Counter-Terrorism
Radical Islamic Terrorist
“There is a difference”
©This TxDHS approved Counter-Terrorism Curriculum is the property of CSCS-ICJS (SBLE 2009)
WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
ISLAMIC RADICALS?
• Why do I as a law enforcement and/or
security officer need to know about Islamic
Radicals?
• Why do I need to know what their
commitment level is?
• Why do I need to know their capabilities?
WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
ISLAMIC RADICALS? - Continued
• Why do I need to know who the terrorist are,
this is Texas not Iraq or Afghanistan?
• Why do I need to know about their training
and/or modis operandi ?
• Why do I need to know their religion?
THIS IS NOT MY JOB!
SUN TZU
“The Art of War”
1. If you know your enemy and know
yourself, you need not fear the results
of a 100 battles.
2. If you know yourself but not the enemy,
for every victory gained you will also
suffer a defeat.
3. If you know neither the enemy nor
yourself, you will succumb in every
battle.
Learning Objectives
• Not all Muslims are radicals in
comparison despite what you hear about
and see from media reports.
• Relative low in number compared to over
a billion Muslims.
• Radicals have distorted interpretations of
the Qur'an.
• Why these Islamic Radicals are so
dangerous
Three Categories of Muslims
1. Secular or Ordinary Muslims
(Majority)
2. Liberal Muslims
3. Orthodox or Traditional
(Fundamentalist or Radicals)
Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
Gran Mufti of Jerusalem 1921-1948
• Born 1895 Jerusalem,
Ottoman Palestine
• Ally to Adolph Hitler
• President Supreme
Muslim Council 1927-37
• Political party Arab
Higher Committee
• Religion Sunni Islam
Key writers and philosophers of
the Radical Movement
1. The Founders
2. The Evangelist
3. The Prisoners
4. The Aristocrats
The Founders
• were scholars of Islam
• superb organizational skills and
deeply inspired writings
• spread a return to Islamic
fundamentalism starting in the late
1920’s.
• call for Jihad was clear but
sophisticated.
The Founders
“The Great Awakening”
Hasan al-Banna
Sayyid Abdul ala Mawdudi
Sayyid Qutub.
It should be noted that at this point the driving factor was to make Islam
The solution for the problems within Egyptian society – not anti-American.
The Evangelist
• took the writings of the founders to
heart and gave their lives to put them
into practice during the 1970’s and
1980’s.
• destiny of these writers was to become
committed to radical Islam
• founded their own radical groups
The Evangelist
• wrote a manifesto of their position
• Planned an attack against the
government
• Part of their plan included getting
purposely captured, go on trial and be
executed becoming martyrs for the
faith of Islam.
The Evangelist
• Salah Sariah
• Shokri Mustafa
• Abdul Salam Faraj
The Prisoners
The Prisoners
• Arrested not executed
• confined to prison for their attacks
against the government.
• In prison they wrote manuscripts in
the 1980’s defending their Jihad
against Egyptian authority.
• From torture and mistreatment they
became hardened radicals.
The Prisoners
• Abod Zoummar
• Karam Zohdy
• Assim Abdul Maghed
The Aristocrats
• Two of the most prominent in radical
Islam today.
• Unlike their predecessors they were
men of privilege and means.
• They defeated the Soviets in
Afghanistan.
The Aristocrats
Osama bin Laden
Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri
Islamic Definitions
• Quran (Qur’an): is the central religious
text of Islam.
• Muslims believe the Qur’an to be the
book of divine guidance and direction
for mankind
• Consider the original Arabic text to be
the final revelation of GOD.
Islamic Definitions
• Islam holds that the Qur’an was
revealed to Muhammad by the angel
Gabriel from 610 to 632 AD.
• The Qur’an was written down by
Muhammad's companions while he
was alive.
• The Qur’an consists of 114 chapters of
varying lengths, each known as a
sura.
Islamic Definitions
• Hadith: are oral traditions relating to
the words and deeds of the Islamic
prophet Muhammad.
• Hadith collections are regarded as
important tools for determining the
Sunnah, or Muslim way of life, by all
traditional schools of jurisprudence
Islamic Definitions
• The overwhelming majority of
Muslims consider hadith to be
essential supplements to and
clarifications of the Quran, Islam's
holy book.
Islamic Definitions
• Sunnah: literally means “trodden
path”
• Sunnah of the prophet means “the
way and the manners of the
prophet”.
Islamic Definitions
• ‘Sunna’ in Suni Islam means those
religious achievements that were
instituted by the Islamic prophet
Muhammad
–during the 23 years of his prophethood
–which Muslims initially obtained through
consensus of companions of Mohammad
–further through generation-togeneration transmission.
Islamic Definitions
Fatwa: legal opinion or decree
handed down by an Islamic religious
leader.
Ulema: The body of scholars
Mullah: educated Muslim trained in
traditional religious law and doctrine
and usually holding an official post.
Islamic Definitions
Sharia Islamic Law: The term means "way"
or "path to the water source"; it is the legal
framework within which the public and
private aspects of life are regulated for
those living in a legal system based on
Islamic principles of jurisprudence that
began with the life of the Prophet
Muhammad. Viewed as a direct command
from the Quran
Islamic Definitions
•Caliphate: is the political leadership
of the Muslim ummah in classical and
medieval Islamic history and juristic
theory.
•Head of state's position (Caliph) is
based on the notion of a successor to
the Islamic prophet Muhammad's
political authority.
Islamic Definitions
•Ummah: community of believers or
the whole Muslim world.
•Jihad: an Islamic term, is a religious
duty of Muslims to defend Islamic
nations.
•In Arabic, the word jihad is a noun
meaning "the struggle”
Mein Kampf
•Ideology hatred for Jews.
•Master Race vs. religion
•Brainwashing, deception
propaganda
•World domination
Islamic Definitions
•Jihad appears frequently in the Quran
and common usage as the idiomatic
expression "striving in the way of
Allah (al-jihad fi sabil Allah).
•A person engaged in jihad is called a
mujahid, the plural is mujahideen.
Islamic Definitions
•Jihad is a set of rules and not random
actions used by current radicals.
•Jihad is spelled out by the Caliph.
There is no current recognized
Caliph.
Radical Jihad
The radical group purpose of jihad is
to change systems and institutions
by force and to bring Muslims and
non-Muslims under Islamic law.
Essential Tool of Radical Jihad
• They use the Hadith out of context
to give Muslims permission to lie
during war.
• Islamic law about Muslims lying
when they are living in a nonMuslim country.
Text of Fatwa Urging Jihad Against
Americans – Cont’d:
We -- with God's help -- call on every Muslim
who believes in God and wishes to be
rewarded to comply with God's order to kill
the Americans and plunder their money
wherever and whenever they find it. We also
call on Muslim ulema, leaders, youths, and
soldiers to launch the raid on Satan's U.S.
troops and the devil's supporters allying with
them, and to displace those who are behind
them so that they may learn a lesson.
Text of Fatwa Urging Jihad Against
Americans
On that basis, and in compliance with God's order,
we issue the following fatwa to all Muslims: The
ruling to kill the Americans and their allies -civilians and military -- is an individual duty for
every Muslim who can do it in any country in which
it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa
Mosque and the holy mosque [Mecca] from their
grip, and in order for their armies to move out of all
the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten
any Muslim. This is in accordance with the words of
Almighty God, "and fight the pagans all together as
they fight you all together," and "fight them until
there is no more tumult or oppression, and there
prevail justice and faith in God."
Text of Fatwa Urging Jihad Against
Americans – Cont’d:
Almighty God said "O ye who
believe, give your response to God and
His Apostle, when He calleth you to
that which will give you life. And know
that God cometh between a man and
his heart, and that it is He to whom ye
shall all be gathered."
Text of Fatwa Urging Jihad Against
Americans – Cont’d:
Almighty God also says "O ye who believe, what
is the matter with you, that when ye are asked
to go forth in the cause of God, ye cling so
heavily to the earth! Do ye prefer the life of this
world to the hereafter? But little is the comfort
of this life, as compared with the hereafter.
Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a
grievous penalty, and put others in your place;
but Him ye would not harm in the least. For God
hath power over all things."
Text of Fatwa Urging Jihad Against
Americans – Cont’d:
Almighty God also says "So lose
no heart, nor fall into despair. For
ye must gain mastery if ye are
true in faith."
No GOD, but Allah
Mohammed is the prophet of Allah
• "In a recent interview with an
American news organization,
terrorist financier Osama Bin
Laden reiterated his threats against
the U.S.
• In an apparent reference to
Americans, he said that he did not
distinguish between military
and civilians -- both groups are
targets.
• October 26 Bin Laden implied that
some type of terrorist action could
be mounted within the next several
months.
• The U.S. continues to receive
information from other sources
which indicates planning for an
attack against Americans in the
Persian Gulf (also referred to as the
Arabian Gulf).
• The threats are taken seriously
and the U.S. is increasing security
at many U.S. Government facilities
in the Middle East and South Asia.
"Get up and raise your weapons against
America and Britain. If you hesitated
today, you will be ashamed in front of
God."
Religious belief can become a
powerful motivator!
Close to Home – They were in Texas
These two
Were living
In the
Spanish Trace
Apartments
San Antonio
Texas
In early
2001
Satam M.A. al-Suqami
American Airlines Flight 11
North Tower 9-11
Salem al-Hazmi
American Airlines Flight 77
Pentagon 9-11
MISINFORMATION
PROPAGANDA
• "America has decided to eliminate
all Islamic movements, (and) kill
their religious leadership.
• Let us get them out of Arab land.
• Jihad is the only way they have
targeted Iraq after Afghanistan.
• Avenge the innocent children
who have been assassinated in
Iraq.
• Defeat them with suicide
attacks so that you may be
successful before God."
Suicide 911 Terrorist Video
The Five Pillars of Radical Islamic
Philosophy
1. No law but Islamic Law.
2. Infidels are all around.
3. Islam must rule.
4. Jihad is the only
way to win.
5. Faith is the reason.
Quote from the Quran
Surah 4:75
“And what is wrong with you that you
fight not in the Cause of Allah, and for
those weak, ill-treated and oppressed
among men, women, and children, whose
cry is: Our Lord! Rescue us from this
town whose people are oppressors;
and raise for us from You one who
will protect, and raise for us from
You one who will help."
Quote from the Quran
Surah 9:5
“So when the sacred months have passed
away, then slay the idolaters wherever
you find them, and take them captives
and besiege them and lie in wait for them
in every ambush.” Shakir Translation
Al Qaeda’s Master Plan in 7 Phases
1. The First Phase – “The Awakening”
(2000 – 2003)
2. The Second Phase – “Opening Eyes”
(2003–2006 - the current phase)
3. The Third Phase – “Arising and
Standing Up” (2007– 2010)
4. The Fourth Phase – Overthrowing
secular Arab regimes (2010-2013)
Al Qaeda’s Master Plan in 7 Phases
Continued
5. The Fifth Phase – Declaration of the
Islamic State or Caliphate (2013 –
2016)
6. The Sixth Phase – A total war between
the Islamic army and the infidels
(From 2016 onward)
7. The Seventh Phase – “Definitive
Victory”
RACICAL ISLAMIC AGENDA
•
•
•
Not trying to be part of American
Way of life
Not trying to be part of American
culture
Their AGENDA is to make Islam
the “Law of the Land” in America.
RACICAL ISLAMIC AGENDA
•
•
•
•
Will use deception –
misinformation
Will use our own current laws
against us and for their cause
Use our own territory against us
Use extremism to promote
violence and fanaticism.
Islamic Radical Terrorist
THE
BAD
GUY’s & GAL’s
Osama bin Laden
• born March 10, 1957
• member of the
prominent Saudi bin
Laden family
• founder of the jihadist
organization Al-Qaeda.
Ayman al-Zawahiri
• born 06/19/1951
• Prominent leader of alQaeda
• Second and last “emir" of
Egyptian Islamic Jihad,
succeeded 'Abbud alZummar.
• A qualified surgeon, MD
and has two PhD's as well.
Al-Zarqawi
• Nationality Jordanian
• Al-Qaeda operative
• Zarqawi took responsibility, on several
audio- and videotapes, for numerous
acts of violence in Iraq including suicide
bombings and hostage executions
(beheadings). Ruthless extremist.
• Killed June 7, 2006
Abu Taisir
•
•
•
•
•
Nationality Iraqi
Al-Qaeda operative in Iraq
Aliases Abdul Hadi Daghlas
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi cell
Killed March 21, 2003 – US Cruise
missile
Abu Ashraf
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nationality: Saudi (Arabian)
Al-Qaeda Operative
Next generation Islamic Radical
Well educated – wealthy family
F.B.I. Terrorist Watch List
Whereabouts unknown
Abu Atiya
•
•
•
•
Nationality Jordanian – Palestinian
Al Qaeda Operative in Iraq.
Alias Adnan Muhammad Sadik
Attended al-Zarqawi’s training camp in
Afghanistan post war (1990-2000).
• Masterminded poison and explosive
attacks in Europe in addition to surfaceto-air missles.
• Whereabouts Unknown
Abu Hafs
•
•
•
•
Real name: Mohammed Atef
Nationality Egyptian
Al Qaeda Operative in Russia.
Alias Abu Hafez, Abu Hafs, Abu Hafs alMasri.
• Former Egyptian Police Officer
• 1998 Embassy bombings.
• Killed November 16,2001 US Air Strike
Merouane Benahmed
•
•
•
•
2002 French Poison cell operative
Nationality Algerian
Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Oversees the deployment of militants to
training camps, plays a key role in
reassigning trained personnel to terror
networks, including setting up sleeper
cells.
• Captured by French December 16, 2002
Menad Benchellali
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nationality French
Role Operative Chemical Specialist
Poison cell - Ricin
Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Aliases “The Chemist”
Terrorist plot in France to support
Chechen independence.
• Captured by French December 24, 2002
al - Qaeda Leadership
Osama bin Ladin
Saudi Emir
Saif al-Adel
Egypt Opns
Abu Ayyub al-Masri
Egypt & Iraq Opns
Ayman al-Zawahiri
Egyptian Deputy Emir
Abu Jihad al-Masri
Egypt Opns/Media
Abdullah Ahmed Abdulla Atiyah Abd al Rahman
Egypt Opns
Libyan Facilitor
Sulaiman Abu Ghaith
Kuwaiti
Abu Hafs the Mauritanian
Mauritanian Theologian
Abd al-Aziz al Masri
Egypt Opns
SLEEPER CELLS
• Groups of terrorists who are already in place
and ready to act or attack.
• Are trained and ready to carry out attacks at a
designated time and place.
• Are loosely organized, and blend into
communities easier through legitimate
employment.
Kafeel Ahmed,
• Indian national currently held
in Britain in connection with
the failed car bombings in
London and Glasgow.
• Evidence found at his
Bangalore house. Three CDs
and a computer hard drive
found at Kafeel Ahmed's house
contained inflammatory
speeches by Al-Qaeda leader
Osama bin Laden, as well as
anti-US and anti-Britain
propaganda.
• Recruited via the internet.
CA
CA
US
US
CA
US
US
US
US
US
Canada
US
CA
Mexico
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
MX
US
US
MX
HIT SQUADS
• Attacks on the West have been conducted by
terrorist hit squads.
• Are infiltrated into the target country shortly
before an attack.
• Are highly organized, well trained and they are
mentally prepared to die for their cause.
• A classic example of a hit squad would be the
Al-Qaeda pilots of 9/11.
American Airlines #11 Boeing 767
7:45 a.m. Departed Boston for Los Angeles
8:45 a.m. Crashed into North Tower of World Trade Center
Satam Suqami
Waleed al-Shehri
Wail al-Shehri
Mohamed Atta
Abdulaziz al-Omari
United Airlines #175 - Boeing 767
7:58 a.m. Departed Boston for Los Angeles
9:05 a.m. Crashed into South Tower of World Trade Center
Marwan al-Shehhi
Fayez Rashid
Ahmed al-Ghamdi Hamza al-Ghamdi Mohand al-Shehri
American Airlines #77 - Boeing 757
8:10 a.m. Departed Dulles for Los Angeles
9:39 a.m. Crashed into Pentagon
Khalid al-Mihdhar
Majed Moqed
Nawaf al-Hazmi Salem al-Hazmi Hani Hanjour
United Airlines #93 - Boeing 757
8:42 a.m. Departed Newark for San Francisco
10:03 a.m. Crashed in Stony Creek Township
Saeed al-Ghamdi
Ahmad Haznawi Ahmed al-Nami
Ziad Samir Jarrah
American Taliban
John Phillip Walker Lindh
• born 02/09/1981
• American captured during the 2001
invasion of Afghanistan while serving in
the Taliban army.
• Trained in the Al-Farouq terrorist training
camp in Afghanistan, run by Al-Qaeda
• Personally thanked by Osama bin Laden
for his services.
A US member of al-Qaeda, believed to be Adam Gadahn,
delivers his 11-minute message shown on ABC’s Good
Morning America program.
American Al-Qaeda Operative
A VIDEOTAPE televised on ABC News in America,
purportedly from a US-member of al-Qaeda, has
threatened Melbourne and Los Angeles as their
next target. "Yesterday, London and Madrid.
Tomorrow, Los Angeles and Melbourne, God
willing. At this time, don't count on us
demonstrating restraint or compassion," the tape
warns. "We are Muslims. We love peace, but
peace on our terms, peace as laid down by Islam,
not the so-called peace of occupiers and
dictators.“…….Adam Gadahn
INSERT TERRORIST TRAINING CAMPS WITH U.S.
VIDEO - HERE
Surah 61:10–13
O you who believe! Shall I guide you to a trade that
will save you from a painful torment? That you
believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad),
and that you strive hard and fight in the Cause of
Allah with your wealth and your lives, that will be
better for you, if you but know! (If you do so) He
will forgive you your sins, and admit you into
Gardens under which rivers flow, and pleasant
dwellings in ‘Adn (Eden) Paradise; that is indeed the
great success. And also (He will give you) another
(blessing) which you love,—help from Allah (against
your enemies) and a near victory. And give glad
tidings (O Muhammad) to the believers.
TERRORIST TRAIN CONSISTENTLY
TERRORIST TRAIN CHILDREN
TERRORIST TRAIN CHILDREN
How do we win
• Not all Muslims are bad, respect
peoples religious beliefs, customs
and cultures.
• Respect your enemy (radical Islamic)
and know his capabilities.
• Remain vigilant and do not drop
your guard.
How do we win
• Do not become complacent or
naïve. (complacency kills)
• Talk with your students, gain their
trust and you will know what is
going on at your campus.
Pyridine Ideological Shift
• Karam Zohdy stated in 2002 that they
have changed their position as a result
of studying Islamic Law.
• Found in Sharia Law that killing
innocent civilians is prohibited.
• Fighting is no longer in the interest of
Islam and Muslims because it did not
lead to guiding people to GOD’s path.
Pyridine Ideological Shift
• Must stop taking the 6th century
translations and applying it to the
Quran in the 21st century.
• The world today not the world of
Mohammad.
Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire
Hamdi Abdul Rahman one of the top eight
historic leaders of Al-Gama’a al—Islamiyyah
pointed out Khalid ibn Walid a Muslim leader
called for a retreat during a battle with the
Byzantines during Mohammad’s time. Rahman
stated that Mohammad said “these people did
not run away they had wisdom to know they
could not do any more in fighting and knew to
continue would hurt Islam”. Foundation for
Islamic Law that says Jihad is prohibited if
Muslims are in a position of inability.
Pyridine Ideological Shift
• Radical groups must reach the conclusion
that violent campaigns will not achieve their
goals and will lead to the destruction of their
groups and their influence.
• Radical groups must see that Western Empires
do not intend to wipe out Islam. This will
discredit Bin Laden and al-Zawahiri
• Radical groups must see that Western
civilizations do not hate them.
Let’s answer the Questions
• Do you as a law enforcement and/or
security officer need to know about
Islamic Radicals?
WHY?
• Do you need to know what their
commitment level is? WHY?
• Do you need to know their capabilities?
WHY?
Let’s answer the Questions
• Do you need to know who the terrorist are?
WHY?
• Do you need to know about their training
and/or modis operandi ?
WHY?
• Do I need to know their religion?
WHY?
IS IT YOUR JOB TO PROTECT
YOUR CHILDREN, STAFF & YOU?
NOW YOU KNOW WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR ENEMY
SOURCES
• Journey into the Mind of an Islamic Terrorist
(Why they hate us and how we can change
their minds) by Dr. Mark A. Gabriel.
• McDermott, Terry (2002-09-01). "The Plot:
How Terrorists hatched a simple plan to use
planes as bombs", Los Angeles Times.
Archived from the original on 9 October 2008.
• 9/11 Commission Report, Chapter 5.2, pp.
153–159
SOURCES
• Saudis, US Disclose Intel Operations on
Terror", Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
Archived from the original on 9 October 2008.
• Report of the Joint Inquiry into the Terrorist
Attacks of September 11, 2001" p. 144. U.S.
Government Printing Office (2002). Retrieved
on 2008-09-30.
– 9/11 and Terrorist Travel, pp. 9–10
– FBI Hijackers' Timeline, p. 40
Presenter Contact Information
George D. Little, Director
350 N. Guadalupe, Suite 140, PMB 164
San Marcos, Texas 78666.
877-304-2727
www.cscs.txstate.edu