EFTA00011039.pdf

From: [REDACTED]
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: News Brief
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2021 00:54:18 +0000

The No. 2 official at the F.B.I. is departing - The deputy director of the F.B.I. announced to the bureau's staff on Thursday that he was retiring, departing the bureau as the Biden administration takes over.
The exit of the official, David L. Bowdich, comes as the White House offered assurances on Thursday that President Biden would keep Christopher A. Wray as the bureau's director.

US soldier hoped to team up with ISIS to attack 9/11 Memorial: feds https://nypost.com/2021/01/19/us-soldier-wanted-to-team-with-isis-to-attack-9-11-memorial-feds/?utm_source=maropost&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nypevening&utm_content=20210119&tpcc=evening_update&mpweb=755-9252354-720539873

U.S. Soldier Accused Of Wanting To Plot ISIS Strike On 9/11 Memorial In New York City [NBC] NY/AT/CV
• A U.S. soldier was arrested Tuesday [Jan. 19] for allegedly saying he wanted to help ISIS strike the 9/11 Memorial in New York City and attempting to help ISIS to target U.S. soldiers in the Middle East.
• Cole James Bridges, 20, from Stow, Ohio went into an online forum and chatted with a person he thought was with ISIS, but was in fact an FBI undercover agent.
• Bridges is currently assigned to Fort Stewart in Georgia with the 3rd infantry division of the Army. He was arrested on charges of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and attempting to murder U.S. military service members. He faces up to 40 years in prison.
• "Cole James Bridges: is positive in FBI holdings. Program Manager: CTD

January 20, 2021
New York, NY
EFTA00011039

Man arrested on Upper East Side with SUV loaded with ammo, shotgun in aftermath of Capitol siege
A man was arrested on the Upper East Side Wednesday with an arsenal of ammunition, a shotgun and other tactical items in his SUV in connection with the ongoing raids surrounding the siege of the Capitol, according to documents in the vehicle and a law enforcement official.
Samuel Fisher was arrested near E. 89th St. and York Ave. on unspecified charges related to the Jan. 6 siege. He was awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Federal Court.
A search warrant return - a document which lists what was seized in a search - visible in the Chevrolet 1500 Tahoe SUV listed the shotgun, six cases of shotgun shells, 12 boxes of .9-mm ammunition, a black tactical vest with a loaded clip, eight more loaded clips, a second vest with ballistic plates and a knife, and two machetes.
Members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force huddled around Fisher's SUV as cops blocked E. 88th St. after making the arrest. Video from the scene showed an FBI officer carrying the shotgun seized from the SUV to an evidence van.
Also spotted in the car were an American flag, a copy of the Daily News with President Trump's face on it, an emergency poncho and B12 vitamins.
It wasn't immediately clear if Fisher is accused of being part of the Capitol siege or was arrested purely for online activity.
A second man, Patrick Edward McCaughey III, was arrested Tuesday night in the upstate town of South Salem. He is in custody and will be arraigned later Wednesday in White Plains Federal Court.
McCaughey is charged with using a riot shield to press against a Capitol police officer shown on video screaming as he's squeezed between a door in the midst of a violent confrontation with rioters at a key entry point in the Capitol, law enforcement sources said. The arrests followed dozens of others across the nation as federal authorities seek to hold people who stormed the Capitol responsible for their conduct, as well as anyone making online threats to kill elected officials. Five people died in the Capitol riot, including a police officer, in the hours-long siege that took place after President Trump exhorted a crowd to march to the Capitol. The unrest came as Congress was certifying the electoral college votes that won Sen. Joe Biden the presidency.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-capitol-riot-aftermath-arrest-upper-east-side-20210120-xxjoqypbpfavteabboxdhlaou4-story.html

Terror cells in Indonesia continue to recruit and plot attacks amid COVID-19 - As Indonesia grapples with the impact of COVID-19, terrorism cells in the country continue to spread radical messages, actively seeking new recruits and plotting their next attacks, a senior counterterrorism official said.
In an exclusive interview with CNA, the National Counter Terrorism Agency's (BNPT) director for enforcement, Eddy Hartono said although there has been no major terrorist attack during the pandemic, terrorism cells in Indonesia "are not sitting back and relaxing."
"They are actively recruiting, spreading their ideology, raising funds and conducting training," the Brigadier General said, adding that the only thing that has slowed during the pandemic is the sending of militants to join the ranks of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
The police's counterterrorism unit Densus 88 arrested a total of 232 people last year for alleged involvement in terrorism activities.
"They are indeed planning attacks on security officials, state institutions, military and the police," Mr Hartono said.
"Thank goodness we have been able to prevent (these attacks) from happening."
Among those who were arrested last year were two of Indonesia's most wanted terrorists Zulkarnaen and Upik Lawanga who have evaded capture for 19 and 14 years respectively.
Zulkarnaen, who goes by one name, was believed to be behind at least three terror attacks, including the 2002 Bali Bombings while Upik Lawanga was suspected of aiding a series of terror attacks between 2004 and 2006. Zulkarnaen was arrested in December and Lawanga was arrested in November......
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/indonesia-terrorism-attack-recruitment-plot-covid-19-bnpt-13959304

NCTC CT Weekly
(U) TERRORISM FINANCING TRENDS OVER THE LAST
The Hague (ICCT) published a paper titled "Funding in Place: Local Financing Trends Behind Today's Global Terrorist Threat," describing how the terrorist financing landscape has changed over the last decade. ICCT highlighted areas of terrorism financing including cryptocurrencies, criminal activities, hawala networks, and more. A major area of focus was the increasing trend of terrorists using localized financing, otherwise known as "funding in place."
(U) In mid-November, the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism in The Hague (ICCT) published a paper titled "Funding in Place: Local Financing Trends Behind Today's Global Terrorist Threat", describing how the terrorist financing landscape has changed over the last decade. ICCT highlighted areas of terrorism financing including cryptocurrencies, criminal activities, hawala networks, and more.
EFTA00011040

A major area of focus was the increasing trend of terrorists using localized financing, otherwise known as "funding in place."
(U) Whereas al-Qa'ida historically financed its affiliate groups and actors from afar, sending money for recruitment, transportation, training, etc., terrorist groups today are less reliant on funding from group leadership. "Funding in place" not only provides a layer of security by not having to worry about financial and intelligence tools interrupting funding streams, but also makes it significantly harder to detect possible terrorist financing scenarios and future attack plans. (ICCT)

U.S. Africa Command Forces Conduct Two Strikes On Al-Shabaab Operatives [DOD]
• In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command forces conducted two airstrikes in the vicinities of Jamaame and Deb Scinnele, Somalia, Jan. 19.
• Initial assessments indicate the strikes killed three al-Shabaab operatives.
• From Radio Dalsan – SOM: A US airstrike has destroyed radio station of the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group, Al-Shabaab, in southern Somalia. According to pro-Al-Shabaab media, the airstrike destroyed Radio Andalus in the Tiyeglow Bakool region. US Airstrikes Target Al-Shabaab Radio

Global Terrorism
Russia
• A senior Chechen official announced Wednesday that police had killed an alleged leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the volatile republic, according to media reports Asharq Al-Awsat
o The leader was designated in 2016 as a "global terrorist" by the U.S. Department of State, which said he had become an ISIS leader in June of 2015
. The State Department also said the man was responsible for suicide bombings in Russia including the January 2011 attack on Moscow's Domodedovo airport that killed 35
o The senior official said Chechen police officers had killed the ISIS leader and five militants associated with him who were on Russia's wanted list

Somalia
• On Tuesday, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) killed three al-Shabaab operatives after launching two airstrikes within the vicinity of Jamaame and Deb Scinnele in the Lower Juba region of southern Somalia, media reported Wednesday Garowe Online
o "These strikes targeted known al-Shabaab leaders involved in IED facilitation, fighter training, and attack planning," a U.S. Air Force official with Joint Task Force-Quartz said
o No civilians were killed or injured during the operation, AFRICOM added

Turkey
• Security teams arrested a suspect in southern Turkey over alleged links to ISIS, local authorities said on Wednesday Anadolu Agency
o The suspect, who was a so-called emir of the terror group in Syria and entered Turkey illegally, was arrested in an anti-terror operation in the Mersin province, local authorities said in a statement
o The suspect was plotting terrorist attacks against public institutions and organizations in the province, it added

Pro-AQ Unit Publishes Article Inciting Sudanese Muslims To Wage Jihad, Target "Crusaders" And Soldiers [SITE Intelligence]
• An al-Qaeda (AQ)-aligned media unit published an article inciting Sudanese Muslims to wage jihad domestically, urging they target "dens and centers of the Crusaders" and gatherings of soldiers.
• Thabaat News Agency distributed the article, entitled, "The Fighting, the Fighting.. O Heroes of Sudan," on January 19, 2021.
EFTA00011041

• Abu al-Bara' al-Libi, argued that the government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok "facilitated" the "Crusaders" plundering Sudan's resources, reaping benefits that the people do not receive, and together, conspired to normalize relations with Israel. He praised the Sudanese for their participation in all jihadi fronts, and said it is now their turn to turn Sudan into a battleground.

Kenya Defense Force Arrests Mastermind Of 2015 Mandera Bus Attack [Standard Media – KEN via Strategic Intelligence Service - KEN]
• The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) working together with Jubaland Security Forces (JSF) have arrested Abdullahi Dimbil Ahmed, the mastermind of the 2015 Mandera bus attack, Strategic Intelligence, an online [Kenyan] publication, reports.
• Dimbil was arrested on Monday [Jan. 18] together with one of his associates outside the Jubbaland Security Forces camp in Southern Somalia.

Mexico's Attorney General Escalates Fight With U.S. Over Former Minister [Reuters]
• Mexican Attorney General Alejandro Gertz said on Tuesday [Jan. 19] he was considering elevating to international courts a dispute with the United States over Mexico dropping an investigation into a former defense minister.
• Gertz said the U.S. Department of Justice had effectively declared ex-defense minister Salvador Cienfuegos innocent when it sent him back to Mexico and dropped U.S. charges against him after he was arrested in California last year.
• He defended his own decision to close a Mexican probe into whether Cienfuegos had colluded with a drug cartel, saying the U.S. evidence was inconsistent, included questionable physical descriptions of the retired general, and used testimony from two dead witnesses.

OCCRP
#GROUPAMERICA NEWS
Group America's Alleged Labor Ties — The criminal case against James Cahill, the president of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council, has taken a turn that is relevant to OCCRP's work.
Federal prosecutors say they have audio and video recordings that show Cahill has worked with the Serbian-American drug-trafficking gang known as Group America. He even allegedly spoke with the gang's leader, whom he referred to as "my guy" and part of a "mass murdering crew" in the recordings.
More Reading: Haven't heard of Group America? Read our investigation into this pervasive syndicate, which allegedly has ties to the CIA.

Maduro Ally Faces Extradition — A court in Cape Verde ruled on Monday that Venezuelan special envoy Alex Saab can be extradited to the United States where he faces money laundering charges. The law firm representing Saab compared the ruling to the U.S. extradition request for Julian Assange, who they also represented in the U.K.

Italian Foreign Fighter Arrested By Turkish Authorities [ANSA – ITA]
• A 24-year Italian man who allegedly fought with Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq was recently arrested by the Turkish authorities. The man moved to the Middle East in 2014 and an international arrest warrant was put out for him in 2017.
• He was arrested after being tracked down in the Syrian city of Idlib. He was transferred to the Turkish province of Hatay, where he was handed over to the Italian authorities.
• He is already in jail in Italy. The man's Turkish wife and three children stayed in Turkey.
EFTA00011042

• From Reuters: The hunt began on information from his parents in Switzerland, where he had lived and was radicalized. Italy Jails Suspected Al Qaeda Foreign Fighter Caught In Turkey

Saudi-American Relations Could Waiver Over Biden's Position On Khashoggi [Jerusalem Post]
• Questions abound regarding the fate of relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States under newly installed President Joe Biden, whose incoming administration has vowed to uncover the circumstances behind the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
• Avril Haynes, President Biden's candidate [update — now confirmed — see CONUS 3] to direct national intelligence, has pledged to declassify the intelligence report on the murder of Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post, and to present it to Congress.
• "Yes, I will abide by the law," Hines said during a Senate hearing on January 19, in response to a question from Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., about whether she would submit a report to Congress, if appointed director of national intelligence.

Portland [Oregon] Protesters Smash Windows Of Local Democratic Party Headquarters [MSN via New York Times] PD/SE/DN
• In Portland [OR], about 200 people clad in black marched to the local Democratic headquarters, where some of them smashed windows and tipped over garbage containers, lighting the contents of one on fire.
• Those who took to the streets on Wednesday said they were a mix of anarchists, anti-fascists and racial justice protesters. One of their signs said, "We don't want Biden — we want revenge" for killings committed by police officers and "fascist massacres."
• In Seattle, about 150 people marched with large banners that said "Abolish ICE, no cops, prisons, borders, presidents." Some spray-painted buildings with an anarchist symbol and broke windows, including at a federal courthouse.
• For video and photos see Daily Mail — UK: We Don't Care Who's President: Antifa Rioters Smash Windows At Oregon's Democratic Party Headquarters In Portland, Burn American Flags In Denver And Vandalize Stores In Seattle Just Hours After Biden Took Office

'A Total Failure': The Proud Boys Now Mock Trump Members of the far-right group, who were among Donald Trump's staunchest fans, are calling him "weak" as more of them were charged for storming the U.S. Capitol.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/technology/proud-boys-trump.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_20210121&instance_id=26148&nl=todaysheadlines®i_id=61898831&segment_id=49880&user_id=e1b0b0aa6b6cfe71980fae20cb1fb321

Self-styled militia members planned on storming the U.S. Capitol days in advance of Jan. 6 attack, court documents say
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/conspiracy-oath-keeper-arrest-capitol-riot/2021/01/19/fb84877a-5a4f-11eb-8bcf-3877871c819d_story.html?wpmk=1&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere&location=alert&pwapi_token=eyj0eXAIOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJlUzI1NiJ9.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.NA3x7wIqIIuJGoZQLQ_2k55r8m-MLPiV6E57Qqb5mtI

SITE: Bloomberg Interview with Rita Katz: "Online Extremism Expert Says Far Right Has Adapted ISIS Playbook"
In a post-Capitol Siege interview with Bloomberg, SITE director Rita Katz says the trajectory of the Far Right movement in the U.S. is very similar to that of ISIS, as "both were formed out of rejection of their movements' establishments, both
EFTA00011043

were adept at leveraging social media for recruitment and setting up vast online infrastructures, and both have prioritized action over a coherent ideology."
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-15/far-right-radicalization-site-intelligence-s-rita-katz-tracks-movement

U.S. Lawmakers Aim To Curtail Face Recognition Even As The Technology IDs Capitol Attackers [Reuters]
WFO/Multiple Field Offices
• U.S. lawmakers are moving ahead with efforts to ban facial recognition software even as the technology helps identify supporters of President Donald Trump who ransacked their workplace and forced them to evacuate this month.
• Researchers and law enforcement have been running photographs from the Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol through facial recognition, which looks for similar faces in databases of mugshots, social media headshots or other images.
• Senator Ed Markey said that the technology may not be worth the risks. Racial justice activists have warned that facial recognition can perpetuate discriminatory policing and constant tracking could become the norm.

'No Plan, No Q, Nothing': QAnon Followers Reel As Biden Inaugurated [Reuters] multiple field offices
• On Wednesday [Jan. 20], QAnon adherents grappled with a harsh reality check: Trump had left office with no mass arrests or other victories against the supposed cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophile cannibal elites, especially Democrats, he was ostensibly fighting.
• In one Telegram channel with more than 18,400 members, QAnon believers were split between those still urging others to 'trust the plan' and those saying they felt betrayed. "It's obvious now we've been had. No plan, no Q, nothing," wrote one user.
• Some messages referenced theories that a coup was going to take place before the end of Inauguration Day. Others moved the goalposts again, speculating that Trump would be sworn into office on Mar. 4.
• See also Wall Street Journal: What Is QAnon? What We Know About the Conspiracy-Theory Group

Articles on Parler:
https://cybernews.com/news/new-report-violent-hashtags-on-parler-skyrocketed-on-january-6/
https://cybernews.com/news/70tb-of-parler-users-messages-videos-and-posts-leaked-by-security-researchers/

Ghislaine Maxwell hearing illegally streamed by apparent QAnon followers
https://nypost.com/2021/01/20/apparent-qanon-followers-illegally-stream-ghislaine-maxwell-hearing/

'The Shining' Scene, Stuff of Nightmares, Turns a Criminal Case Upside Down A prosecutor erred by likening a man charged with robbing a bank to Jack Nicholson's violent psychopath, New Jersey's highest court ruled.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/nyregion/the-shining-bank-robbery.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_20210121&instance_id=26148&nl=todaysheadlines®i_id=61898831&segment_id=49880&user_id=e1b0b0aa6b6cf71980fae20cb1fb321

Opinion The Problem With Trump's Odious Pardon of Steve Bannon It is corrupt and a possible obstruction of justice and should be legally challenged. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/opinion/trump-bannon-pardon.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_20210121&instance_id=26148&nl=todaysheadlines®i_id=61898831&segment_id=49880&user_id=e1b0b0aa6b6cf71980fae20cb1fb321

Take care,
[REDACTED]
Senior Intelligence Specialist
U.S. Attorney's Office – SDNY
Terrorism & International Narcotics Unit
One St. Andrew's Plaza
EFTA00011044

New York, NY 10007
[REDACTED]
(Please note: my current cell phone coverage is not dependable and the voicemail can be delayed, if you don't receive a call back within an hour, please text, email or call me a [REDACTED]
EFTA00011045