Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State, condemned terrorism and expressed hope for improved relations between India and Pakistan. He emphasized the US’s deepening ties with India, particularly in economic and security cooperation, while acknowledging the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
The US military has heightened the alert level at several bases in Europe to its second-highest level, citing potential threats. While no specific threat has been mentioned, the move comes amidst heightened security concerns in Europe following recent terrorist attacks and upcoming major events.
Twenty detainees, some accused of terrorism, escaped from a prison in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after holding a sentry hostage. One escapee was killed in the ensuing crossfire, while 19 others remain at large. The incident highlights the challenges of prison security and overcrowding in the region.
A series of coordinated suicide bombings in the northeastern Nigerian town of Gwoza on Saturday left 18 people dead and 30 injured, including 19 seriously. The attacks, carried out by suspected female suicide bombers, targeted a wedding celebration, a hospital, and a funeral service. The resurgence of these bombings raises significant concerns about the ongoing security crisis in the region, attributed largely to Boko Haram’s insurgency.
A series of suicide attacks in northeastern Nigeria, targeting a wedding, a hospital, and a funeral, left at least 18 people dead and 42 injured. The attacks, carried out by women with explosive devices, are attributed to Boko Haram, though the group has not claimed responsibility. This tragedy highlights the ongoing violence in the region, which has been plagued by Boko Haram’s insurgency for over a decade.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his family have been threatened by a suspected young terrorist, Jordan Patten. Patten, 19, allegedly wrote a manifesto outlining plans to assassinate Labor Party members of parliament and expressed extremist views. He was arrested for entering a Labour MP’s office armed with knives and tactical equipment.
Despite losing its last stronghold in Syria in 2019, the Islamic State (IS) has continued to launch deadly attacks, killing nearly 4,100 people in the country since then. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the majority of the victims are soldiers, government loyalists, and Kurdish-led fighters, but civilians have also been killed. The group has been active in the Badia desert, carrying out bombings, ambushes, and targeted operations. IS has sustained heavy losses since 2019 but remains a significant threat in Syria.
A 15-year-old boy was sentenced to four years in prison by a German court for planning an Islamist attack on a Christmas market in Leverkusen. The boy, who began radicalizing in 2023, aimed to kill as many people as possible by crashing a truck into the market. This case highlights the ongoing threat of Islamist extremism in Germany, despite a slight decrease in the number of individuals classified as radicals.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the country may target sanctuaries of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan as part of its newly launched military operation. This comes after lukewarm support from the Afghan Taliban to stop the use of their territory by the TTP for attacks against Pakistan. Asif ruled out dialogue with the TTP, citing a lack of common ground and blaming former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government for the Taliban’s presence in Pakistan.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh each for information leading to the arrest of Canada-based terrorist Goldy Brar and another accused wanted in an extortion and firing case in Chandigarh. The reward comes as part of the agency’s ongoing investigation into the incident that took place in March 2023, where the accused allegedly fired at a businessman’s house as part of an extortion attempt.
