The FBI sent this alert out to news organizations and journalists this afternoon:
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
22 October 2014
(U//FOUO) Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Identifies Reporters and
Media Personalities as Desirable Targets
(U//FOUO) The FBI assesses, based on open source statements and postings, that Islamic State
of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) members and supporters view members of the US media
establishment as legitimate targets for retribution attacks as the US-led air campaign against ISIL
in Iraq and Syria continues. Online supporters of ISIL have called—via various social media
sites—for retaliation against the United States and US interests abroad, especially since US-led
air strikes in Iraq and Syria began.
·
(U//FOUO) On 16 September 2014, an ISIL supporter posted to an ISIL-dominated
forum an Arabic-language document—also readily available via an English translation—
titled “A Message to 2.6 Million Muslims in the United States: This Is How To Respond
to Obama's War on Islam.” The author of the post notes that media personnel, such as
anchormen, field reporters, and talk show hosts, were among those who were “proved to
be biased” and, as such, were prioritized targets on his list for
execution.1 (Emphasis added by KF)
·
(U//FOUO) In August 2014, ISIL beheaded an American journalist, who had gone
missing in Syria in 2012. In a video of the beheading posted to social media, ISIL said
the killing was revenge for US air strikes against its fighters in Iraq. A masked militant,
who identifies himself as a member of the group, describes the journalist as an American
citizen and says, “As a government you have been at the forefront of aggression towards
the Islamic State.”2
·
(U//FOUO) ISIL released a subsequent video on 2 September 2014 depicting the
execution of a separate American journalist.
·
(U//FOUO) The FBI has recently obtained credible information indicating members of an
ISIL-affiliated group are tasked with kidnapping journalists in the region and returning
them to Syria. Members of this group might try to mask their affiliation with ISIL to gain
access to journalists.
(U//FOUO) The FBI is providing this information to media outlets to highlight the current threat
environment so that they may take appropriate steps to notify their journalists in the field.
1
(U//FOUO) Open Source Center (OSC); TRR2014091680453850; 16 September 2014; “Forum Participant Posts
Message to US Muslims, Advocates ‘Open Source Jihad,’ Lone Wolf Attacks”; UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL
USE ONLY; source is a Web forum post from a self-identified ISIL supporter.
2
(U//FOUO) OSC; EUR2014082031517104; 20 August 2014; “James Foley: Islamic State militants ‘behead
reporter’”; UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY; source is a BBC Online news article.
7 comments:
Wow.
lock & load...equally as important is the fuse that apparently is still burning in Ferguson, MO that could very well ignite the powder keg we all live on top of. Once again, lock & load and be prepared because the government will not protect you.
and you would just love for that to happen, wouldn't you?
8:32 correct, the right to have guns is our protection from the government.
I would love for what 8:32 is describing to happen. Target practice on some rowdy natives sounds like a great way to spend the day.
8:32 probably just has an absolutely clear memory of what happened to an unarmed Reginald Denny in very similar circumstances.
@ 10:48AM - Actually I do have vivid memories of Mr. Denny being dragged from his truck and being beaten half to death. Based on the KF response to my 8:32AM comment yesterday he is ok with unarmed law abiding citizens being slaughtered for the greater cause. Not me, lock and load.
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