From AlertsUSA
Two Killed, 13 Wounded in Toronto Mass Shooting Islamic State Claims Responsibility
July 28, 2018
Between July 22-25, the following related Flash SMS messages
were sent to AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices:
7/22 – 8 shot in Toronto’s Riverdale neighborhood on Danforth Av in Greektown. Victims are spread across many blocks. AlertsUSA monitoring
7/23 – Total of 2 dead, 13 injured in Toronto Greektown mass shooting. Police spokesman says too early to declare incident act of terrorism. Add’l alerts as warranted.
7/25 – Overnight: Islamic State’s A’maq news agency issues formal claim of resp for 7/22 mass shooting in Toronto, calls shooter ‘soldier of the Islamic State.
What You Need To Know
On Sunday, AlertsUSA subscribers were informed of reports of 8 people shot in the popular Greektown area of Toronto, Ontario. In this incident, a lone gunman walked along the busy Danforth Avenue randomly shooting pedestrians as well as firing into three different restaurants. Once police arrived on the scene, gunfire was exchanged with the suspect after which he fled and was found a short distance away, dead. from a self inflicted gunshot. A short time later, bomb techs detonated a suspicious package in the vicinity.
In total, two individuals were killed by the shooter, as well as another 13 people wounded.
The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Faisal Hussain (image above), a first generation Canadian of Pakistani descent.
On Wednesday, the Islamic State’s Amaq news agency issued a formal claim of responsibility for the Toronto shooting, calling the gunman a ‘soldier of the Islamic State and that the attack was carried out in response to the call for followers to target citizens of coalition nations. As is becoming an all too familiar follow up to these incidents, a statement released by the gunman’s family expressed condolences for those killed and injured in the attack and that the gunman was said to be psychotic and depressed.
Readers are reminded that just two weeks ago, Toronto police were out in force in the downtown area following the receipt of threat intelligence pointing to a possible vehicle ramming attack. Additionally, back in April, Toronto was also the scene of a vehicle-ramming attack which killed 10 and injured 16.
AlertsUSA continues to monitor the domestic and international threat environment and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages, of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant.
OTHER SMS ALERTS FROM THIS WEEK
NOT DETAILED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ISSUE
7/22 – President Trump sternly warns Iranian President Rouhani that cont threats against the US will result in severe consequences. See email for full statement.
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Bomb Detonated Outside US Embassy In Beijing, China
July 28, 2018
On July 26, the following related Flash SMS messages
were sent to AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices:
7/26 – AlertsUSA monitoring response to explosion near US Embassy Beijing, China. More information to come.
7/26 – Initial reports indicate explosion at US Embassy Beijing result of man attempting to throw bomb into the compound, w/ device detonating early.
7/26 – US Embassy Beijing urges American citizens to avoid diplomatic (Chaoyang) district. Caution and vigilance urged.
7/26 – Beijing police confirm bomb detonated outside US Embassy in “isolated security incident.” Perp said to be 26YO male from Inner Mongolia. AlertsUSA monitoring.
What You Need To Know
On Thursday, AlertsUSA subscribers were notified of reports of an explosion outside of the US Embassy in Beijing, China. In this incident, a man detonated a bomb at the south-east corner of the embassy compound, a heavily fortified structure in the north-east Chaoyang District of the Chinese capital. According to the embassy’s regional security officer, other than the bomber, no other people were injured, and there was no damage to embassy property.
Chinese police have identified the suspect only by his surname, Jiang, and said he was from Tongliao, a city in China’s Inner Mongolia region. No motive was provided for the attack.
Postings on social media showed pictures of smoke rising from the area where Chinese nationals line up outside the compound for visa appointments. However, due to China’s tight control over both traditional and social media, further open-source details about the blast remain unconfirmed. Many images and video clips of the scene were swiftly removed by Chinese sensors, as well as social media discussions about the incident.
AlertsUSA is working with contacts at the embassy to acquire additional details.
Commentary / Analysis / Research
July 28, 2018
2018 Foreign Economic Espionage in Cyberspace
The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) has released its 2018 Foreign Economic Espionage in Cyberspace report, which highlights current threats and future trends in foreign intelligence efforts to steal U.S. intellectual property, trade secrets, and proprietary information via cyberspace. The report underscores the strategic threat of cyber economic espionage, noting that next generation technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and the Internet-of-Things offer great opportunities, but also introduce new vulnerabilities to U.S. networks for which the cybersecurity community largely remains unprepared. Read More Here
The Use of Social Media by United States Extremists
This report looks at the role emerging communication technologies, such as social media platforms play in the radicalization and mobilization process of United States extremists. The researchers used newly collected social media activity data from 479 extremists who radicalized between 2005 and 2016 to analyze trends in the radicalization. Factors taken into account included frequency of social media usage, types of social media use by ideology and group, and the purpose of social media use. Read More Here
What Does ISIS Post on YouTube?
Google’s dominant online video-streaming platform, YouTube, is a social media giant that is a user-friendly and accessible site for most Americans. Unfortunately, all of these qualities also make YouTube a popular platform for extremist groups such as the Islamic State to post propaganda content. The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) took a deep dive into this topic where researchers used two computer programs, a web crawler and eGLYPH, to conduct a limited search for 229 previously identified ISIS terror-related videos. This study, which lasted from 3/8/2018 to 7/8/2018, returned a wealth of knowledge related to ISIS’ use of video propaganda content. Read More Here
Migrants See Child Brides ‘As Their Sons’ Tickets To Europe’
Here’s another entry in the chronicle of Western difficulties assimilating Third World immigrants: Swedish authorities report growing problems with migrants sending young daughters to marry older men abroad, both as a strategy to avoid assimilation and to gain European citizenship. While underage marriage is essentially banned in Sweden, the country recognizes underage marriages conducted abroad. Read More Here
World News Roundup
July 28, 2018
Other Developments We Are Following
AMERICAS
FBI Director: China ‘The Broadest, Most Significant’ Threat To The U.S.”
FBI director says Russian influence efforts are ‘very active’
Mattis: Open to Talks With Russians; No Policy Changes From Helsinki
Expect More Instability, Corruption, And Crime From Mexico’s AMLO
US, Canada Studying Options to Replace Arctic Early Warning Radars
Is George Soros Fueling Race Riots in DC Ahead of Midterms?
Pentagon Creates ‘Do Not Buy’ List of Russian, Chinese Software
Canadian Backlash Towards Prime Minister Trudeau’s Immigration Policy?
Congress Halts F-35 Turkey Transfers, Punts On Space Force
DoD, Industry Sparring Over New Cyber Rules, Ellen Lord Says
U.S. intel: Chinese theft continues in cyberspace as new threats emerge
CVN-81, The 4th Ford Class Supercarrier, Is Slated To Cost $15B
Mattis’s New Unpredictable Strike Group Deployment Strategy Has Begun
Venezuelan inflation predicted to hit 1 million percent this year
Nicaragua in ‘undeclared state of siege’ as hooded gunmen rule the streets
EUROPE
Putin ready to invite Trump to Russia
It’s delusional to think Britain should be a global military power
Bosnia’s Security Minister Wants Army at Border to Curb Entry of Migrants
Spanish mayor warns his town is the new migrant crisis epicentre
New ocean opening up around the North Pole is sparking a global scramble
British Home Office suspends transfer of two citizens with suspected ties to ISIS
Greece wildfires: dozens dead as blazes sweep across popular tourist areas
EU And U.S. Pledge To Boost Natural Gas Trade
Will Trump’s tariffs push the EU and China closer together?
Middle class cocaine use fueling gang violence, London Mayor warns
MPs: Lives of UK & EU citizens at risk without post-Brexit security deal
MIDDLE EAST / Africa
Iran’s Rouhani warns Trump about ‘mother of all wars’
Iranian SOF leader warns Trump that war ‘will destroy everything you own’
Russian Military Needed in Syria Long Term, Assad Says
Israel shoots down Syrian jet; Syrian forces reach Golan
Iran’s Rohani Says No Need To Respond To ‘Empty Threats’ From U.S.
More turmoil in Iraq as deadly protests ravage oil-rich south
When the Kurdish Peshmerga Fights Like an Army, It Loses
More of Africa Finds Itself in China’s Debt
Nigeria farmer-herder conflict now deadlier than Boko Haram
Guess who’s still a factor in Zimbabwe’s election? Mugabe.
ASIA
Why North Korea is in no hurry to do what the US wants
Flooding from Laos hydroelectric dam leaves hundreds missing
What Do China’s Military Hawks Think of Trump?
Remains of U.S. War Dead in North Korea Start Journey Home After 65 Years
Hun Sen: The ex-Khmer Rouge soldier keeping his grip on Cambodia
China Building Supercarrier That Could Rival The US’ Nimitz-Class Carriers
China Is Losing the Trade War With Trump
China says 4 American airlines missed Taiwan map naming deadline
U.S. opens way for India to escape sanctions over Russia arms imports
China May Soon Have a New Weapon to Kill Navy Submarines
How China Got Its Hands On Its First Aircraft Carrier
Homeland Security
Since 2015, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has used the National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin to highlight the continuing terror threat to the U.S. Homeland.
CURRENTLY ACTIVE NTAS BULLETIN
PDF (1 pg, 186 KB)
Web Version
Travel Security
The U.S. Dept. of State Travel Website is the authoritative federal source for information on the security situation at travel destinations worldwide. With tensions rapidly increasing in most regions, readers planning international travel, even to such common destinations as Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, are strongly encouraged to do a little research on the security situation at your destination well prior to departure.
Active USGOV Travel Notices
Active USGOV Travel Advisories
Other USGOV Travel Resources
Smart Traveler Enrollment Prog (STEP)
Travelers with Special Considerations
Faith-Based Travel Information
Information for Women Travelers
Driving and Road Safety Abroad
Safe Travels During Storm Season
The Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) provides a variety of resources to enhance the safety and security of the U.S. private sector businesses and organizations operating abroad.
Mariners and U.S. citizens considering maritime travel should also review information at the websites of the National Geospatial Agency, the Maritime Security Communications with Industry Portal, and the U.S. Coast Guard for information related to maritime and port security globally.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is the authoritative federal source for information on current health issues related to specific destinations worldwide. These issues may arise from disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, natural disasters, or other conditions that may affect travelers’ health.
Foreign Sources of Travel Guidance
Australia Dept. of Foreign Affairs
UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.
Via: threatjournal
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