Dilitas Weekly International Security Brief

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SECURITY CONSULTANCY

The threat to the UK from International Terrorism is?SEVERE

The threat to Great Britain from Irish Republican Terrorism is?SEVERE

Threat levels are designed to give a broad indication of the likelihood of a terrorist attack.

LOW means an attack is unlikely

MODERATE means an attack is possible, but not likely

SUBSTANTIAL means an attack is a strong possibility

SEVERE means an attack is highly likely

CRITICAL means an attack is expected imminently

PLEASE NOTE: THE NEXT SECURITY BRIEF WILL BE ISSUED 27/02/2022

AFRICA

Four civilians were caught in cross fire after French troops supported with an attack helicopter killed 10 Islamist militants in Burkina Faso, the French military said in a statement on Thursday.

Defence Headquarters says troops of Operation Hadin Kai have eliminated more than 120 Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North-east in the last three weeks.

A soldier and five park rangers have been killed in an attack by suspected Islamist militants in a national park in northern Benin. At least 10 other people have been injured.

Thousands of soldiers are marching through the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo in a show of force in support of President Felix Tshisekedi, just days after reports of a failed coup plot.

Germany's defence minister has suggested it is unlikely that the country will be able to maintain its troops in Mali.

Nearly half of those who escaped from a prison in Ethiopia in the early hours of Wednesday morning are still on the run. In total, 130 inmates broke out of the jail in the town of Nefas Mewcha in the Amhara region.

Western powers have condemned the recent arrests of several high-profile political figures in Sudan as anti-military protests continued on Thursday.

The head of Tunisia's Supreme Judicial Council says police have locked the doors of their office and have stopped the judges from entering the building - a day after President Kais Saied dissolved the country's main legal body.

The Nigerian customs service says it has intercepted a consignment of pangolin scales and elephant tusks worth $7.5m (￡5.5m) being taken through the country to Asia.

At least 111 people in Madagascar are now known to have died since Cyclone Batsirai hit the Indian Ocean island nearly a week ago.

ASIA

Fahad Shah, the founder and editor of The Kashmir Walla, was arrested on Friday [4th Feb] evening under terrorism and sedition laws, as a crackdown on the press in Indian-administered Kashmir continues to escalate.

EUROPE

US President Joe Biden has called on all American citizens remaining in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, citing increased threats of Russian military action.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the "imminent" threat of Russian military action in Ukraine justifies evacuating the US embassy in Kyiv.

Irish citizens have been advised by their government to leave Ukraine immediately as fears of a Russian military offensive rise.

British nationals in Ukraine are being told to leave the country now while commercial means are still available. The UK will not be able to fly British nationals out of Ukraine if Russia invades, Armed Forces Minister James Heappey has warned.

Ukraine has accused Russia of blocking its access to the sea as Russia prepares for naval exercises next week amid spiralling tension in the region.

Spanish police say they have busted a maritime drug-running operation that allegedly faked sailing boat accidents, including one with a killer whale, to smuggle hashish from Morocco.

Police have intercepted hundreds of vehicles trying to enter Paris as part of a protest against France's coronavirus regulations. Tear gas was fired in the city as demonstrators defied an order banning the "Freedom Convoy".

THE AMERICAS

A semi-submersible vessel carrying four tonnes of cocaine has been seized by the Colombian navy. The haul is thought to be worth $150m (￡110m) and is the largest shipment obtained by Pacific naval forces in the last two years.

The mayor of Canada's capital Ottawa has declared a state of emergency in response to more than a week of truckers' protests against Covid restrictions. Jim Watson said the city was "completely out of control", with demonstrators outnumbering police.

A landslide triggered by heavy rains has killed at least 14 people in central Colombia, officials say.

UK

Armed police along with counter terrorism officers descended on a Halifax street and arrested nine people as part of an intelligence led operation. Eleven people from Halifax have so far been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences since the raid at King Cross Friday February 11.

Mohammed Hussini (09/02/2003) from South East London has been charged with terrorism offences, following an investigation by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North East.

The search for a new Metropolitan Police Commissioner is under way after the resignation of Dame Cressida Dick.

A man has been arrested by police investigating a shooting at an industrial estate in Newry. The victim was shot in the legs in the attack on Tuesday morning at Carnbane Industrial Estate, off Tandagree Road.

CYBER/CRYPTO/HACKING

North Korean cyber-attacks have stolen millions of dollars worth of cryptocurrency to fund the country's missile programmes, a UN report briefed to media says.

Israel's government will set up a commission of inquiry to examine reports the police used spyware made by NSO Group to hack the phones of Israeli public figures without authorisation.

Almost 200 phones belonging to Jordanian journalists, activists and members of the royal court were among the thousands targeted in the hacking scandal linked to Israeli companies

Brazilian police have arrested a man they believe hacked into Neymar's bank accounts and repeatedly stole sums of money amounting to more than $40,000.

Criminals netted $1.3 billion in ransom payments from hacking victims in the past two years, reflecting a massive surge in cybercrime that has prompted a global effort to stop it, according to a new report from Chainalysis Inc.