Afghanistan: Terror Central | Muzzled Counter-Terrorism Measures | Ericsson & ISIS, and more

Counter-Terrorism Measures in Online Safety Bill ‘Muzzled and Confused’, Watchdog Says  (Lizzie Dearden, Independent)
Counter-terrorism measures in the government’s Online Safety Bill could be “muzzled and confused”, a watchdog has said. Jonathan Hall QC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, recommended that parts of the delayed law are rewritten to provide “greater clarity”. The bill aims to force online platforms and media companies to find and remove terrorist content, and gives Ofcom powers to fine those who do not. But Mr Hall said there were problems with its definition of the “terrorism content” that will be regulated. “Duties in the bill - aimed at minimizing ‘the risks of [terrorist] harm to individuals arising from illegal content and activity’ - are unclear,” said an assessment published on Wednesday. “It risks creating legislation that is muzzled and confused.” The bill defines it as anything where the image, words or video, or the publishing, viewing or accessing of it, “amount to” a terror offence. Mr Hall said that under the terror laws listed, content itself can never amount to an offence and that crimes must be committed by people. “Conduct is rarely sufficient on its own to ‘amount to’ or ‘constitute’ a terrorism offence,” he added. “It must ordinarily be accompanied by a mental element and/or take place in the absence of a defense.

‘Co-Founder’ of Neo-Nazi Terror Group National Action Celebrated Jo Cox’s Murder, Performed a Heil Hitler Salute in a Gas Chamber and Coined the Phrase ‘White Jihad’  (Darren Boyle, Daily Mail)
The alleged co-founder of a neo-Nazi terror group intent on ‘all-out race war’ and which ‘celebrated’ the murder of MP Jo Cox has gone on trial accused of being a member of the organization after it was banned. Alex Davies, 27, is accused of being a member of the proscribed organization, National Action, by setting up an off-shoot following its ban in December 2016. Barnaby Jameson QC, prosecuting, told Winchester Crown Court that the organization aimed to complete the work of Adolf Hitler, and co-founder Ben Raymond had coined the phrase ‘white jihad’ - meaning ‘white terror’ - for the group in a ‘throwback to Nazi Germany’. Mr Jameson said the group’s symbol, was ‘a direct nod’ to the symbol of the ‘Sturmabteilung’ meaning storm detachment - the paramilitary wing of the Nazi party. Mr Jameson said the group ‘advocated the same Nazi aims and ideals - the ethnic cleansing of anyone who did not fit the Aryan Nazi mold: Jews (primarily), Muslims, people of color, people of Asian descent, people of gay orientation and anyone remotely liberal.’ Mr Jameson added: ‘The group specifically targeted female Members of Parliament perceived to be pro-migrant. ‘When Jo Cox MP was murdered in June 2016 the North East chapter of National Action openly celebrated her killing and expressed support for her killer, Thomas Mair, on social media.

Ericsson Admits US Fines ‘Likely’ Over Possible ISIS Payments  (Financial Times)
Swedish telecoms equipment maker Ericsson has warned it will probably face further fines from US regulators over its handling of allegations that it made payments to terror group Isis in Iraq. The company’s chief executive Borje Ekholm said on Thursday that the company was engaging with US authorities in relation to breach notices they issued and that penalties levied against Ericsson “may likely include additional monetary payments, the magnitude of which cannot at this time be reliably estimated”. Ekholm conceded in February that the company could have made payments to Isis in Iraq for access to routes that would allow it to evade local customs, dealing a blow to investor confidence. Shareholders owning more than 10 per cent of the company — whose stock has lost about 14 per cent of its value since the start of the year — voted against discharging board members of liability for the handling of the corruption probe and its findings last month. Ericsson’s share price closed down 5 per cent on Thursday. In late 2019, the Swedish company paid more than $1bn to US authorities to settle criminal and civil investigations into corruption alleged to have taken place in countries including China, Vietnam and Kuwait.

4 Germans Arrested Over Extremist Blackout, Kidnapping Plan  (APNews)
Four people were arrested in Germany and weapons were seized in an investigation into suspected anti-government extremists who allegedly planned to cause a long nationwide blackout and kidnap well-known figures including the country’s health minister, authorities said Thursday. Prosecutors in Koblenz and Rhineland-Palatinate’s state criminal police office said that raids were carried out at 20 properties across Germany Wednesday following an investigation launched in October. The suspects were members of a chat group called “United Patriots” on the Telegram messaging service. Investigators said the suspects were associated with the protest movement against coronavirus restrictions and with the Reich Citizens movement, which disputes the legitimacy of the post-World War II German constitution and, by extension, the current government. In all, 12 people are under investigation. Authorities said the group’s declared aim was to destroy electricity supply facilities and cause a long blackout across the country, with the goal of producing “conditions similar to civil war” and ultimately overthrowing the country’s democratic system. Police seized 22 firearms, including a Kalashnikov rifle, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition, thousands of euros in cash, and numerous gold bars and silver coins.

Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Hate-Motivated Threats Against a U.S. Member of Congress  (DOJ)
A Florida man pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court to threatening a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
According to information presented at the guilty plea hearing, on July 16, 2019, while in Sarasota, Hannon sent an email to U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar threatening to kill her. Hannon sent the email following a televised press conference held by Representative Omar and three other U.S. Congresswomen. In his threatening email, which had a subject line that read, “[You’re] dead, you radical Muslim,” Hannon referred to Congresswoman Omar and the other Congresswomen of color as “radical rats,” and asked Congresswoman Omar if she was prepared “to die for Islam.” The email further stated that Hannon was going to shoot the Congresswomen in the head.