Significant Terrorism Events in the News: July 1 - July 24, 2013

Jul 24, 2013

Katherine Sobotka

Pakistan: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader writes letter to Malala Yousafzai
A senior Pakistani Taliban leader recently published a letter expressing shock at last year's attack on Malala Yousafzai, a 16-year-old schoolgirl who was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen. The letter, which was originally posted on an Urdu-language jihadist forum, comes short of apologizing for the attack, stating instead that it is up to God to judge whether it was a correct action.

Rasheed does state that he wished he was able to warn Malala about the attack, which he calls an accident, before it happened and clarified that the attack was not because Malala was going to school, but because she was speaking out against the Taliban. Rasheed also encouraged Malala to return to Pakistan and resume her education there, rather than staying in England, where she currently lives.

BBC, "Senior Pakistani Taliban leader 'shocked' by Malala attack," July 17, 2013
Long War Journal, "Pakistani schoolgirl rattles Taliban," July 17, 2013
The Washington Post, "Taliban commander to Malala Yousafzai: 'When you were attacked it was shocking to me'," July 17, 2013

Syria: Al-Nusra Front assassinates leader of Free Syrian Army
Members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) have accused the al-Qa'ida linked al-Nusra Front of assassinating one of their leaders. Kamal Hamami, also known as Abu Bassir al-Ladkani, one of the top leaders of the FSA, was killed in the Turkmen mountains near the city of Latakia. His death comes after a heated debate between the two groups and a warning from the al-Nusra Front that there was no place in Syria for the secular rebels. The two groups have previously fought together against forces loyal to the Syrian president, but in recent weeks the groups have been focused more on fighting amongst themselves than attempting to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

Reuters, "New front opens in Syria as rebels say al Qaeda attack means war," July 12, 2013
Al Jazeera, "Free Syrian Army commander killed by rivals," July 12, 2013
The New York Times, "Momentum Shifts in Syria, Bolstering Assad's Position," July 17, 2013

France: Police arrest Anders Breivik sympathizer
French police have arrested Kristian "Varg" Vikernes on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack. Vikernes, a heavy metal musician well known in the neo-Nazi scene, has previously spent time in jail in Norway for killing another musician and for arson attacks on three churches. He was also one of the 530 people to whom Breivik sent a copy of his manifesto before he killed 77 people in July of 2011. Vikernes and his wife were under observation following some "violent" internet postings by Vikernes and they were arrested after Marie Cachet, Vikernes' wife, bought four rifles.

Fox News, "French police arrest Norwegian sympathizer of Anders Breivik on suspicion of planning attack," July 16, 2013
The Independent, "Musician and 'Anders Breivik sypathiser' Kristian Vikernes arrested in France for 'plotting massacre'," July 16, 2013
Daily Mail, "Norwegian neo-Nazi musician said to be an 'Anders Breivik sympathiser' arrested in France over fears he was plotting a similar massacre," July 16, 2013
The Vancouver Sun, "French police arrest Norwegian alleged Anders Breivik sympathizer on suspicion of planning attacks," July 16, 2013

Colombia: FARC leader says the conflict is nearing an end
Ivan Marquez, a leader for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who is taking part in peace talks with the Colombian government, has stated that the armed conflict is nearly over. The peace talks, which take place in Cuba, began last November and have resulted in an agreement on land reform, with five other items still remaining to be discussed. Government negotiators are pushing for a deal by November, but the FARC negotiator has cautioned against rushing into things, stating that a bad negotiation could be worse than continued war. Regardless, Marquez asserts that there can be no doubt that FARC is seriously committed to achieving peace. This is the fourth attempt at peace negotiations since the conflict began in the early 1960s.