Cuomo: It's Terrorism, But Not International Terrorism

When asked if the NYC blast was terrorism, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, "A bomb exploding in New York is obviously an act of terrorism, but it's not linked to international terrorism."

Second Couple Held Over Paris Car Containing Gas Cylinders

A second couple was detained overnight in connection with an investigation into the discovery of a car in Paris containing six gas canisters, a French police source says. The pair was picked up near Montargis, about 110 kilometres (65 miles) south of Paris.

Foreign Office's Response To Munich Shooting

Witness Report From Munich

Pope Asks Iran to Work for Mideast Peace, Stop Spread of Terrorism

Pope Francis met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the Vatican, asking Tehran to help promote peace in the region. Nathan Frandino reports.

Chomsky Hits Back at Erdoğan, Accusing Him of Double Standards on Terrorism

THE GUARDIAN: US academic says Turkish president – who has condemned leftwing critics for ignorance – has been aiding Isis, which he blamed for bomb attack on Istanbul

The leftwing US academic Noam Chomsky has hit back at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after the Turkish president accused him of ignorance and sympathising with terrorists.

Hours after Tuesday’s bomb attack on a tourist area of Istanbul, Erdoğan delivered a sneering criticism of Chomsky and “so-called intellectuals” who had signed a letter calling on Turkey to lift its siege against Kurdish towns and cities in the south-east of the country.

He invited Chomsky to visit the area in a defiant televised speech to a conference of Turkish ambassadors in Ankara.

Chomsky has now rejected the invitation. In an email to the Guardian he said: “If I decide to go to Turkey, it will not be on his invitation, but as frequently before at the invitation of the many courageous dissidents, including Kurds who have been under severe attack for many years.”

Chomsky also claimed Erdoğan was operating double standards on terrorism. » | Matthew Weaver | Thursday, January 14, 2016

Saudi Arabia Announces 34-country Islamic Coalition to Fight Terrorism

THE TELEGRAPH: US has frequently called on Gulf states to do more against Isil but it remains to be seen whether new coalition will attack targets in Syria and Iraq

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced the formation of a 34-state Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism, according to a joint statement published on state news agency SPA.

"The countries here mentioned have decided on the formation of a military alliance led by Saudi Arabia to fight terrorism, with a joint operations centre based in Riyadh to co-ordinate and support military operations," the statement said.

A long list of Arab countries such as Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, together with Islamic countries Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan and Gulf Arab and African states were mentioned.

The announcement cited "a duty to protect the Islamic nation from the evils of all terrorist groups and organizations whatever their sect and name which wreak death and corruption on earth and aim to terrorize the innocent." » | Reuters | Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Europe's 'Porous Borders' Increase Terror Risk, Head of Metropolitan Police Says

THE TELEGRAPH: Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe says Europe has a 'problem' as he criticises the Schengen agreement and warns that terrorists could pose as migrants

Europe's "porous" borders mean that terrorists could be able to "hide" among migrants coming from Syria, the head of the Metropolitan Police has warned as he criticised the Schengen agreement.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said that in the wake of the Paris terror attacks Europe has a significant "problem" because it has "millions of people wandering through" but only "limited control over the borders".

Asked if he is a fan of the Schengen agreement on open borders, he wants "good strong borders" to ensure that the police and security services can properly assess the risk people pose.

He told LBC Radio: "If you've got porous borders and you've got migrants coming through there's a risk that terrorists are hidden amongst them or people who become terrorists get hidden amongst them. (+ video) » | Steven Swinford, Deputy Political Editor, video source LBC | Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Turkey Terror Attack: Many Killed in Ankara Blasts

THE GUARDIAN: At least 30 people killed in blasts before planned march in Turkish capital to protest against conflict between state and Kurdish militants

At least 30 people have been killed and more than 100 wounded in a terrorist attack on a peace rally in the centre of the Turkish capital, according to reports.

Twin explosions outside Ankara’s main train station on Saturday morning appear to have targeted hundreds of people who had gathered to protest against violence between authorities and the Kurdish separatist group, the PKK.

Turkish government officials said the explosion was a terrorist attack and are investigating the claim that a suicide bomber was responsible. Turkey’s prime minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, is to hold a meeting with government officials and security chiefs in response to the attack, his office said.

The country’s interior ministry confirmed 30 people were killed in the blasts and 126 were wounded. A Reuters reporter at the scene saw at least 20 bodies covered by flags, with bloodstains and body parts scattered on the road.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned the double bombing, saying the attack targeted the country’s unity and peace. » | Staff and Agencies | Saturday, October 10, 2015

Iranian Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami in Response to Paris Terror Attacks: The West Is Responsible for Terrorism

Stop Pretending Terrorism Has Nothing To Do With Islam

THE FEDERALIST: And while you're at it, stop treating criticism of religion as racism

Guess what? An idea isn’t a human being. Neither is a sacred cow. And those who confront, dismiss, debunk, sneer at and fear them aren’t necessarily bigots.

Not long ago, Saudi blogger Raif Badawi was sentenced to 10 years in jail and 1,000 lashes for blasphemy. His first 50 lashes will be publicly administered this week. Taking them all at once would kill the guy. But, then again, Badawi might be fortunate to be alive at all. The theocratic monarchs of Saudi Arabia don’t need the terrorists to punish their satirists, they can get the job done in-house.

I don’t know about you, but I’m lash-phobic. I tend, as a matter of principle, to have a low opinion of people who dispense lashes. Religion, of course, is merely incidental to Badawi’s fate–as it is in the massacre of journalists in Paris or the bloodbath in Nigeria, where Boko Haram may have killed 2000 people this week. Or so I’m told. All of these instances of violence are perpetrated by random people, who by some happenstance share the same religious affiliation.

And to bring this up–according to Vox and other some outlets–may be Islamophobic. Islamophobia is defined, at least by Wikipedia (and it’s fair to say it’s a pretty decent reflection of how we use the word), as a term for prejudice against, hatred towards, or fear of the religion of Islam, Muslims, or of ethnic groups perceived to be Muslim.

Only half of this definition should be true. Most often, only half of it is. The late Christopher Hitchens never actually said “Islamophobic is a word created by fascists, and used by cowards, to manipulate morons,” but he did call it a “stupid neologism” that “aims to promote criticism of Islam to the gallery of special offenses associated with racism.” » | David Harsanyi | Friday, January 09, 2015

Britain's Spy Chief Says US Tech Firms Aid Terrorism

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: New GCHQ director Richard Hannigan accuses some Silicon Valley companies of becoming 'the command and control networks of choice' for terrorists

Technology giants such as Facebook and Twitter have become "the command and control networks of choice" for terrorists and criminals but are "in denial" about the scale of the problem, the new head of GCHQ has said.

Robert Hannigan said that Isil terrorists in Syria and Iraq have "embraced the web" and are using it to intimidate people and inspire "would-be jihadis" from all over the World to join them.

He urged the companies to work more closely with the security services, arguing that it is time for them to confront "some uncomfortable truths" and that privacy is not an "absolute right".

He suggested that unless US technology companies co-operate, new laws will be needed to ensure that intelligence agencies are able to track and pursue terrorists. » | Steven Swinford, Senior Political Correspondent | Monday, November 03, 2014

Zeman: Islam Is to Blame for Attack on Jewish Museum in Brussels

Miloš Zeman, Czech President

PRAGUE POST: Czech president says he condemns any group that targets another based on religion

Prague, May 27 (ČTK) — Islamic ideology rather than individual groups of religious fundamentalists is behind violent actions similar to the gun attack at the Jewish Museum in Brussels that killed four people, Czech President Miloš Zeman said Monday at the Israeli Embassy in Prague.

Two Israeli tourists and a member of the museum staff were killed by an unknown shooter Saturday, and another staff member died of his injuries Sunday.

Zeman's speech sharply condemning "the hideous attack" was posted on his official website today. Zeman took part in the celebration of the 66 years of independence of Israel.

"I will not be calmed down by statements that it is only small marginal groups. I believe, on the contrary, that this xenophobia and this racism or anti-Semitism stem from the very nature of the ideology on which these fanatical groups rely," Zeman said.

He said one of the sacred texts of Islam calls for the killing of Jews. » | Czech News Agency | Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Inside Story: UK Bill: Passport to Statelessness?

Proposed law would give government more power to strip terror suspects of citizenship.

Saudi Arabia Declares Atheists Terrorists under New Laws Targeting Citizens Who 'Call for Secular Thought in Any Form'

MAIL ONLINE: Saudi Arabia has officially identified atheists as terrorists in sweeping new laws that threaten up to 20 years in prison for almost any criticism of the government or Islam.

The regulations place secular citizens who commit thought crimes in the same category as violent terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda's Yemen branch and Saudi Hezbollah.

Under the new decree by King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia will jail for up to 20 years anyone who fights in conflicts abroad - an apparent move to deter Saudis from joining rebels in Syria.

But the law also applies to any Saudi citizen or a foreigner residing in the kingdom that 'calls for atheist thought in any form or calls into question the fundamentals of the Islamic religion on which this country is based.'

The laws have been denounced by human rights groups for making no distinction between religious expression and violent extremism.

'Saudi authorities have never tolerated criticism of their policies, but these recent laws and regulations turn almost any critical expression or independent association into crimes of terrorism,' said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. » | Simon Tomlinson | Tuesday, April 01, 2014

Bahrain Jails Shias over 'Iran-backed' Assassination Plans

THE GUARDIAN: Gulf state says Iran's Revolutionary Guards set up 'terror' cell which planned to attack its airport and government buildings

A Bahraini court has sentenced four Shia Muslims to life and six others to 15 years in jail on charges of setting up a militant cell linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard aimed at assassinating public figures in the Gulf Arab kingdom.

In February, Bahrain, a western ally which hosts the US Fifth Fleet, accused Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard of setting up the "terror" cell, which it said planned to attack its airport and government buildings.

Bahrain has accused Shia-led Iran of fuelling unrest in the country since a 2011 uprising by majority Shias demanding reforms and a greater say in running the kingdom ruled by the Sunni al-Khalifa dynasty.

Tehran denies the accusation. » | Reuters in Bahrain | Monday, November 04, 2013

Terrorist & Spy? Greenwald's Partner Accused by UK for Carrying Snowden Docs

British authorities say the partner of a newspaper reporter who's been publishing Edward Snowden's leaks, was involved in espionage and terrorism. The accusation was made in a Scotland Yard document which is being used as evidence in a London court hearing. A hearing for David Miranda's legal challenge is scheduled for next week. Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group, joins RT to talk about how it may play out.

THE OBSERVER: Metropolitan police detained David Miranda for promoting 'political' causes: Justification for airport detention of partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald alarms human rights groups and Tory MP » | Jamie Doward | Saturday, November 02, 2013

Men Questioned Amid Wolverhampton Mosque Explosive Device Inquiry

THE GUARDIAN: Police make links with other attacks as area around city's central mosque sealed off and military bomb disposal team deployed

Two men are being questioned on suspicion of terrorism offences as investigations continue at a mosque evacuated amid fears of "a possible device activation".

Police evacuated streets near the Wolverhampton Central mosque on Thursday night after receiving information about a possible explosive device. An area around the city's central mosque was sealed off at 8pm as a military bomb disposal team was deployed into the area.

West Midlands police said they were acting on information that an unspecified device had been "activated" on 28 June. » | Barry Neild and agencies | Friday, July 19, 2013

World from Berlin: 'Do Costs of Hunting Terrorists Exceed Benefits?'
SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Revelations that Britain has been expansively spying on German and European data has deepened a public debate over mass privacy violations. German editorialists argue that London and Washington have some explaining to do.

In Germany, a country with a long, troubled history of state surveillance, the revelation that British and American intelligence agencies have been spying en masse on European data communications has not gone over easily.

Last Friday, London's Guardian newspaper published the contents of leaked documents confirming that Britain's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and the American National Security Agency (NSA) have been tapping directly into fiber-optic cables to collect vast stores of information that they can then access as needed. Among these cables was the TAT-14, which carries a large share of data communication in and out of Germany, the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung and public radio station NDR reported on Tuesday after viewing documents leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

According to media reports, neither the German government nor the country's foreign intelligence service, the BND, was apparently aware of the British surveillance operation, dubbed "Tempora," which was reportedly made possible with the cooperation of two telecommunications companies: Vodafone and British telecoms giant BT. Vodafone released a statement saying it abides by the laws of the countries in which it operates, but it declined to give further information, citing "national security." BT has refused to comment.

The ongoing surveillance controversy, which began last month following the disclosure of the NSA's Prism program, has been a heated topic in Germany, where the massive state surveillance of Communist East Germany is still present in the memories of many citizens. » | SPIEGEL ONLINE Staff | Tuesday, June 25, 2013

CrossTalk: Labelling Terrorists
In the wake of the Boston bombings, should we reconsider the use of the term 'terrorism?' Is there a difference between domestic and international terrorism? And are people too often labeled terrorists for political convenience? CrossTalking with Max Abrahms, Faheem Younus and William Blum.