‘Bomb-Making for Beginners’: Inside al Al-Qaeda E-Learning Course

‘Bomb-Making for Beginners’: Inside al Al-Qaeda E-Learning Course | Anne Stenersen | Perspectives on Terrorism "This study explores how terrorists utilize the Internet to learn bomb-making skills. Unlike previous studies, it does not focus on assessing the quality of online bomb recipes. Rather, it discusses the efforts being made by on-line jihadists to help others learn by providing so-called “e-learning courses.” As of today, such courses have few active participants yet they tend to attract large interest – indicating that there is a demand among Al-Qaeda’s online sympathizers for developing this concept further."

Moeed Abdul Salam case

Daily Mail, Moeed Abdul Salam: From US boarding school student to al Qaeda terrorist "Salam went on to study history at the University of Texas at Austin and graduated in 1996. His Facebook profile indicated he moved to Saudi Arabia by 2003 and began working as a translator, writer and editor for websites about Islam.

"'Anyone can pick up a gun, but there aren't as many people who can code html and understand the use of proxies,' said Evan Kohlmann, a senior partner a Flashpoint Global Partners, which tracks radical Muslim propaganda."

Asad al-Jihad2′s New Book Release

jarretbrachman.net, Asad al-Jihad2′s New Book Release, 25 Jul 2011

Hacking Magazine

Aaron Y. Zelin, Jihadology, New magazine released: “Magazine of Supporters of the Technical Base for Information Security and Hacking #1″, May 29, 2011 [posted retrospectively]

'Jihad via Bluetooth'

Both of these articles are well-worth looking at:

Nico Prucha, Jihadica, Entering a new dimension – Jihad via Bluetooth (Part 1)

"In October 2009 the Arabic “al-Ansar al-Mujahideen Forum” offered a special data-package designed for mobile phones. Published by a newly created “Mobile Detachment“ the contents are aimed at sympathizers and adherents of jihadist principles. Provided with a special software the mobile users can access the documents or watch videos on their portable device while being able to send out these highly indoctrinating and radicalizing sources via Bluetooth to other, unwary, Bluetooth enabled devices. The data offered in these conveniently administrated packages provides nearly everything of the grand-genre of jihadist materials."

Nico Prucha, Jihadica, Entering a new dimension – Jihad via Bluetooth (Part 2)

"In the first part we examined the structure of the data provided by the “Mobile Detachment” (Fariq jawwal al-ansar, FJA) media department of the Ansar al-Mujahideen Forum. As stated, in the second part we will take a closer look at the ‘mission statement‘ to understand the ambition of (re-) publishing indoctrinating jihadist materials with the intention of users being able to consume and disseminate this content by the means of one’s personal smart phone. One intention perhaps is the fact that your smart/mobile phone certainly is a highly personal gadget, which is rarely shared – unlike family household computers. The content on your mobile phone has a more private nature and allows you to quickly navigate and read through the jihadist materials without anyone noticing. The downside for jihadis, however, is an upside for the police, as the sympathizers are inspired to store incriminating content on their personal phones. That is probably the reason for including encryption software in the first data-package."

'The Explosives Course'

Duncan Gardham, Telegraph, Al-Qaeda bomb manual published on internet, 31 Dec 2010 "The 102-page manual, seen by the Daily Telegraph and available on the internet, explains how to find ingredients from everyday sources and how to mix explosives, including those used in the July 7 bombings and the recent ink cartridge bomb found at East Midlands airport."

Ongoing trial

Derby Telegraph, Muslim said he felt deaths of US soldiers were a 'gift', 25 Nov 09 "A DERBY Muslim arrested for terrorism offences told people he met online that "when American soldiers die it is like the whole world has given me a gift" ...

" ... As well as the videos, police searching Lusha's Moore Street home found many documents downloaded from the internet, including a Hezbollah military instruction manual, Middle Eastern terrorist bomb design, improvised radio detonation techniques and a Mujahideen explosives handbook."

Australia: Belal Khazaal

AFP, Australian man jailed 9 years over DIY jihad book, 25 Sep 09 "The document was posted on a radical Islamist site under the pseudonym Abu Mohamed Attawheedy, and examined why some assassinations failed while others succeeded, such as the 1981 killing of former Eqyptian president Anwar Sadat.

"According to a 2004 profile by the public broadcaster ABC, Khazaal had militant training in Afghanistan in 1998 and was under surveillance by Australia's spy agency for a decade before his arrest.

"According to a CIA report obtained by ABC's Four Corners programme, Khazaal had also been linked to Spanish Al-Qaeda operative Abu Dahdah and was suspected of plotting blasts attacking US interests in Venezuela and the Philippines."

bernama.com, Diy Jihad Book Producer Jailed Nine Years "The 110-page book, in Arabic, entitled "Provisions Of The Rules of Jihad - Short Judicial Rulings and Organisational Instructions for Fighters and Mujahideen against Infidels," gives advice on terrorist acts such as exploding bombs, shooting down planes and assassinating people such as former US President George W. Bush.

"AAP said Khazaal has never denied producing the book, but said it was never intended to incite terrorist acts."

Najibullah Zazi

wsj.com, Colorado Man Is Charged in U.S. Bomb Probe, 25 Sep 09, "Mr. Zazi, who is a legal permanent resident in the U.S., allegedly had recipes for the explosives in his laptop that were emailed to accounts that he controlled while he was still in Pakistan."

msnbc.com, Feds: Suspect hit beauty shops for bomb items: Afghan immigrant bought large quantities of chemicals, authorities charge, 25 Sep 09 "Najibullah Zazi, a 24-year-old shuttle driver at the Denver airport, was indicted in New York on charges of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction. Investigators said they found bomb-making instructions on his computer's hard drive and said Zazi used a hotel room in Colorado to try to cook up explosives a few weeks ago before a trip to New York."

Oussama Kassir case

AP, Lebanese-born Swede gets life for terror camp plot, 16 Sep 09 "At trial, prosecutors argued that Kassir tried to set up a weapons-training post in Oregon so al-Qaida could take advantage of relaxed U.S. gun laws and train European recruits for Islamic militancy.

"Prosecutors also said Kassir distributed manuals over the Internet that trained militants on how to make bombs, poison people and slit throats."