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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Iraq-Based Belgian ISIS Fighter Boasts He Breezed Through Brussels Security

Nearly a week before Belgian counterterrorism forces launched a major raid against a suspected Islamic State (ISIS)-tied jihadist terrorist cell in Verviers in eastern Belgium believed to be on the verge Iraq-Based Belgian ISIS Fighter Boasts He Breezed Through Brussels Security Homeland Security Todayof launching terrorist attacks "on a grand scale," according to police and prosecutors, "Abu Mariya Belgiki," a Belgian Islamist ISIS fighter based in Iraq, tweeted: "Don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but Belgian intelligence agency is the laziest and the dumbest in the world probably … they kept me under surveilence since I was 14. And I passed through brussels airport like a knife cutting through soft butter…"

As of this writing, Belgiki’s Twitter account, @LemonNigga, is suspended.

At least two suspected jihadists were killed in two Belgian raids targeting jihadists who’d recently returned from Syria and under surveillance who were ready to launch a significant attack, according to actional intelligence, officials said. One police officer reportedly said, “We’ve averted a Belgian Charlie Hebdo.

A German newspaper that reprinted the cartoons depicted the Prophet Muhammad was firebombed Sunday.

Belgian Magistrate Eric Van der Sypt said during an emergency press conference that the suspects were ready to carry out a major terrorist attack, and that they immediately engaged Belgian security forces in a firefight as soon as the force arrived at their locations.

The raid was targeted against a group of three young men who had recently returned from Syria, according to the Belgian authorities.

Earlier, Belgian authorities announced they’d arrested a man in Charleroi, close to the French border, on suspicion of having supplied arms and ammunition to Amedy Coulibaly, the ISIS-tied jihadist responsible for killing four Jews in the Hyper Cacher supermarket in Paris the day of the AQAP directed attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo.

A study of the rate of Muslim radicalization across Europe based on data released by the various security agencies of 13 European countries revealed that Finland and Belgian have the highest rates of radicalization.

The study, by Dr. Dave Sloggett — who has more than 40 years’ experience analyzing international security issues — said in his Homeland Security Today report that "the highIraq-Based Belgian ISIS Fighter Boasts He Breezed Through Brussels Security Homeland Security Todayest rate of radicalization across the target countries in the study is 1 in 1,000 in Finland. Surprisingly, Finland has a very high percentage of Somali immigrants whose historical affiliation has been to the Sufi school of Islam. This is a school with a far less aggressive history whose teachings stress religious tolerance. Belgium, where the first terrorist attack directly linked to people returning from Syria occurred, has the same rate of radicalization as in Finland, but that is set against the backdrop of a much larger Muslim population of 400,000."

Continuing, Sloggett wrote, "Aside from Turkey, whose population are nearly all classified as Muslims, France is the country with the next highest Muslim population at around 5.5 million out of a total of 63 million people. This represents around 9 percent of the total population. French authorities have been very clear that they believe around 700 people have traveled to Syria, a rate of 1 in 8,000 of the Muslim population. Despite having a similar overall population, Turkish authorities believe that, like France, only 700 have crossed the border into Syria"

Sloggett said "figures show the problems that the countries face with the steady stream of people heading to Syria. It has been variously estimated that around 3,000 Europeans have made the journey across the border from Turkey to fight alongside Al Qaeda associated groups and the Islamic State. This analysis of just 13 countries produces a figure of close to 4,000 that have been involved according to European security services. Given this is a subset of the total European population, it is likely that the overall figure of Europeans in Syria is slightly higher — perhaps as much as 5,000. However, on the basis of this analysis, it is unlikely to be anywhere near the figure of 10,000 people that some observers have suggested."

"What this analysis does show, though, is that the migration of members of the European Muslim population into Syria to become engaged in Jihad is a widespread problem," Sloggett concluded.

Also on January 9, “Belgiki expressed his happiness at the terror attack at the office of the Charlie Hebdo satirical weekly in Paris,” said the Middle East Media Research Center (MEMRI) which monitors jihadist social media. “He wrote: ‘Was going to bed yesterday, my ameer [leader] yells and says, ‘france france you know france? ‘I said yes its south of belgium. He said ‘yes I know.’ In a subsequent tweet, he added: ‘He said ‘Ikhwa [brothers] did operation there and killed 12’. I was like whooaaaaa what are the ikhwa in belgium waiting for…: ).’"

Another January 9, Belgiki tweeted “an ominous message pertaining to Egypt,” MEMRI said. The tweet read: "Soon u will here wonderful news from the land of Egypt … we are coming to shake the throne of Sisi."

On January 5, Belgiki tweeted in Flemish about encountering a 16-year-old Dutch boy in Iraq who had run away from home. He also tweeted a photo of Iraq-Based Belgian ISIS Fighter Boasts He Breezed Through Brussels Security Homeland Security Todayhimself, with most of his face concealed, with the text: "From a lifeunder oppression to hayat [life] under the raya [flag] of tawheed [oneness] … dijna kum bid dhab …”

Another January 5 tweet stated:  "So funny reading US PROPERTY on our m16’s."

“According to Belgiki,” MEMRI said, “there is a hierarchy within the ranks of ISIS fighters. He tweeted: ‘The jazrawis [inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula] have really the best akhkaq [rights] from what I’ve seen in Iraq … and jordanians and tunisis …’”

Iraq-Based Belgian ISIS Fighter Boasts He Breezed Through Brussels Security Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Today
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.
Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Todayhttp://www.hstoday.us
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.

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