Caves and crypto: The secrets behind the return of ISIS
Islamic State is on the rise, once more a threat to the international community.
Driven from its strongholds in Syria and Iraq, the terror group has been gaining a foothold in the mountains of Somalia.
Sky's special correspondent Alex Crawford has visited the cave network where Somali authorities believe the ISIS resurgence began - funded by crime and cryptocurrency.
Alex joined Niall Paterson on The Daily to discuss what she discovered and what it means for the UK and beyond.
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The Guardian
38 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Africans who fought in the second world war deserve fair recompense
Thank you for highlighting the new exhibition at the National Army Museum, commemorating the invaluable service of Indian and African soldiers in the second world war (London museum tells forgotten story of African and Indian troops in second world war, 14 August). I had the honour of serving with Ghanaian, Nigerian and Sierra Leonean soldiers in west Africa in 1999-2000 and they remembered, with pride, their forefathers' campaigning in Burma; rightly so – the battles in the Arakan in 1943 were some of the hardest fought in the war. Far less honourable has been successive British governments' refusal to treat African veterans, who fought so bravely for us, equitably. At the end of their service, African veterans were awarded a settlement one-third of that given to British soldiers or white settlers from Africa: it was straightforward racial discrimination. Few of those veterans are still alive, but their families and communities are, and they should receive the upgraded payments, suitably adjusted for inflation. Labour, when in opposition, cheerfully hammered the Tories over this issue. Now they are in power, on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, it is time to set right this DigginsColonel (retired), British military advisory team (west Africa), 1999-2000
Times
3 hours ago
- Times
Teenager who planned mass killing at mosque given ten-year sentence
A teenager inspired by Hitler who planned to livestream a terrorist attack at a mosque has been sentenced to ten years in custody. The 17-year-old had planned to set fire to a Muslim centre in Greenock, Inverclyde, after befriending the imam and mapping out the building's interior on his phone. In January this year police apprehended the youth, who was carrying a camouflage military-style rucksack, as he tried to gain entry to the Inverclyde Muslim Centre on Laird Street. Inside the bag they found a German-manufactured Glock-type air pistol, ammunition, ball bearings, gas cartridges and aerosol cans, prosecutors said. He was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday after pleading guilty to two terrorism charges, the Crown Office said. The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, was also sentenced to eight years of supervision on licence upon release. In a sentencing statement, Lord Justice Arthurson said: 'What you had in mind was what can properly be characterised as a quite diabolical atrocity involving extreme violence and multiple deaths. You even requested that your attack be livestreamed. 'Your conduct was only stopped by your arrest, when you were quite literally at the very door of the centre.' Prosecutors said the teenager, who was radicalised online and idolised the Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik, began to plot an attack on the site in December and planned to set it on fire using aerosols and lighters. He boasted of his plans on the social media platform Telegram. The teenager joined the mosque's WhatsApp group, saying he was 'looking for guidance'. Despite harbouring anti-Muslim views which he had been writing about for two years, the boy won the trust of the imam during several visits. He later filmed himself wandering the corridors, including footage that showed him with the superimposed image of a hand carrying a semi-automatic pistol. When the image moved over a religious poster, it appeared to be set on fire, due to a visual effect. In January this year the boy contacted a local rifle club about how to obtain a firearm and had become fixated on an attack, according to prosecutors. On January 23, police apprehended him as he tried to gain entry to the mosque. The teenager had mapped out the mosque's interior on his phone, according to prosecutors, who said he was about to act on his neo-Nazi views 'to cause pain and suffering'. The boy pleaded guilty to two terrorism charges: being in possession of documents likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, and engaging in the preparation of committing acts of terrorism. The court heard that in 2022, the boy began formulating plans to carry out a terrorist attack at his school and started writing a personal manifesto on his mobile phone from November that year. Split into chapters, the notes outlined his political beliefs and contained anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Following his arrest, detectives found a copy of Adolf Hitler's autobiographical manifesto Mein Kampf in his bedroom, as well as air weapons, knives, masks, and instructions and ingredients to manufacture explosives. He also had a list on his phone of fascists he idolised, including Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Breivik. Sineidin Corrins, the deputy procurator fiscal for specialist casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: 'The offences committed by this individual were deeply disturbing. 'Viewing, sharing and posting such extreme and illegal material online can encourage and incite others into extremist activity, spreads hatred and poses a serious risk of harm to the public. 'This heinous plan to attack those within his own local community was prepared and driven by racial and religiously motivated hatred, and showed that he not only held neo-Nazi beliefs but was about to act on them to cause pain and suffering. Fortunately, he was apprehended and this was prevented.' Stuart Houston, Police Scotland assistant chief constable, said: 'This was a fast-moving and complicated inquiry and officers carried out a diligent and thorough investigation to gather the evidence and brought him to court, which will now see him face the consequences of his intentions. 'Keeping our communities safe from acts of terrorism remains a priority for Police Scotland and its officers.'
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Teenage neo-Nazi who plotted terror attack at mosque detained for 10 years
A neo-Nazi teenager who planned to carry out a terrorist attack at a mosque has been sentenced to 10 years in custody. The 17-year-old, who was inspired by Adolf Hitler, had planned to set fire to a Muslim centre in Greenock, Inverclyde, after befriending the Imam and mapping out the building's interior on his phone. In January this year, police apprehended the youth, who was carrying a camouflage military-style rucksack, as he tried to gain entry to the Inverclyde Muslim Centre on Laird Street. Inside the bag they found a German-manufactured Glock-type air pistol, ammunition, ball bearings, gas cartridges and aerosol cans, prosecutors said. He was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday after pleading guilty to two terrorism charges, the Crown Office said. The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, was also sentenced to eight years of supervision on licence upon release. In a sentencing statement, Lord Arthurson said: 'What you had in mind was what can properly be characterised as a quite diabolical atrocity involving extreme violence and multiple deaths. You even requested that your attack be livestreamed. 'Your conduct was only stopped by your arrest, when you were quite literally at the very door of the centre.' Prosecutors said the teenager, who was radicalised online and idolised Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik, began to plot an attack on the site in December 2024, planning to set it on fire using aerosols and lighters. He boasted of his plans on social media platform Telegram, and joined the mosque's WhatsApp group saying he was 'looking for guidance'. Despite harbouring anti-Muslim views which he had been writing about for two years previously, the boy won the trust of the Imam during several visits. He later filmed himself wandering the corridors, including footage showing him superimposing a hand carrying a semi-automatic pistol. When the image moved over a religious poster, it appeared to be set on fire, due to a special effect. In January 2025 the boy contacted a local rifle club about how to obtain a firearm and had become fixated on an attack, according to prosecutors. On January 23, police apprehended him as he tried to gain entry to the mosque. The teenager had mapped out the mosque's interior on his phone, according to prosecutors, who said he was about to act on his neo-Nazi views 'to cause pain and suffering'. The boy pleaded guilty to two terrorism charges – being in possession of documents likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, and engaging in the preparation of committing acts of terrorism. The court heard that in 2022, the boy began formulating plans to carry out a terrorist attack at his school, and started writing a personal manifesto on his mobile phone from November that year. Split into chapters, the notes outlined his political beliefs and contained anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Following his arrest, detectives found a copy of Mein Kampf in his bedroom, as well as air weapons, knives, masks, and instructions and ingredients to manufacture explosives. He also had a list on his phone of fascists who he idolised, including Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Breivik. Lord Arthurson said the boy continues to describe himself as a Nazi, and was radicalised from the age of around 13. He said that in the manifesto, which the judge described as a 'declaration of intent', the boy wrote: 'I am hateful and want to kill, that is my soul (sic) motive in life and it's what I intend doing even if it costs me my life,' and added: 'Tomorrow I will burn that f****** mosque to the ground.' Sineidin Corrins, deputy procurator fiscal for specialist casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: 'The offences committed by this individual were deeply disturbing. 'Viewing, sharing and posting such extreme and illegal material online can encourage and incite others into extremist activity, spreads hatred and poses a serious risk of harm to the public. 'This heinous plan to attack those within his own local community was prepared and driven by racial and religiously motivated hatred, and showed that he not only held neo-Nazi beliefs but was about to act on them to cause pain and suffering. 'Fortunately, he was apprehended and this was prevented.' Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: 'I want to pay tribute to the officers who took swift action to protect the public and apprehended the youth, as the potential consequences of his actions could have been extremely serious and had a profound effect on the community. 'This was a fast moving and complicated inquiry and officers carried out a diligent and thorough investigation to gather the evidence and brought him to court, which will now see him face the consequences of his intentions. 'Keeping our communities safe from acts of terrorism remains a priority for Police Scotland and its officers. 'Anyone who has concerns about potential terrorist activity is urged to contact Police Scotland, and there is confidential advice available at the ACT early counter terrorism policing website.'
