are trying to radicalize young people and send them on jihad.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/germany-launches-raids-across-60-cities-bans-radical-islamist-group/2016/11/15/0353ef76-1649-4216-89c6-ef4a916b922e_story.html

Ahmad Rahami appears in Manhattan Federal Court on terrorism charges for Chelsea bombing

The man accused of planting bombs in Manhattan and New Jersey was finally brought before a federal judge Thursday — nearly two months after being wounded in a shootout with cops.
Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, sported a thick beard, light beige shirt and prison uniform and walked with a limp during the presentment in Manhattan Federal Court before Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn.
His public defender, David Patton, said Rahami still was suffering from his wounds that could become infected at Metropolitan Correctional Center, where he is being held.
“We have some real concerns about Mr. Rahami's medical condition and the ability of the MCC to provide adequate medical care,” Patton said.
Rahami has endured eight to 10 surgeries and still has an open wound on his right leg that requires dressing.
He nearly lost his left hand and has serious liver damage, Patton said.
Patton did not request bail during the proceeding in which Netburn read the terrorism charges against Rahami. The alleged terrorist will enter a plea at a later proceeding.
"He certainly plans to enter a plea of not guilty," Patton said after the proceeding.
Rahami, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Afghanistan, faces up to life in prison for using weapons of mass destruction, bombing a place of public use, destruction of property and use of a destructive device during a crime of violence.

Rahami was wounded in shootout with police before being taken into custody.

“For his alleged acts of terror, Rahami will now face justice in a federal courthouse just blocks south of where he allegedly planted his bombs,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement.
Netburn said she would discuss Rahami’s medical care at a conference Wednesday.
The Sept. 17 bombing in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood injured 31 people. The explosive was “packed with ball bearings and steel nuts, hundreds of which were recovered from the blast site,” according to court papers.
A second pressure-cooker bomb allegedly planted by Rahami nearby failed to explode.

Rahami was also arraigned from a hospital bed on charges of attempted murder of a police officer.

More explosives were found in two New Jersey locations that same day, officials said.
Authorities have described Rahami as a "jihadist" who begged for martyrdom and praised Osama bin Laden.
He bought bomb components on eBay, made a video of himself testing out homemade explosives, and kept a journal expressing outrage at the U.S. "slaughter" of overseas jihadists, officials said.
He was taken into custody Sept. 19 following a furious manhunt that concluded with him being shot by police in Linden, N.J.
Rahami also faces five counts of attempted murder of a police officer from the shootout.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/ahmad-rahami-appears-federal-court-terrorism-charges-article-1.2867375

US intelligence to begin briefing Donald Trump’s transition team

Members of the United States Intelligence Community will soon begin sharing top-secret information with the White House transition team of president-elect Donald Trump. According to a report by CBS News, Trump’s team will receive “practically the same briefings” as those given by intelligence personnel to US President Barack Obama. The briefings will be delivered by career intelligence officers who are reportedly ready to brief Trump’s transition team as soon as the latter requests it.

The 70-year-old business tycoon was confirmed as the president-elect in the early hours of Wednesday, after scoring one of the greatest electoral upsets in American political history. He is scheduled to meet President Obama at the White House this week, where he will discuss with him the pending transition of his executive team, as well as pressing matters of national security. According to CBS, the President has already authorized the Intelligence Community to brief Trump and his senior aides on certain topics. Obama will continue to authorize intelligence briefings given to the Trump team until January 20 of next year, when the Republican president-elect will replace President Obama at the White House. As soon as Trump’s transition team members provide the names of his chosen cabinet officials, the Intelligence Community will begin to brief them as well.

Meanwhile US Air Force four-star General Michael Hayden (ret.) raised doubts on Wednesday about Trump’s ability to understand the way intelligence works. General Hayden, who led the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency in under the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, told CBS that Trump won Tuesday’s presidential election by “showing anger [and] being accusatory”. These are qualities that are “very alien to the way intelligence works” and do not fit “into the intelligence picture”, he said. General Hayden was one of 50 senior Republican national-security officials who signed an open letter in August, claiming that Trump “lacks the character, values and experience” to be president and “would put at risk [America’s] national security and well-being”. The 50 included former directors of the CIA, the NSA, the Office of National Intelligence, the Department of Homeland Security, and others.

► Author: Joseph Fitsanakis

https://intelnews.org/2016/11/10/01-2007/|

US reinforcing troops in Europe as planned

The United States is continuing to reinforce its military forces in Europe as planned, irrespective of President-elect Donald Trump's future intentions, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Trump, who will take office in January, raised serious concerns in Europe by promising during his campaign that US engagement in NATO under his presidency would be conditional on members' payments to the alliance.

Washington is scheduled to start deploying an additional combat brigade in Europe in February to bring the number of brigades on the continent to three.

The plan is part of an effort to boost Eastern European defenses against possible attack by Russia.

"We are executing plans as they were constructed with our NATO allies," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said.

"We leave it to the next administration to speak their policy choices," he added. "We have one commander-in-chief at a time."

The new brigade is set to begin its deployment with an exercise in Poland before sending companies to Bulgaria, Romania and the Baltic States.

Trump, who has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, has criticized President Barack Obama's policy toward Moscow, saying he wants to improve relations.

Asked about the possibility that the current defense secretary, Ash Carter, would remain in office under Trump, Cook declined to comment on what he called "hypothetical" situations.

Carter "is focused on his job right now and he wants to serve this president until the end of his term," he said.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-reinforcing-troops-europe-planned-233232762.html 

Senior anti-corruption official to lead China’s main spy organization

A senior Chinese official with a leading role in the country’s ongoing anti-corruption crusade has been appointed head of the nation’s spy agency, which has undergone extensive purges in recent years. Chen Wenqing, 56, will be replacing Geng Huichang as Minister of State Security. Geng, 65, will be retiring after nearly a decade at the helm of China’s intelligence and security agency, which is responsible for intelligence collection, counterintelligence and political security. Chen’s appointment was approved on Monday by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. It comes a year after he was appointed as the senior Communist Party representative at the Ministry of State Security.

Chen, a native of China’s southwestern Sichuan province, joined the police force at a young age and rose through the ranks to become the local director of the Ministry of State Security’s local field office. After eight years in that post, he was appointed provincial director of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the Communist Party’s agency responsible for combating corruption among Party apparatchiks. In 2012, Chen became the youngest-ever deputy director of the CCDI, working under the commission’s chairman, Wang Qishan. From that post, Chen helped lead a massive anti-corruption campaign that resulted in the purging of over 100 senior Communist Party officials on charges of dishonesty and sleaze. Those purged included several senior officials at Ministry of State Security. Among them was Zhou Yongkang, Secretary of China’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which oversees the country’s security, intelligence and law enforcement institutions. The crackdown also targeted the deputy director of the Ministry of State Security, Ma Jian, and its once-powerful Beijing director, Liang Ke.

In recent years, several officials from the CCDI, who are seen by many as uncorrupted and incorruptible, have filled the positions of former Ministry of State Security bureaucrats who were fired during the government’s anti-corruption campaign. Chens’ appointment makes him the third senior CCDI official to be appointed to a senior post in the Ministry of State Security. Some experts believe that Chen’s move affirms the growing power of the CCDI, which has been the main implementation vehicle of President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anticorruption campaign that has gripped China since his rise to power in 2012.

https://intelnews.org/2016/11/08/01-2005/