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RTÉ News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
FBI investigating 'targeted terror attack' in Colorado
Police in the US said a male suspect has been taken into custody after an attack that injured multiple people in Boulder, Colorado, in what the FBI director described as a "targeted" act of terror. While stressing that the information was "very preliminary,"Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said that the man was apprehended following calls to the police dispatch of someone with a weapon who was "setting people on fire." Mr Redfearn said he wasn't in a position to identify the suspect yet, noting that he'd been taken to the hospital. He said there were multiple injuries among the victims, ranging "from very serious to more minor." The Boulder attack occurred in the vicinity of a walk to remember the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza. FBI Director Kash Patel, in a statement, described the incident as a targeted terror attack and said agents were on the scene. Mr Redfearn, however, said it was too early to speculate about a motive. "We are not calling it a terror attack at this moment," he said. "This was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in downtown Boulder on Pearl Street and this act was unacceptable," he said. "I ask that you join me in thinking about the victims, the families of those victims, and everyone involved in this tragedy." The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the United States over Israel's war in Gaza, which has spurred both a an increase in antisemitic hate crime as well as moves by conservative supporters of Israel led by President Donald Trump to branded pro-Palestinian protests as antisemitic. His administration has detained protesters without charge and cut off funding to elite US universities that have permitted the demonstrations. It also follows the arrest of a Chicago-born man in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington DC. Someone opened fire on a group of people leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights antisemitism and supports Israel. The shooting fueled polarization in the United States over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestiniandemonstrators.
Globe and Mail
10 hours ago
- General
- Globe and Mail
FBI investigating ‘targeted terror attack' in Boulder, Colorado, director says
FBI Director Kash Patel said on Sunday the agency was aware of and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. While he did not provide further details, Patel said in a social media post: 'Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available.' According to CBS News, which cited witnesses at the scene, a suspect attacked people with Molotov cocktails who were participating in a walk to remember the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza. The Boulder Police Department said it was responding to a report of an attack in the city involving several victims. It has not released further details but a news conference was expected at 4 p.m. Mountain Time (2200 GMT). The attack comes just weeks after a Chicago-born man was arrested in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C. Someone opened fire on a group of people leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights antisemitism and supports Israel. The shooting fuelled polarization in the United States over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
Memri
3 days ago
- Politics
- Memri
Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Weekly: May 24-31, 2025
The following are some of this week's reports from the MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Project, which translates and analyzes content from sources monitored around the clock, among them the most important jihadi websites and blogs. (To view these reports in full, you must be a paying member of the JTTM; for membership information, send an email to jttmsubs@ with "Membership" in the subject line.) Note to media and government: For a full copy of these reports, send an email with the title of the report in the subject line to media@ Please include your name, title, and organization in your email. EXCLUSIVE: Palestinian Factions, Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias, Jihadi Clerics Celebrate Deadly Shooting At Jewish Event In Washington DC By Pro-Palestinian Activist Who Yelled 'Free Palestine!' On May 21, 2025, a shooting attack took place outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., where the American Jewish Committee was holding an event for young professionals. EXCLUSIVE: Reacting To Shooting At Jewish Event In Washington D.C., Iran-Backed Houthi Leader Dismisses 'Biased' Stance, 'Exploitation' Of Incident To Silence Anti-War Voices; Pro-Hamas Media Outlet Likens Shooter To Yahya Sinwar On May 21, 2025, a shooting attack took place outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., where the American Jewish Committee was holding an event for young professionals. EXCLUSIVE: New Sunni Jihadi Organization In Lebanon, The Ahmad Al-Assir Brigade, Calls To Overthrow Lebanon's 'Sectarian Regime' And Establish Muslim Government Under Its Auspices; Says U.S. Embassy Is 'Base Of Collaborators, Agents, And Spies' On May 24, 2025, a new Sunni jihadi organization in Lebanon opened a Telegram channel (at the time of writing its followers numbered 17) and posted an approximately three-minute video announcing its establishment. EXCLUSIVE: "The Free Masked Man Movement" – A New Opposition Organization In Saudi Arabia, Comes Out Against The "Tyranny And Corruption" Of The Royal Family; Builds Military And Security Capabilities Towards A Possible Confrontation With The Authorities On May 22, 2025, a new opposition movement to the Saudi regime announced its establishment. EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Islamist Cleric With Ties To 2009 'Underwear Bomber' Denied Entry To Saudi Arabia, Sent Back To Nigeria A Nigerian cleric was deported from Saudi Arabia while attempting to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. Syrian Opposition Group Claims Attack Against Russian Forces At Khmeimim Air Base in Syria's Latakia Governorate, Threatens Russia To Leave Syria Within Month Or 'We'll Send You Back To Russia As Headless Corpses' On May 21, 2025, a Syrian opposition group released an announcement on its Telegram channel claiming that two former HTS (Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham) operatives were killed in an "inghimasi" operation (commando-style attack behind enemy lines) against Russian forces at the Khmeimim Air Base, in Syria's Latakia governorate. In Interview With Lebanese Daily, Shari'a Official Of Syria's Ansar Al-Sunnah Battalions Declares Targeting Minorities Current Priority, Denies Affiliation With Islamic State (ISIS) In recent months, a new jihadi group has emerged in Syria claiming attacks on religious minorities, particularly Alawites and Druze. Anti-Syrian Government Faction Shares Memo Attributed To ISIS Threatening Security Personnel, Foreign Fighters: 'Repent Before It Is Too Late' On May 23, 2025, a Telegram channel which is affiliated with the country's Shi'ite Alawite community shared an alleged copy of a memo attributed to the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria, which it said was circulated on outlets "close to the organization." Islamic Resistance Front In Syria – Formidable In Might Militia Tightens Relations With Hizbullah-Backed Baqiyat Allah Brigades On May 23, 2025, the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Formidable in Might militia posted a joint press release on its Telegram channel with a militia which is backed by Lebanese Hizbullah, announcing that the leadership of both factions had recently held "a wide-ranging coordination meeting." Fatwa By Syria-Based Jihadi Clerics: Normalization With Israel Apostasy From Islam On May 22, 2025, a Syrian committee comprised of ten Islamic clerics based in Syria under the supervision of an Egyptian-born cleric, published a fatwa on its Telegram channel ruling that normalizing relations with Israel is forbidden by Islam and anyone who does so becomes an apostate, whose life and property are forfeit. Houthi Ansar Allah Movement Claims Two Same-Day Ballistic Missile Attacks On Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, Two Drone Attacks On Unidentified 'Vital Sites' In Haifa, Tel Aviv On May 22, 2025, the Iran-backed Ansar Allah Movement (the Houthis) issued statements claiming missile and drone attacks targeting Israel's Ben Gurion Airport as well as two unidentified "vital" sites in Haifa and Tel Aviv. Ansar Allah Houthi Movement Claims Ballistic Missile Attack On Ben Gurion International Airport Yemen's Ansar Allah Houthi Movement claimed responsibility for firing missiles at Ben Gurion International Airport, as well as a "vital target" near Tel Aviv, Israel. In His Weekly Speech, Yemen's Ansar Allah (Houthi) Movement Leader Denounces 'Atrocities' In Gaza, Calls For Islamic Awakening, Reaffirms Houthis' Continuous Support Of Gaza Against Israel On May 22, 2025, Yemen's Ansar Allah (Houthi) Movement's leader delivered his weekly speech in which he denounced the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, criticizing Arab and Western alleged complicity. Pro-Hizbullah Daily: Southern Syrian Tribes Seeking Weapons, Training From Parties In Turkey To Confront Israel, Syrian Government On May 24, 2025, a pro-Hizbullah Lebanese daily published an article which quoted "field sources" in southern Syria's Daraa governorate, who claimed that "security tensions" have increased in the area due to the incursions of Israeli forces and fears of a resurgence of Islamic State (ISIS) cells, which were previously active in the area. Iran-Backed Media Outlets React To Yemen's Ansar Allah (Houthi) Movement's 'Naval Blockade' Of Haifa Port On May 19, 2025, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi Ansar Allah Houthi Movement declared the imposition of a naval blockade of Israel's Port of Haifa. Islamic State (ISIS) Provinces Escalate Attacks Across West Africa The Islamic State (ISIS) in West Africa and the Sahel launched coordinated attacks on military targets in Nigeria and Niger, causing significant casualties, destruction, and seizure of military equipment and facilities. Islamic State (ISIS) Weekly Newsletter Praises West Africa Province For Attacks On Military Camps In Nigeria, Niger And Cameroon On May 22, 2025, the Islamic State (ISIS) released issue 496 of its weekly newsletter. ISKP Magazine Questions Encryption Claims Of Messaging App, Cautions Jihadis Against Using It, Assesses Security Of WhatsApp, Telegram, WeChat, Facebook, TikTok, Signal The most recent issue of an English-language monthly magazine published by a media outlet linked to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), which defines itself as a supporting entity for the Islamic State (ISIS)," features a long article cautioning Islamic State fighters who started switching from Telegram to new social media platform Gem Space in view of the latter's weak security. Posters By Pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Media Outlets Present Perpetrators Of Attacks In The West As Role Models, Encourage Media Incitement Of Jihad On May 23, 2025, the Islamic State (ISIS) official English-language media outlet published English translations of two posters by unofficial pro-ISIS media groups inciting attacks in the West and media jihad. ISIS Supporter Shares Post Arguing That Inciting Violence, Expressing Support For Terror Groups Is Permissible According To U.S. Free Speech Laws On May 24, 2025, a user on the Islamic State (ISIS)-operated server shared a post from an X (formerly Twitter) account. Islamic State (ISIS) Supporters Launch Fundraising Campaign For Jihad, Encourage Muslims To Be 'Mujahideen' With Their Wealth On May 24, 2025, a platform that publishes and spreads official Islamic State (ISIS) material advertised a fundraising campaign for a mujahideen organization. Reacting To Reports Of AI Model That Blackmailed Users, Islamic State (ISIS) Supporter Envisions Similar Model Created For Jihadi Activity On May 25, 2025, a user of the Islamic State (ISIS)-operated server envisioned the creation of an artificial intelligence (AI) engine by jihadis and their supporters. Pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Outlet Releases Posters Exploiting Death Of Pope Francis To Discourage Interfaith Tolerance On May 19, 2025, a pro-Islamic State (ISIS) media outlet released two English-language translations of posters originally created by pro-ISIS foundations. Supporter Of Islamic State (ISIS) Warns Against Joining WhatsApp Groups, Advises Other Supporters To Stay On Encrypted Forums A supporter of the Islamic State (ISIS) warned other supporters against joining WhatsApp groups which require phone numbers. Anti-ISIS Outlet Claims ISIS's Central Media Is 'Powerless' As Supporter Outlet Continues Fraudulent Activities, Noncompliance With Organization's Rules An anti-Islamic State (ISIS) channel on the Al-Qaeda-operated server posted a report highlighting ISIS's central media's inability to control a prolific pro-ISIS media outlet's non-adherence to the rules of the organization governing the dissemination of exclusive claims. Al-Qaeda Affiliate GSIM Documents Attack On Military Position In Central Mali; 40 Soldiers Killed, Vehicles And Large Quantities Of Military Equipment Captured On May 23, 2025, the official media outlet of Al-Qaeda's affiliate in the African Sahel, Jama'at Nusrat Al-Islam Wal-Muslimeen (the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims – GSIM), issued a brief "breaking" claim of an attack on a military position in Dioura, in central Mali's Mopti region, in which the group's fighters seized control over the site, adding that there were "reports of heavy casualties in the enemy ranks." Al-Qaeda Affiliate In Somalia Al-Shabab Claims Responsibility For Killing Two Ugandan Soldiers And Damaging The French Embassy In An Attack On Halane Training Facility In Mogadishu On May 20, 2025, the media arm of Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen (Al-Shabab), claimed responsibility for shelling the Halane Training Facility, described as the largest military base hosting international forces and "dozens" of Western embassies in Mogadishu. Pro-Al-Qaeda Ideologue Lambasts Arab Gulf States After Trump's Middle East Tour: 'If Supporting The Head Of Global Heresy With Trillions Is Not Heresy, Then There Is Not Heresy In The World[;] Do You Understand Who Is Funding The War Against Islam And Muslims?' An Al-Qaeda ideologue accused Arab Gulf States of betraying Muslims after their leaders recently received President Trump during his Middle East tour and concluded investment deals with Washington. Afghan Taliban Leader Mullah Hibbatullah Akhundzada To Cadets: 'Do Not Abandon Jihad, Do Not Abandon Supporting The Mujahideen, Do Not Be Afraid Of These Unbelievers... Prepare Yourselves For Martyrdom, Prepare Yourselves For Prison' On May 1, 2025, the Afghan Taliban's state-owned RTA TV released a Pashto-language video showing Taliban cadets demonstrating various skills at a graduation ceremony attended by senior Taliban leaders, including the Defense Minister Mullah.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The God Squad: Forgiving the DC shooter
How strange and chilling it is that my introduction last week of the issue of unconditional forgiveness this week has a tragic echo in the news of the brutal murder of two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington – Sarah Milgrim, 26, and Yaron Lischinsky, 30, who were attending an American Jewish Committee event on Middle East cooperation. I brought up the issue of unconditional forgiveness as a remembrance and tribute to Father Tom who believed deeply in it as a foundational belief of Christianity. I would push back at him with the contrary Jewish belief that only repentant sinners need to be forgiven. Now we have a bloody and agonizing test case for what had been just an abstract and theoretical topic. Now we have the issue before our souls. Do we have a spiritual obligation to forgive that clearly unrepentant murderer who was dragged away screaming his hateful antisemitic slogans? Not only can I not forgive him, I want his soul to rot in hell, and this has nothing to do with the fact that I am a rabbi and he killed Jews. I felt the same thing after the 2015 murder of nine Christians at a church Bible study group at the Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, S.C. and yet the families of those victims found it in their hearts to forgive that predator. Tommy admired them. I was bewildered by them. What does it mean, I must ask, to forgive someone who was happy to murder? Doesn't it mean on some level that you are forgiving not just the murderer but also the murder? How can one forgive the killer without also forgiving the killing? I just cannot fathom what it means to forgive someone who luxuriates in their sin. That is where I am at. That is what my faith teaches. However… Interfaith dialogue of the type that forged my friendship with Father Tom requires that you remain open to the possibility that you are wrong or at the very least open to the possibility that viewing things from another perspective might bring you a wisdom that has eluded you in your inherited teachings and could nourish you in your future spiritual growth. So I can say that I am open to at least considering what it would mean to transform vengeance into love? I am open to the argument that unconditional forgiveness deprives the sinner of exactly what he or she wants most and that is to crush your spirit and poison your soul? Seen in that way, forgiveness becomes the best revenge. The forgiveness allows you to swim in the waves of the world without also trying to hold onto a heavy rock of anger, hatred and vengeance that will surely pull you down under the waves unless and until you just let it go. Where do you stand, my dear readers, on this bloody dilemma? Like so many of you, a reader named J wrote to me with her eloquent beliefs about unconditional forgiveness: Dear Rabbi Marc, with regard to your piece On unconditional forgiveness, I shall quote a saying that's on my refrigerator door. 'Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could be any different.' I'm on the side of the repentant with a look toward the future where perhaps one would sin no more. As imperfect human beings, that probably won't happen but my prayers are always full of hope! Well said. God bless you, dear J. As for me and as for now, I am willing to consider the possibility that such unconditional forgiveness might be an aspirational value. That is, it might be a belief you could hope to embrace someday, even if you are unable to embrace it now. That is as close as I can get to Tommy's saintly love. However, now I am furious and frightened at the rise of antisemitism in our world, our universities and our culture. I am consumed by trying to figure out how our country can find a balance between free speech that must be protected and hate speech that must be contained and confronted. Wiser minds than mine must put an end to this. I want to be able to enter a classroom or a synagogue or a meeting hall without having to first encounter an armed guard. I want to be able to write back to the college kids from my synagogue who wrote to me during some campus demonstrations, 'Rabbi Gellman, should I wear my Jewish star necklace in public?' I want to write back to them, despite my fears for their safety, 'YES. Wear your Star of David and wear it with pride!' While we debate forgiveness let us find a way to live together in peace.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Community leaders hold roundtable against hate after Beachwood library books burned
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Words can hurt, but they can also heal. A library is a place full of words and ideas that not everybody will agree are the right words or ideas. But actions to forbid or destroy books and other items that highlight conversations about different cultures, religions, races and sexual orientation, civic leaders say, shouldn't happen in Northeast Ohio. 'Hate speech at any race, at any religion, at any ethnic group, at any at any entity is an attack on all of us,' Congresswoman Shontel Brown said. Former investigator: Man convicted of killing ex-wife, an Akron doctor, 'doesn't deserve to be out' This roundtable of area religious, political and community leaders met Thursday to get a handle on the level of hate directed at different communities around our area. There things going on here and around the country, such as the murder of two Israeli embassy staff members, that has many worried about the future. 'The anti-Semitic rhetoric that fuels this kind of violence, the kind of violence that struck down young couple. Words matter and words have consequences, and we know we're not immune to hatred. Closer to home, we already heard about it,' Lee Shapiro of the American Jewish Committee in Cleveland said. That incident was the burning of roughly 100 books from the Beachwood branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library about the Jewish, Black and LGBTQ communities. That struck a nerve with many. So much so that this news conference was specifically held in the newest branch of the Cleveland Public Library, named after one of the most influential figures in Black history. Cleveland Clinic reverses change to copay policy Libraries have always been considered by many to be neutral places and places where all ideas are welcome, but libraries are feeling a lot of pressure to censor ideas. 'We can't take things off of our shelves because everyone needs access to them. It's really important that libraries stand behind the concept of intellectual freedom and making sure that democracy is held and everyone has access to it,' Cleveland Public Library Executive Director Felton Thomas said. Congresswoman Brown said this first meeting will hopefully set the stage for more conversations and direct action to fight against what they call forces that are out to take away the things that make the country better. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
