TerrorismISIS bomb-making videos continue to be available on Google platforms

One of ISIS’s most notorious bomb-making videos is frequently and continually uploaded to Google web platforms, and there is little indication that the company is taking the appropriate steps to prevent these reuploads. “You Must Fight Them O Muwahhid” is one of ISIS’s most infamous videos, urging attacks in the West, displaying knife attack tactics on a live human target, and notably, providing instructions for building an explosive device with easily obtainable materials.

The Counterextremism Project (CEP) notes that ISIS released the video more than one year ago, and it has been removed from Google platforms several times, but has reappeared again. “The video was reuploaded most recently in January of 2018, indicating Google’s ongoing failure to address the problem of extremist content on their services in a consistent and transparent manner,” CEP says.

The video shows how to manufacture TATP, a powerful but unstable explosive that can be made using basic household components—making it a favorite of different extremist groups. TATP explosives have been detected in multiple terror plots: the September 2017 Parsons Green attempted bombing; the Barcelona terror cell in August 2017; the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017; the Brussels airport and metro station attacks in March 2016; the November 2015 Paris attacks; the 7/7 al-Qaeda attacks in London; and even Richard Reid’s airborne shoe bombing attempt in December 2001. 

Specifically, these how-to TATP bomb-making guides and videos have been linked to deadly incidents. Easily available explosive video tutorials were cited by The Times as aiding the Manchester bomber, Salman Abedi. More recently, Munir Mohammed, found guilty in January of preparing a terror attack in the United Kingdom, had viewed “You Must Fight Them O Muwahhid” and was acquiring the components necessary