Periodical Review - Summary from the Jihadi Forums - The Second Half of January 2015

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This report summarizes notable events discussed on jihadist Web forums during the second half of January 2015. Following are the main points covered in the report:

• The wave of sympathy continues on the part of jihadist organizations and activists towards the attacks on the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, as well as encouragement for a continuation of this trend. Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi, a senior member of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), calls on Muslims in the West, and especially those in France, to adopt “lone wolf” style attacks and to continue the line of attacks carried out by the Kouachi brothers in Paris. Sheikh Ibrahim al-Rubaysh, a member of AQAP’s Shura Council, declares that France must pay a price in its security and economy for insulting the Prophet Muhammad. According to him, France is now considered the primary target for terrorist attacks.

• Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen, Al-Qaeda’s branch in Somalia, also encourages Muslims living in Europe to emulate the attack and carry out similar attacks in Europe. In addition, the movement threatens France that its citizens will not enjoy personal security and that similar attacks will be carried out on its soil if it continues to act against Islam and insult the Prophet Muhammad.

• The Islamic State (IS) makes several threats to execute two Japanese hostages in response to the Japanese government’s promise to transfer 200 million dollars to the coalition forces fighting against the organization. However, it expresses a willingness to spare the lives of the hostages if the Japanese government sends the organization a similar amount. After executing one of the hostages, the IS makes another demand to release the female terrorist, Sajida al-Rishawi, from prison or else the second hostage will be executed. In the end, the IS follows through on its threat and executes the hostage. In addition, the IS publishes a video documenting the execution of the Jordanian pilot who fell into IS captivity at the end of December 2014 and was set on fire inside a cage.

• Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, spokesman for the IS, announces the organization’s expansion to Khorasan Province (in the region of Afghanistan-Pakistan). In addition, he calls on Muslims to attack targets belonging to Western countries.

• The Islamic State (IS) appeals to the Berber population in Libya, Algeria and Northern Mali to join the ranks of the IS and swear allegiance to its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In the video, which it distributes in the Amazigh language (the language of the Berbers), the IS emphasizes that the obligation to wage jihad applies to each and every Muslim.

• Ajnad Misr, a Salafi-jihadist organization operating in Egypt, calls on Muslims to concentrate their efforts on attacking Egyptian security forces and justifies adopting this militant line. According to him, significant effort should also be concentrated on PR activity against the Egyptian regime.

• Boko Haram claims responsibility for the massacre of residents of Baga and explains its motives for the conquest, including the town’s strategic importance to the Nigerian government and the battle waged by its residents against the organization. In addition, the organization threatens to carry out further incursions into towns and villages.

• A Salafi-jihadist sheikh affiliated with the IS points out Libya’s strategic importance as a southern base for penetrating the European continent using boats and pretending to be refugees. Such penetration will enable terrorist cells to be set up on within Europe and to sow fear among its people.