March 2016 Security News

Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook on DoD's Partnership with HackerOne on the "Hack the Pentagon" Security Initiative DoD 31 Mar 2016 -- The Department of Defense (DoD) announced today that interested participants may now register to compete in the "Hack the Pentagon" pilot. The pilot, designed to identify and resolve security vulnerabilities within DoD websites through crowdsourcing, is the first bug bounty program in the history of the federal government.
Belgium Approves Extradition of Paris Attacks Suspect to France VOA 31 Mar 2016 -- The main suspect in last November's terrorist attacks in Paris can be extradited from Belgium to France, Belgium's federal prosecutor announced on Thursday.
US Preparing to Transfer More Prisoners From Guantanamo Bay VOA 31 Mar 2016 -- U.S. military officials have informed Congress that they plan to transfer about a dozen inmates from the terrorist detention facility at the naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Threat Remains One Year After Garissa University Terror Attack VOA 31 Mar 2016 -- This Saturday Kenya will mark the one-year anniversary of the terror attack on Garissa University. Al-Shabab militants killed 148 people there, most of them students. In the past year, Kenya says it has heightened its response capabilities. But the region, and the continent, remain on high alert for further attacks.
Lax Nuclear Security Opens Gaps for IS, Other Terrorists VOA 31 Mar 2016 -- Russia's absence from the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington this week raises questions about the international community's ability to keep nuclear materials out of the hands of the Islamic State (IS) and other terrorists, say analysts.
US Military Veterans Join Christian Militia in Anti-IS Fight VOA 31 Mar 2016 -- Directly north of Mosul and face-to-face with Islamic State is a small pocket of bombed and abandoned Christian villages. But across the gravel track from one of the empty villages, abandoned when IS militants stormed the area in 2014, is one row of houses that is still occupied.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 31 Mar 2016 [PDF]
Explainer: Why Nuclear Smuggling Looms Over Washington Summit RFE/RL 30 Mar 2016 -- The arrest of seven members of an organized crime gang in Moldova in late 2014 was unremarkable for a part of the world where such underworld networks run rampant, except for what authorities said they were trafficking in: uranium-238.
Threats Persist as Obama Hosts His Final Nuclear Security Summit VOA 30 Mar 2016 -- President Barack Obama will host his fourth and final nuclear security summit in Washington this week with tons of loose nuclear material still not sufficiently secured and still potentially accessible to terrorists or other individuals with malicious intentions.
French president scraps contentious anti-terror bill Press TV 30 Mar 2016 -- French President Francois Hollande has abandoned a controversial bill to change the constitution to strip militants convicted of terror offences of their French citizenship.
Fears Islamic State Will Use Guerrilla Tactics in Europe VOA 30 Mar 2016 -- Security agencies racing to break the web of Islamic State (IS) terror cells that have spread across the European continent are also bracing for another worrisome possibility - that the group will use guerrilla tactics honed in Syria and Iraq to carry out attacks on critical targets or infrastructure.
IS 'Cyrillic Jihadists' Create Their Own Community in Syria VOA 30 Mar 2016 -- Over 5,000 jihadists from the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are fighting in the ranks of the so-called Islamic State militant group in the Middle East. These Russian-speaking Muslims not only play a major role within the IS leadership, but also have built a community of their own in the areas controlled by the extremist group. In fact, they are now raising their children to be a second generation of jihadists, sources say.
Operation Martillo Still Hammering Away at Illicit Trafficking AFPS 30 Mar 2016 -- Operation Martillo, led by Joint Interagency Task Force South in support of U.S. Southern Command, is entering its fifth year of coordinating partner nation efforts to stop illicit trafficking routes in the coastal waters along the Central American isthmus.
Hollande Drops Plan to Revoke Citizenship of Terrorists VOA 30 Mar 2016 -- Blaming his political opponents, French President Francois Hollande abandoned plans Wednesday to push through deeply controversial constitutional changes that included stripping French citizenship from convicted terrorists and enshrining the state of emergency into the nation's charter.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 30 Mar 2016 [PDF]
UN declares Ebola public health emergency over; urges 'high vigilance' against flare-ups UN News 29 Mar 2016 -- The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today said West Africa's Ebola outbreak no longer constitutes an international public health threat, declaring that the 20-month global emergency response is over but stressing that a "high level of vigilance" must be maintained.
Death Toll from Brussels Attacks Revised Down to 32 VOA 29 Mar 2016 -- Belgium authorities said Tuesday that the number of people killed in last week's attacks on the Brussels airport and on a metro station was revised down to 32, excluding the three suicide bombers.
Russian Boycott Of Nuclear Terrorism Summit Leaves U.S. 'Scratching Our Heads' RFE/RL 29 Mar 2016 -- When dozens of world leaders and top-level delegations from around the globe descend on the U.S. capital this week to discuss how to better protect nuclear materials from terrorists, officials from one nuclear power won't be there.
US Urges Greater Intelligence Sharing in Europe After Attacks VOA 29 Mar 2016 -- The United States says more "can and must be done" with regards to boosting intelligence sharing in Europe following last week's deadly terror attacks in Brussels.
Pakistan Detains Over 200 Suspects in Lahore Bombing VOA 29 Mar 2016 -- Authorities in Pakistan have detained more than 200 suspected Islamist militants in a major crackdown in connection with Sunday's suicide bombing in Lahore that killed at least 72 people, many of them Christians celebrating Easter.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 29 Mar 2016 [PDF]
US, Turkey Look to Expand Fight Against IS VOA 28 Mar 2016 -- The U.S. and Turkey are discussing plans to expand cooperation in order to put greater pressure on Islamic State (IS) militants, said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday during a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
FBI Unlocks Shooter's iPhone, Drops Demands on Apple VOA 28 Mar 2016 -- The U.S. Justice Department said Monday it has accessed data on the iPhone used by a shooter in last year's San Bernardino, California attacks, and that it no longer needs Apple's help in cracking the device.
Taiwan to set up law banning people from joining ISIS CNA 28 Mar 2016 -- The National Security Bureau (NSB) said Monday that it will deliver to the Legislature during its current session a bill that bans Taiwan nationals from joining ISIS, which has claimed responsibility for several terrorist attacks around the world, including the one in Brussels last week that killed at least 30 people and wounded 230 others.
8 people in Taiwan have shown interest in joining ISIS: NSB CNA 28 Mar 2016 -- The National Security Bureau (NSB) is monitoring eight people in Taiwan who have shown an interest in joining the Islamic State (ISIS), NSB Director-General Yang Kuo-chiang (楊國強) said Monday.
Pakistani forces launch anti-terror drive after bomber killed 72 People's Daily 28 Mar 2016 -- Pakistani security forces have launched operations in parts of eastern Punjab province where a suicide bomber killed at least 72 people and injured 315 others at a crowded park, the army said Monday.
Belgium charges 3 more over terror attacks Press TV 28 Mar 2016 -- Belgian authorities have charged three more people in relation to the bomb attacks that rocked the capital Brussels last week.
Pakistan Vows To Hunt Down Perpetrators Behind Lahore Attack RFE/RL 28 Mar 2016 -- Pakistani authorities have to hunt down perpetrators behind an Easter Sunday bombing in the city of Lahore that killed more than 70 people and injured some 300 others.
Pakistan's PM Vows to Boost Counterterror Efforts After Lahore Blast VOA 28 Mar 2016 -- Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has vowed to intensify counter-terrorism operations in the wake of Sunday's deadly suicide bombing in the eastern city of Lahore targeting Christians. At least 72 people, including about 30 children, were killed and 300 others were wounded in the blast at a crowded park.
Brussels Terror Suspect Freed for Lack of Evidence VOA 28 Mar 2016 -- A man widely reported to be a main suspect in last week's deadly Brussels terrorist attacks has been released because of a lack of evidence.
Pakistan to intensify crackdown on militants after Lahore bombing Press TV 28 Mar 2016 -- A bomb explosion outside a park in the city of Lahore, killed at least 70 people, mostly women and children on Sunday. The area was crowded with Christians celebrating the Easter holidays, and many families were leaving the park when the blast occurred.
Pakistan, India Cooperate in Airbase Attack Probe VOA 28 Mar 2016 -- A team of Pakistani investigators is in India to probe a deadly terror attack on an Indian airbase earlier this year that New Delhi has blamed on Pakistan-based militants. The assault, in which seven Indian soldiers died, set back efforts to resume talks between the rivals, but the joint probe is being seen as a sign of cooperation.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 28 Mar 2016 [PDF]
69 killed, 300 injured as suicide blast hits public park in Pakistan's Lahore People's Daily 28 Mar 2016 -- At least 69 people including a large number of women and kids were killed and over 300 others injured when a suicide bomber hit a public park in Pakistan's east Lahore city on Sunday evening, officials said.
Bomb blast kills 65, injures 280 in Pakistan's Lahore Press TV 27 Mar 2016 -- A bomb explosion outside a park in the city of Lahore in northeastern Pakistan has killed at least 65 people and injured 280 others, mostly women and children, officials say.
Belgian Police Detain Four In Raids On Brussels Attacks Suspects RFE/RL 27 Mar 2016 -- Belgian prosecutors say police have detained four people after a series of raids on March 27 in the wake of deadly terrorist bomb attacks in Brussels earlier this week.
Pakistani Taliban Affiliate Claims Credit For Deadly Easter Day Bombing RFE/RL 27 Mar 2016 -- Pakistani authorities say an apparent suicide bombing has killed at least 69 people, mostly women and children, and wounded hundreds more after a blast tore through the parking lot of a crowded public park in the eastern city of Lahore where Christians were celebrating Easter Sunday.
Dozens Dead as Suicide Blast Rocks Public Park in Pakistan VOA 27 Mar 2016 -- Pakistani officials say a suicide bomb blast at a crowded public park in the eastern city of Lahore Sunday evening killed at least 65 people and wounded at least 300 others.
Brussels Terror Probe Continues; Protests Take Right-Wing Turn VOA 27 Mar 2016 -- As Belgian riot police marched into formation accompanied by water-trucks, the crowd on the steps of the stock exchange in Brussels cheered. Right-wing activists some locals call 'fascists' had arrived at the quiet memorial to those killed in last week's terror attacks, shouting anti-immigration slogans and performing Nazi salutes.
2 More Suspects Arrested in Ivory Coast Resort Attacks VOA 27 Mar 2016 -- Authorities in Mali say two men with alleged links to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) have been arrested in connection with terror attacks earlier this month in Ivory Coast that left at least 19 people dead.
Arrest Warrant Issued for New Suspect in Brussels Attacks VOA 26 Mar 2016 -- Belgian prosecutors have identified and issued an arrest warrant for a new suspect in Tuesday's attacks on the Brussels airport and a metro station.
Remarks With Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel US Dept. of State 25 Mar 2016
Carter: U.S. Military Targets Key ISIL Terrorists AFPS 25 Mar 2016 -- The U.S. military killed several key Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists this week, including a senior ISIL leader and finance minister who led certain external affairs and plots, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said here today.
Islamic State Finance Minister Killed by US Forces VOA 25 Mar 2016 -- U.S. forces have killed Abd ar-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli, an Islamic State finance minister also responsible for the terrorist group's external affairs, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said Friday.
Belgian police detain three more in terror case Press TV 25 Mar 2016 -- Belgian police arrested three people Friday, one of them injured after being shot by security forces, against the backdrop of terrorist attacks in Belgium and the French capital, Paris.
France police foil 'advanced stage' terror plot Press TV 25 Mar 2016 -- Police in France foil an "advanced stage" terror plot following the arrest of a French national suspected of membership in a militant group at a Paris suburb, the interior minister says.
Brussels police detain six people over terrorist bombing attacks Press TV 25 Mar 2016 -- Police in Belgian capital have arrested six people in a series of operations two days after bomb attacks claimed by the Daesh terrorist group left 31 dead and some 300 others injured in Brussels.
After Brussels Attacks, Will Europe Adopt Israeli-Style Airport Security? RFE/RL 25 Mar 2016 -- European countries are consulting Israeli security experts for advice after the deadly attacks on the main airport and the subway system in Brussels, according to a spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry.
Belgium Detains 3, Ties Airport Bomber to Paris Attack VOA 25 Mar 2016 -- Belgian prosecutors say three people have been detained in a counterterrorism operation in Brussels prompted by the arrest Thursday of a Frenchman in the Paris area suspected of plotting a new attack.
Islamic State Better Resourced Than Al-Qaida for Long Terror Campaign VOA 25 Mar 2016 -- European intelligence officials say they don't know exactly how many assassins and bombers the Islamic State terror group has trained to conduct deadly attacks in Europe like Tuesday's in Brussels. Officials fear, however, they are facing hundreds of potential assailants, either trained in camps in Syria or recruited through kinship and crime networks in Europe by returning IS volunteers.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 25 Mar 2016 [PDF]
Seven Iranians Working for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Affiliated Entities Charged for Conducting Coordinated Campaign of Cyber Attacks Against U.S. Financial Sector US Dept. of Justice 24 Mar 2016 -- A grand jury in the Southern District of New York indicted seven Iranian individuals who were employed by two Iran-based computer companies, ITSecTeam (ITSEC) and Mersad Company (MERSAD), that performed work on behalf of the Iranian Government, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, on computer hacking charges related to their involvement in an extensive campaign of over 176 days of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch Delivers Remarks at Press Conference Announcing Seven Iranians Charged for Conducting Cyber Attacks against U.S. Financial Sector US Dept. of Justice 24 Mar 2016
US Accuses 7 Iranians of State-Sanctioned Hacking VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- The U.S. accused seven Iranians Thursday of carrying out a massive computer hacking scheme on behalf of the Iranian government to disrupt the Internet operations at 46 American financial institutions.
US accuses Iran of cyber attack against dozens of banks Press TV 24 Mar 2016 -- The US government has charged several Iranian hackers with coordinating a campaign of cyber attacks on dozens of American banks and a dam in New York state from 2011 to 2013.
US Charges Iranian Hacker With 'Illegally Obtaining Access' to New York Dam Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- One of the seven Iranian defendants the United States has charged in a massive cyber intrusion to the US financial sector has also been charged with trying to hack into a dam in New York State, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said during a news conference on Thursday.
EU Focuses on Security Measures After Brussels Attacks VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- European Union justice and security ministers hold talks in Brussels Thursday on ways to shore up intelligence and security, as police search for yet another suspect in the attacks in the Belgian capital that killed at least 31 people and wounded 300 others.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 24 Mar 2016 [PDF]
Pentagon Envoy Says Closing Guantanamo is National Security Issue AFPS 23 Mar 2016 -- Significant numbers of Defense Department and senior military leaders say closing the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba is the single most important action the United States can take to counter terrorism, DoD's special envoy for Guantanamo detention closure said on Capitol Hill today.
Leaders of Lorenzana Drug Trafficking Organization Convicted on International Narcotics Trafficking Charges US Dept. of Justice 23 Mar 2016 -- Eliu Elixander Lorenzana-Cordon and Waldemar Lorenzana-Cordon, leaders of a Guatemala-based international drug trafficking organization responsible for importing multi-ton quantities of cocaine into the United States, were convicted on international narcotics trafficking charges in the District of Columbia following a four-week trial.
Brussels Reels, Bombers Named A Day After Attacks RFE/RL 23 Mar 2016 -- Brussels residents are struggling to regain a semblance of normal life, while authorities say two suicide-bomber brothers struck the city's main airport and a subway car in attacks Belgium's prime minister said displayed "absolutely abominable brutality."
UK Security Services Prevent Seven Terror Attacks Over Last 18 Months Sputnik 23 Mar 2016 -- UK Home Secretary Theresa May said that in the last 18 months, the police and the security services have disrupted seven terrorist plots to attack the UK.
Belgian Police Slammed Over Lack of Coordination, Chaos, Confusion Sputnik 23 Mar 2016 -- In the aftermath of the Brussels bombings, the Belgian police and intelligence services have been heavily criticized, with the police accused of being uncoordinated and out-of-touch with the communities they serve.
Turkey Detained, Deported Suspected Brussels Attacker in 2015 VOA 23 Mar 2016 -- One of the men identified as a suicide bomber in the deadly terror attacks in Brussels had been detained by Turkey and deported to Europe, where he was released about eight months ago, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday.
Obama: Defeating Islamic State is 'Top Priority' VOA 23 Mar 2016 -- President Barack Obama says destroying Islamic State is his "top priority," a day after the extremist group claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack that killed 31 people in Belgium.
US Presidential Candidates Trade Barbs Over Terrorism VOA 23 Mar 2016 -- The leading U.S. presidential candidates are trading new ideas and sharp barbs over how best to cope with the threat of terrorism in the immediate aftermath of the deadly Brussels terrorist attacks.
Islamic State Losing Ground, But Not the War VOA 23 Mar 2016 -- While Brussels was reeling from the bloodshed after Islamic State (IS) bombed civilians in the airport and a metro station, Iraqi forces were piling up body bags from multiple suicide bombings across central, western and northern Iraq.
Pentagon Confirms Guantanamo Transfers Have Killed Americans VOA 23 Mar 2016 -- A senior Defense Department official told U.S. lawmakers Wednesday that Americans have been killed by detainees who were released from the prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
IS Bombmaker for Paris Attacks Is Confirmed Killed in Brussels VOA 23 Mar 2016 -- Intelligence officials said Wednesday that a 25-year-old Islamic State bombmaker who was involved in the Paris attacks in November was one of two suicide bombers who targeted the Brussels airport this week.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 23 Mar 2016 [PDF]
Computer Hacking Conspiracy Charges Unsealed Against Members of Syrian Electronic Army US Dept. of Justice 22 Mar 2016 -- Three Syrian nationals, all current or former members of the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA), were charged with multiple conspiracies related to computer hacking, according to two criminal complaints unsealed today in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia.
Belgian Police Launch Searches After Deadly Attacks In Brussels RFE/RL 22 Mar 2016 -- Belgian officials have increased security and launched searches around the country after powerful bomb blasts at the main airport and a subway station in Brussels killed at least 34 people in attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.
Readout of the President's Call with Prime Minister Charles Michel of Belgium The White House 22 Mar 2016
The United States Condemns the Terrorist Attacks in Brussels, Belgium US Dept. of State 22 Mar 2016
Secretary Kerry's Call With Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders US Dept. of State 22 Mar 2016
Europe ramps up security in wake of Brussels attacks People's Daily 22 Mar 2016 -- European governments moved swiftly to beef up security in the wake of the attacks in Brussels which officials say killed many people and injured hundreds.
Brussels Under Lockdown After Deadly Attacks RFE/RL 22 Mar 2016 -- Powerful bomb blasts struck the main airport and the subway system in Brussels on March 22, killing at least 34 people in attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.
UN strongly condemns terrorist bombings in Brussels, calling it 'an attack on us all' UN News 22 Mar 2016 -- Senior United Nations officials have strongly condemned today's terrorist bombings in Brussels, extending condolences to the victims and their families while expressing solidarity with the people and Government of Belgium.
Belgian Police Hunt for Brussels Attack Suspect VOA 22 Mar 2016 -- Belgian police issued a wanted notice for a suspect in the Brussels airport bombing, one of three explosions claimed by Islamic State that rocked the capital Tuesday, killing at least 30 people.
World Leaders Strongly Condemn Brussels Attacks VOA 22 Mar 2016 -- The deadly explosions in Brussels Tuesday have drawn strong condemnation from leaders around the world.
Terror Attacks Raise Alarm About Belgian Security Agencies VOA 22 Mar 2016 -- Belgium's capital will remain on virtual lockdown for days while the country's hard-pressed security services try to determine who was behind Tuesday's bomb attacks - whether the perpetrators and planners were surviving members of the large network behind last November's terrorist strike in Paris or the work of a new group that authorities have failed to identify.
US Indicts 'Syrian Electronic Army' for Computer Hacking VOA 22 Mar 2016 -- The U.S. Justice Department has indicted three members of the so-called "Syrian Electronic Army," a group it says was dedicated to compromising the computer systems of the U.S. government, international groups and media organizations it regarded as being antagonistic towards the Syrian regime.
IS Forcing Children to Be Killers, Suicide Bombers VOA 22 Mar 2016 -- Islamic State (IS) extremists are training Iraqi and Syrian children as young as eight years old to carry out suicide attacks and fight to kill, Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga commanders tell VOA.
British Spy Agency GCHQ Moves Fast to Prevent Mass Energy Hack Attack Sputnik 22 Mar 2016 -- The UK intelligence agency GCHQ has stepped in to prevent a massive hack attack on Britain's energy networks after discovering so-called "smart meters" - designed to replace 53 million gas and electricity meters can be easily hacked.
Flare-up of Ebola epidemic kills five in Guinea: Health officials Press TV 22 Mar 2016 -- A flare-up of Ebola epidemic in Guinea has killed at least five people since December last year when the West African country was declared free of Ebola virus transmission.
Liberia Closes Border With Guinea After Ebola Flare-up VOA 22 Mar 2016 -- Liberian officials ordered the border with neighboring Guinea closed Tuesday amid concerns of a new outbreak of the Ebola virus.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 22 Mar 2016 [PDF]
Key Paris Attacks Accomplice Identified VOA 21 Mar 2016 -- Belgian authorities have identified a key accomplice of Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam, as new developments underscore the tangled and far-flung network behind the November 13 terrorist attacks and rising new threats.
Turkey faced with biggest wave of terror: Erdogan Press TV 21 Mar 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to curb what he calls "one of the biggest and bloodiest terrorist waves" that his country has ever seen.
Syrian Kurds Accuse Ankara of Allowing Terrorists to Enter From Turkey Sputnik 21 Mar 2016 -- Turkey will take all the responsibility for allowing terrorists to enter Syria.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 21 Mar 2016 [PDF]
Algerian soldiers kill militants behind gas plant attack Press TV 20 Mar 2016 -- Algeria's military has killed at least four militants in a desert region where an Algerian gas plant jointly operated by foreign energy giants came under attack with rocket-propelled grenades.
Belgian suicide bomber changed his mind during Paris attacks Press TV 20 Mar 2016 -- The main suspect in last November's deadly attacks in Paris says he initially "wanted to blow himself up" but changed his mind.
Paris Bomb Suspect Says Planned To Blow Self Up At Stadium RFE/RL 20 Mar 2016 -- The prime surviving suspect for last year's Paris attacks has said he planned to blow himself up at a sports stadium but changed his mind.
Lawyer of Paris Attacks Suspect to Launch Legal Action VOA 20 Mar 2016 -- The lawyer defending Europe's most wanted terror suspect Salah Abdeslam says he will sue French prosecutors for releasing confidential information regarding the investigation.
Turkey Blames Islamic State Militant for Istanbul Blast VOA 20 Mar 2016 -- Turkey blamed an Islamic State militant Sunday for the suicide bombing in Istanbul the day before that killed four people and wounded dozens more.
Daesh terrorist behind Istanbul bombing: Minister Press TV 20 Mar 2016 -- The attacker behind Saturday's bombing in the Turkish city of Istanbul has been identified as an affiliate of the Daesh Takfiri group, Interior Minister Efkan Ala says.
N Africa al-Qaeda branch claims Algeria gas plant attack Press TV 19 Mar 2016 -- Al-Qaeda's North African affiliate has claimed responsibility for an attack on an Algerian gas plant in the Sahara operated by the British Petroleum (BP) and Norwegian Statoil.
Suicide Bombing Rocks Istanbul RFE/RL 19 Mar 2016 -- A suicide bomber has killed himself and four others in a central Istanbul shopping district, wounding at least 36 more people in the fourth such attack in Turkey this year.
Prosecutor: Top Suspect in Paris Attack Planned Suicide, Changed Mind VOA 19 Mar 2016 -- A French prosecutor said Saturday that the top suspect in the November terrorist attacks that killed 130 people in Paris planned to blow himself up outside a soccer stadium, but changed his mind.
Two Americans Among 5 Killed In Istanbul Suicide Blast VOA 19 Mar 2016 -- The White House said two Americans were among five people killed in a suicide bombing Saturday in the main shopping district of Istanbul.
Kurdish militants may launch attacks on Europe, Erdogan warns Press TV 18 Mar 2016 -- Using the momentum of fear created by a recent deadly attack in Ankara that was claimed by a Kurdish group, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned European countries that they could become a victim of such attacks.
Belgian police arrest prime suspect in Paris attacks: Report Press TV 18 Mar 2016 -- Belgian police have reportedly arrested Salah Abdeslam, the prime suspect in the November 13, 2015 attacks in France.
Paris Attacks Suspect Captured Alive in Belgian Raid VOA 18 Mar 2016 -- The top suspect linked to the November 13 terror attacks in France has been arrested in Belgium, a Belgian minister said
Key Paris Attack Suspect Arrested In Brussels RFE/RL 18 Mar 2016 -- Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the November Paris attacks, and several other suspects have been arrested in the Belgian capital.
France to Demand Extradition of Paris Mastermind After Brussels Arrest Sputnik 18 Mar 2016 -- Following the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, the mastermind of the Paris attacks, by Brussels authorities, France is requesting an extradition.
Ebola: UN health agency sends specialists to help contain flare-up in Guinea UN News 18 Mar 2016 -- The United Nations health agency has dispatched a team of specialists to Guinea after 2 new cases of Ebola were confirmed yesterday, the first re-emergence of the deadly virus in the Western African country since its original outbreak was declared over on 29 December 2015.
Captured American IS Fighter's Story Raising 'Red Flags' VOA 18 Mar 2016 -- Intelligence officials are taking a close look at what an American Islamic State (IS) fighter is telling Kurdish media; parts of his account raise as many questions as answers.
Guantanamo Handover Unlikely, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry Says VOA 18 Mar 2016 -- Indonesian officials said Friday that alleged Southeast Asian terror chief Hambali won't likely return home if President Barack Obama's plan to close the U.S. prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, prevails.
Militants Attack Algeria Gas Plant, No Casualties VOA 18 Mar 2016 -- Unknown attackers fired rockets at a natural gas plant in southern Algeria Friday but there are no reports of casualties.
Cybercom Commander: Other Nations' Cyberspace Ops Intensified AFPS 18 Mar 2016 -- U.S. Cyber Command has witnessed intensified cyberspace operations by state and nonstate actors and wide-ranging malicious cyber activities targeting the government and the private sector in the past year, Cybercom commander Navy Adm. Michael S. Rogers told a House panel March 16.
US, China Open Joint Nuclear Safety Center VOA 18 Mar 2016 -- China and the U.S. opened a joint nuclear safety center in Beijing Friday intended to offer training on the safe handling of nuclear materials and the prevention of terrorist attacks on nuclear facilities.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 18 Mar 2016 [PDF]
PKK Splinter Group Claims Responsibility For Ankara Attack RFE/RL 17 Mar 2016 -- A splinter group of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has claimed responsibility for the attack in Ankara on March 13 that killed 37 people.
Daesh committing 'genocide' against Shias, Christians: Kerry Press TV 17 Mar 2016 -- US Secretary of State John Kerry has determined that the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group is committing "genocide" against religious minorities in Iraq and Syria.
Remarks on Daesh and Genocide US Dept. of State 17 Mar 2016 -- Remarks by John Kerry, US Secretary of State
Kerry: IS Atrocities Are Genocide VOA 17 Mar 2016 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has determined that atrocities committed by the Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq and Syria constitute genocide.
Under Military Pressure, IS Lost 22 Percent of Its Territory in 15 Months VOA 17 Mar 2016 -- Increased military pressure against Islamic State fighters in both Syria and Iraq led to the group losing 22 percent of its territory in the past 15 months, with about half of the loss coming since the beginning of this year.
UN confirms Sierra Leone's Ebola flare-up is over, but cautions more are possible UN News 17 Mar 2016 -- The latest flare-up of Ebola in Sierra Leone is over, the United Nations health agency today reported, but cautioned that the West African region remains at risk and should remain on alert.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 17 Mar 2016 [PDF]
Kerry to Take More Time on IS Genocide Decision VOA 16 Mar 2016 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told the Congress he needs more time to determine whether atrocities committed by the Islamic State group constitute genocide, but a decision will be made "very soon," according to the State Department.
1 Dead, 2 Detained in Belgian Raid Linked to Paris Attacks VOA 16 Mar 2016 -- Belgian authorities say an Algerian man was killed during a shootout near Brussels and a flag of the Islamic State group as well as jihadist literature were found at the scene. Two other suspects were detained as a manhunt continues in an operation linked to the November terrorist attacks in Paris.
US Investigating American Islamic State Member VOA 16 Mar 2016 -- U.S. law enforcement authorities said Wednesday they have started an investigation into how an American ended up joining Islamic State jihadists in Iraq before he was captured this week by Kurdish Peshmerga forces.
Death Toll Rises in Ivory Coast Terror Attack, Government Reports VOA 16 Mar 2016 -- The death toll from Sunday's terror attack in the Ivory Coast is at 19, government officials say.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 16 Mar 2016 [PDF]
AQIM Expanding Reach in West Africa VOA 15 Mar 2016 -- The deadly terror attack in Ivory Coast Sunday was the latest in a recent string of high-profile attacks in previously untouched parts of West Africa. The attacks have all been claimed by the same group, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, which not only appears to be bouncing back after the 2013 regional military intervention in Mali but also shifting strategy.
Pentagon Says Top IS Commander Died From Air Strike Injuries RFE/RL 15 Mar 2016 -- Top Islamic State commander (IS) Umar al-Shishani, also known as 'Omar the Chechen,' died from injuries he received from a U.S. air strike, Pentagon officials confirmed on March 14.
US: IS Commander 'Omar the Chechen' Has Died VOA 15 Mar 2016 -- The United States says that a top Islamic State commander known as Omar the Chechen has died from injuries he suffered a week ago when an American airstrike targeted him in Syria.
Daesh commander alive with no injuries, report says Press TV 15 Mar 2016 -- News of the death of a senior commander of the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group in a US airstrike in Syria is rejected, a report says.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 15 Mar 2016 [PDF]
Readout of Secretary of Defense Ash Carter's Meeting With Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon DoD 14 Mar 2016
Louisiana Guardsmen Rescue Thousands in Floods AFPS 14 Mar 2016 -- Louisiana National Guardsmen have rescued more than 4,000 people in the floods that have inundated the state over the past week, a state Guard spokesman said.
In Vienna, UN urges focus on 'shared responsibility' to combat illicit drugs UN News 14 Mar 2016 -- Ahead of a special session on drugs at the United Nations General Assembly, senior United Nations officials today focused on the people affected by drugs and the shared international responsibility in stopping the suffering caused by these illicit substances.
US House Votes to Declare IS Genocide against Christians, Yazidis VOA 14 Mar 2016 -- The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed, by a 383-to-0 vote, a bipartisan resolution declaring that systemic violence committed by Islamic State (IS) against Christians, Yazidis, Kurds and other ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and Syria constitutes genocide.
Al-Qaeda militants claim Ivory Coast attacks Press TV 14 Mar 2016 -- The al-Qaeda's North African affiliate has claimed responsibility for the recent deadly attacks in an Ivory Coast resort town that left a total of 22 people dead.
Security Council condemns Côte d'Ivoire deadly terrorist attack UN News 14 Mar 2016 -- The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned yesterday's terrorist attacks in Grand-Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire, that killed at least 16 people and left many more injured, and for which Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb has claimed responsibility.
Death Toll in Ivory Coast Attack at 21 VOA 14 Mar 2016 -- Officials in Ivory Coast say a total of 21 people were killed in Sunday's attack by jihadist militants on a popular beach resort.
US Pressured to Reach Genocide Decision on IS VOA 14 Mar 2016 -- Pressure is growing for the Obama administration to formally determine whether the Islamic State group is committing "genocide" against Christians, Yazidi and other religious and ethnic minorities in the Middle East.
Turkey: One of Ankara Attackers was Female Kurdish Rebel VOA 14 Mar 2016 -- Turkey pointed Monday to two Kurdish rebels – a man and a woman – as the likely attackers in the deadly suicide car bombing Sunday in Ankara that killed 37 people and wounded more than 100.
Ankara Bomb Attack Kills 34; Erdogan Vows to Fight Terrorism VOA 14 Mar 2016 -- Turkish officials expect to announce Monday the conclusions of their investigation into a bombing Sunday in the country's capital, Ankara, that killed at least 34 people and drew condemnations from across the world.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 14 Mar 2016 [PDF]
Car bomb rocks Turkish capital, '27 killed, 75 injured' Press TV 13 Mar 2016 -- A bomb blast has occurred in the center of the Turkish capital of Ankara, killing at least 27 people and injuring 75 more, the governor's office said.
Blast Rocks Turkish Capital, Killing At Least 27 VOA 13 Mar 2016 -- A large explosion ripped through the main square in Turkey's capital, Ankara, on Sunday, killing at least 27 people and wounding 75.
Al-Qaida Affiliate Claims Attack that Killed 16 in Ivory Coast VOA 13 Mar 2016 -- Al-Qaida's North African affiliate has claimed an attack by six heavily-armed assailants on an Ivory Coast resort that killed 14 civilians and two soldiers on Sunday.
22 killed as gunmen attack hotels in Ivory Coast beach resort Press TV 13 Mar 2016 -- Attacks on three hotels in the Ivory Coast beach resort of Grand-Bassam have killed 22 people, including at least four Europeans.
N Korea rejects South's 'fabricated' cyber attack claims Press TV 13 Mar 2016 -- North Korea has rejected as "shameless fabrications" the South's accusations that Pyongyang carried out cyber attacks against officials in Seoul, saying such claims are politically-motivated.
Northcom's First Priority is 'No-Fail' Homeland Defense, Commander Says AFPS 11 Mar 2016 -- Homeland defense is the first priority of U.S. Northern Command, Navy Adm. William E. Gortney told members of the House Armed Services Committee yesterday.
Leaked Daesh files likely genuine: German police Press TV 11 Mar 2016 -- The Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany (BKA) says it is highly probable that the leaked files containing a treasure trove of details about Daesh terrorists are authentic.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 11 Mar 2016 [PDF]
UN: cooperation among judges vital to counter-terrorism efforts, human rights protection UN News 10 Mar 2016 -- Formal cooperation among judges is essential in bringing individuals charged with terrorism-related crimes to justice and ensuring that the rule of law is upheld throughout the process, according to officials at a United Nations event that for the first time brought together Supreme Court justices to discuss how terrorism cases are handled in their respective countries.
Daesh registration forms identify 22k militants: Report Press TV 10 Mar 2016 -- A batch of leaked documents from Takfiri Daesh terrorist group shows the militant group has recruited some 22,000 militants from 51 countries.
Disillusioned Daesh Recruit Leaks 22,000 Jihadist Names to Media Sputnik 10 Mar 2016 -- A memory stick containing tens of thousands of documents, including 22,000 names and contact details of Daesh militants has been handed to western media in what's been described as an unprecedented haul of information on the terrorist group.
Thousands of Stolen 'IS Files' Could Unmask Terrorists VOA 10 Mar 2016 -- Counter-terrorism experts in Germany and other countries are studying tens of thousands of data files allegedly stolen from the Islamic State group. They are said to contain detailed personal information about terrorist recruits.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 10 Mar 2016 [PDF]
US Jury Convicts Ex-Air Force Member of Trying to Join IS VOA 09 Mar 2016 -- A federal jury in New York Wednesday found a former member of the U.S. Air Force guilty of trying to enter Syria and join Islamic State.
'No terrorist attack can reverse Tunisia's democracy,' UN Security Council says UN News 09 Mar 2016 -- Strongly condemning the 7 March terrorist attack in Tunisia, the United Nations Security Council last night stressed that "no terrorist attack can reverse Tunisia's democracy and its efforts towards economic recovery and development."
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 09 Mar 2016 [PDF]
U.S. Air Strikes Likely Killed Top IS Commander, 'The Chechen' RFE/RL 09 Mar 2016 -- Pentagon officials said U.S. air strikes last week likely killed a top Islamic State (IS) commander known as Umar 'the Chechen' al-Shishani, along with 12 other IS fighters.
Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook on Syria Airstrike DoD 08 Mar 2016 -- A U.S. airstrike on March 4, near al Shaddadi, Syria, targeted senior ISIL leader Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili, also known as Abu Umar al-Shishani, and 'Omar the Chechen.'
US Trying to Determine if Key IS Leader Killed in Airstrike VOA 08 Mar 2016 -- The United States is trying to determine if an airstrike last week in Syria killed a top Islamic State leader.
Analysts See Long Fight Ahead Against Al-Shabab VOA 08 Mar 2016 -- The Pentagon says a U.S. airstrike against al-Shabab in Somalia last Saturday killed more than 150 militants. Analysts say the strike was a major coup but that African Union troops in Somalia still have a long fight ahead of them.
Netanyahu praises GCC blacklisting of Hezbollah Press TV 08 Mar 2016 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised a decision by Persian Gulf Arab states to blacklist Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement.
Analysts: Inaction Strengthens IS in Libya VOA 08 Mar 2016 -- Immediate international action against Islamic State extremists in Libya is needed to prevent the terrorist group from expanding further, regardless of the status of peace talks on a unity government there, analysts say.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 08 Mar 2016 [PDF]
Philippine Rebels Warn of Rising Islamic State Influence VOA 07 Mar 2016 -- The leader of the main Muslim rebel group fighting for autonomy in the southern Philippines warns the Islamic State could soon gain the upper hand in establishing a foothold in the region.
S.Korea's spy agency to hold emergency meeting over DPRK's cyber terror threats People's Daily 07 Mar 2016 -- South Korea's spy agency will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to go over the preparations of government agencies against potential cyber terror threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Yonhap news agency reported Monday.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 07 Mar 2016 [PDF]
US May Use National Guard Cyber Operations Against Militants AFPS 06 Mar 2016 -- The U.S. National Guard's cyber unit may join the fight against the Islamic State terrorist group in Iraq and Syria, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said.
India's Gujarat on high alert over militant infiltration concerns Press TV 06 Mar 2016 -- India has deployed elite security forces to Gujarat amid concerns over the infiltration of a group of militants from Pakistan into the country's westernmost state, police say.
Cameroon's Capital on Edge About Potential Terrorist Attack VOA 05 Mar 2016 -- Panic has gripped Cameroon's capital, Yaounde, after a confidential letter from the country's defense minister leaked to social media stating that Boko Haram terrorists had arrived in the city.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 04 Mar 2016 [PDF]
[P]GCC decision on Hezbollah in line with Israeli agenda: Syria Press TV 03 Mar 2016 -- The Syrian government says the move by the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council ([P]GCC) in declaring the Hezbollah resistance movement a "terrorist group" is in line with the Israeli regime's agenda.
Hezbollah criticizes [P]GCC states as reckless, hostile Press TV 03 Mar 2016 -- Lebanon's resistance movement, Hezbollah, has described the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council member states as "reckless and hostile" after the Arab body labeled the movement a terrorist organization.
Hezbollah embodiment of anti-terror fight: Iran Press TV 03 Mar 2016 -- Iran has condemned a decision by the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council to blacklist Lebanon's Hezbollah, saying the resistance movement is in fact a "potent symbol" of struggles against terror and Israeli occupation.
Syria Slams GCC's Move to Call Hezbollah Terrorist Group Sputnik 03 Mar 2016 -- The Syrian government has strongly condemned the decision of the Gulf Cooperation Council (CCASG or GCC) to include the Lebanon-based Shiite Hezbollah militant group in its terrorist organization list.
GCC branding of Hezbollah as terrorist a new mistake: Iran Press TV 03 Mar 2016 -- Iran says a decision by Persian Gulf Arab states to brand Lebanon's Hezbollah as a terrorist group is a 'new mistake' that will undermine peace in the region and unity in Lebanon.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 03 Mar 2016 [PDF]
DoD Invites Vetted Specialists to 'Hack' the Pentagon AFPS 02 Mar 2016 -- The Defense Department is launching a pilot program in April to allow vetted computer security specialists to do their best to hack DoD public web pages, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said today.
Mexican Drug Lord El Chapo Wants Extradition to US VOA 02 Mar 2016 -- Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman has asked his lawyers to speed up his extradition to the United States, saying he is being mistreated.
Jittery Islamic State Lashes Out VOA 02 Mar 2016 -- Several mass executions by the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq suggest the terror group is encountering more dissent or at least fears losing its grip on the territory it controls.
Pentagon to Law-abiding US Hackers: We Want You VOA 02 Mar 2016 -- The Pentagon issued an invitation Wednesday to hackers - provided they're U.S. citizens and can pass a background check - to attack its websites as a test of its cybersecurity.
Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook on DoD's "Hack the Pentagon" Cybersecurity Initiative DoD 02 Mar 2016 -- The Department of Defense announced today that it will invite vetted hackers to test the department's cybersecurity under a unique pilot program. The "Hack the Pentagon" initiative is the first cyber bug bounty program in the history of the federal government.
Suicide Attack Targets India's Consulate In Eastern Afghanistan RFE/RL 02 Mar 2016 -- A suicide attack targeted India's diplomatic compound in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on March 2, with explosions and gunfire rattling the diplomatic district.
Gulf Nations Label Hezbollah a Terrorist Group VOA 02 Mar 2016 -- The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council announced Wednesday it has labeled the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah a terrorist organization.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 02 Mar 2016 [PDF]
Bin Laden Predicted 'Islamic State' Would Fail VOA 01 Mar 2016 -- Osama bin Laden predicted the demise of the Islamic State (IS), warning before his death that any effort by jihadists to declare a caliphate before defeating the West would be doomed to fail.
Afghanistan Welcomes Chinese Anti-terror Proposal VOA 01 Mar 2016 -- China's military chief General Fang Fenghui is in the Afghan capital, Kabul, talking to the Afghan leadership about a four-nation regional alliance against terrorism.
Bin Laden Wanted $29 Million Estate Spent on Jihad VOA 01 Mar 2016 -- Osama bin Laden, who ordered the 2001 al-Qaida attacks on the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people, claimed in his last will to have about $29 million in personal wealth, most of which he wanted spent 'on jihad, for the sake of Allah.'
Al-Qaida Recruitment in Syria May Jump VOA 01 Mar 2016 -- Rebel commanders and opposition activists are warning that jihadist recruitment of Syrian fighters is likely to jump in the coming months because of the collapse of some moderate militias and a shake-up of others in the wake of a Russian-backed Syrian government offensive in northern Syria.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 01 Mar 2016 [PDF]

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March 2016 Security News