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Category: terrorism

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE helps keep soft targets safe from terrorism through interagency co-operation in Turkmenistan

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE helps keep soft targets safe from terrorism through interagency co-operation in Turkmenistan

    Participants in an interactive OSCE workshop on protecting soft targets from terrorism through interagency co-operation in Ashgabat, 1 April 2025. (OSCE/Kamila Sabyrrakhim) Photo details

    From schools and places of worship to shopping malls, any public place can become a target for terrorists and violent extremists. To enhance the protection of these soft targets, practitioners from over twenty Turkmen government agencies came together for an interactive workshop held by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat on 1 and 2 April.
    Participants discussed the current threat landscape, risk and crisis management, and human rights considerations. Through a scenario-based exercise of a potential terrorist attack, they also practiced physical security measures, hostile reconnaissance detection, and evacuation and invacuation procedures.
    During his opening remarks, Geldimyrat Haldurdyyev, Head of Law and International Relations Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan, said, “The global nature of the threat of international terrorism has necessitated the unification of international efforts to combat it. Turkmenistan, as a proponent of a policy of peace and good neighbourliness — especially relevant against the backdrop of the challenging global situation, where armed conflicts are erupting in various parts of the world, posing a serious threat to all of humanity — reaffirms, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions on the prevention and fight against terrorism, its unequivocal condemnation of terrorist acts in all their forms. It remains fully committed to the efforts of the international community in combating this evil.”
    Experts from the Berlin Police Department and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism also took part in the event and shared their experience and good practices.
    “By fostering collaboration among stakeholders with diverse expertise, we can collectively identify vulnerabilities, share best practices, and develop tailored solutions to combat terrorism, all while ensuring our measures remain grounded in respect for human rights,” said Bernd Heinze, Ambassador of Germany to Turkmenistan.
    “Terrorism seeks to undermine the very values that unite the OSCE participating States,” said John McGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “In order to better protect soft targets, it is essential to have a good understanding of how attackers behave and make decisions, what risks are present and what possible mitigation measures may be required.”
    The workshop is the first activity conducted in Turkmenistan under the OSCE extrabudgetary project PROTECT. The event was designed to gather feedback and inputs from national beneficiaries on technical needs, and was organized with financial support from Germany.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Seek Answers & Return of Maryland Father Wrongfully Deported to El Salvador

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Justice admitted the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — a father who was living legally in the United States under protected status — was an “administrative error.”  Mr. Garcia, 29, who fled El Salavador in 2006 and migrated to the U.S. in 2011, is married with a five-year old child and two step children who are all U.S. citizens.  According to USA Today: After finishing a shift working as a sheet metal apprentice and picking up his son from his grandmother’s house, Mr. Garcia was pulled over by ICE officers in several vehicles and erroneously told that his status had changed.  He was handcuffed and placed in an ICE vehicle and eventually sent to an out of state detention facility before being flown out of the country to a notorious prison in El Salvador known as the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).
    In 2019, an immigration judge granted Mr. Garcia protection from deportation on the grounds that he might be at risk of persecution from local gangs in his home country.  ICE officials under the Trump Administration in 2019 did not object to the judge’s ruling.
    Last week, Justice Department lawyer Erez Reuveni told a federal judge that Mr. Garcia “should not have been removed.”  The judge agreed and wrote a scathing opinion finding that the Trump Administration’s actions “shocks the conscience” and that the government had acted “without any lawful authority” and was holding Mr. Garcia in “direct contravention” of U.S. law.  The judge ordered the U.S. to return Mr. Garcia to the United States.  However, the Trump Administration contended Mr. Garcia could not be returned to the U.S. because he is in Salvadoran custody and U.S. courts have no jurisdiction there, even though the U.S. is reportedly paying the El Salvadoran government $6 million to house deportees from the United States.  Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the Trump Administration’s request to temporarily block a lower court order.
    Today, 25 U.S. Senators, including Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) wrote to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Tedd Lyons urging them to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States. 
    In their letter, the Senators call on the Trump Administration to comply with the lower court order requiring that they facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return and ask for responses to a series of questions regarding ICE’s enforcement policies that may have led to this grave error – and what measures they will take to ensure such an incident does not occur again.
    “We write to express our concerns regarding the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, an action which the Administration admitted in a recent court filing was an “administrative error.” It is unacceptable that anyone would be deported without proper due process, especially where an immigration judge has granted the individual protected status that explicitly prohibits his return to El Salvador. We demand that the Administration bring Mr. Abrego Garcia home immediately,” the 25 U.S. Senators wrote.
    “Per court filings, Mr. Abrego Garcia came to the United States in 2011 as a teenager fleeing gang threats in his home country of El Salvador. In 2019, ICE arrested Mr. Abrego Garcia over an unfounded and anonymous allegation that he was involved with MS-13, which placed him in deportation proceedings. The U.S. immigration judge in the case ultimately found that it was in fact Mr. Abrego Garcia who was at risk of being the victim of gang violence,” the Senators continued. “This ruling was made under the Trump Administration in 2019 and was in fact required by law under section 241(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act once the immigration judge made the factual determination that Mr. Abrego Garcia faced a likelihood of torture in El Salvador. At the time, the Trump Administration made no effort to appeal the judge’s ruling or pursue Mr. Abrego Garcia’s deportation further. Court filings attest that Mr. Abrego Garcia has complied with regular ICE check-ins, has no criminal charges, and has had no contact with any other law-enforcement agency since his release in 2019.
    “Mr. Abrego Garcia is currently being held at CECOT, a maximum-security prison in El Salvador notorious for human rights abuses, after being deported in violation of the law to the very country where his return was impermissible,” they noted. “And when the Administration makes a mistake as severe as sending an individual with protected status to a foreign prison, it cannot simply shrug off responsibility and allege that there is nothing it can do to reunite him with his wife and child, who are American citizens.
    “On Friday, a U.S. District Court judge in the District of Maryland ordered the government to return Mr. Abrego Garcia to the United States, and on Monday the Fourth Circuit denied the government’s motion to stay the order. The Administration should promptly comply with the district court’s order,” the Senators urged.
    In addition to Van Hollen, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators: Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    The Senators closed the letter with a series of questions to Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons:
    The standard and legal course for the government to take to deport someone with protected status would be to reopen the case, introduce evidence that grounds for terminating the protected status exist, and then allow an immigration judge to make a determination as to their status. Why was that course of action not taken in this case?  
    In the past, DHS and ICE worked to quickly return people to the U.S. who were erroneously deported. Why is DHS and ICE no longer following these well-established procedures and practices?   
    Vice President J.D. Vance and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt have both claimed that Mr. Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 gang member, but the government was unable or unwilling to provide any evidence to substantiate that claim to the court. Please provide any evidence of Mr. Abrego Garcia’s membership in MS-13.
    Given that the Administration is reportedly paying $6 million to El Salvador to detain deported immigrants at CECOT, why does it believe that there is nothing it can do to return Mr. Abrego Garcia to his family in the United States? Please provide a copy of the agreement between the U.S. and El Salvador on the detention of people deported from the U.S. in CECOT.
    Are there any other cases that the Administration is aware of in which an immigrant with protected status was illegally deported without due process? If so, identify those cases and explain what, if anything the government is doing to rectify those errors. 
    Will the Administration commit to reviewing all of the cases of its deportees to ensure that it has appropriately identified all of the errors? 
    What actions will the Administration take in the future to ensure that immigrants with protected status are afforded their appropriate due process? 
    Full text of the letter follows:
    Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons,?? 
    We write to express our concerns regarding the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, an action which the Administration admitted in a recent court filing was an “administrative error.” It is unacceptable that anyone would be deported without proper due process, especially where an immigration judge has granted the individual protected status that explicitly prohibits his return to El Salvador. We demand that the Administration bring Mr. Abrego Garcia home immediately.  
    According to court filings, on March 12, 2025, shortly after Mr. Abrego Garcia had picked up his son from the boy’s grandmother’s house, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stopped Mr. Abrego Garcia, inaccurately telling him that his protected status had changed. After giving his wife a few minutes to arrive to take custody of his son, ICE arrested and detained him without any further explanation as to the reason for his arrest. ICE then transferred Mr. Abrego Garcia and other detainees to Texas, where on March 15, 2025, they were loaded onto planes and deported to El Salvador. Mr. Abrego Garcia was reportedly on the only plane that was not sent under the authority of the Alien Enemies Act but instead was transporting migrants with formal removal orders signed by a judge. This occurred despite the fact that ICE knew, as the Administration conceded in court, that his protected legal status specifically prohibited his removal to El Salvador.  
    Per court filings, Mr. Abrego Garcia came to the United States in 2011 as a teenager fleeing gang threats in his home country of El Salvador. In 2019, ICE arrested Mr. Abrego Garcia over an unfounded and anonymous allegation that he was involved with MS-13, which placed him in deportation proceedings. The U.S. immigration judge in the case ultimately found that it was in fact Mr. Abrego Garcia who was at risk of being the victim of gang violence. The judge found that Mr. Abrego Garcia and his relatives credibly testified that gang members had been trying to extort his family and recruit him and his brother to join the gang, forcing his family to move multiple times, ultimately compelling both him and his brother to flee to the United States out of fear.  
    The immigration judge agreed that Mr. Abrego Garcia would likely face persecution if deported back to El Salvador and thus granted him a form of legally mandated protection known as “withholding of removal.” Withholding of removal, which may only be granted by an immigration judge, provided Mr. Abrego Garcia the ability to stay and work in the United States despite being the subject of a deportation order. This ruling was made under the Trump Administration in 2019 and was in fact required by law under section 241(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act once the immigration judge made the factual determination that Mr. Abrego Garcia faced a likelihood of torture in El Salvador. At the time, the Trump Administration made no effort to appeal the judge’s ruling or pursue Mr. Abrego Garcia’s deportation further. Court filings attest that Mr. Abrego Garcia has complied with regular ICE check-ins, has no criminal charges, and has had no contact with any other law-enforcement agency since his release in 2019.  
    Mr. Abrego Garcia is currently being held at CECOT, a maximum-security prison in El Salvador notorious for human rights abuses, after being deported in violation of the law to the very country where his return was impermissible. Though the Administration has admitted in court that his deportation was a mistake, it alleges that there is nothing it can do to address this injustice, given that Mr. Abrego Garcia is now in the jurisdiction of the government of El Salvador as part of an agreement to imprison U.S. deportees in exchange for financial compensation.  
    Your unwillingness to immediately rectify this “administrative error” is unacceptable. Under multiple Democratic and Republican administrations, the Department of Homeland Security and ICE followed the rule of law and worked to quickly return people who were wrongfully deported, in the rare instances where such “administrative errors” occurred. The Administration’s mass deportation agenda does not transcend immigration law or the need for due process. And when the Administration makes a mistake as severe as sending an individual with protected status to a foreign prison, it cannot simply shrug off responsibility and allege that there is nothing it can do to reunite him with his wife and child, who are American citizens. On Friday, a U.S. District Court judge in the District of Maryland ordered the government to return Mr. Abrego Garcia to the United States, and on Monday the Fourth Circuit denied the government’s motion to stay the order. The Administration should promptly comply with the district court’s order.
    To address our concerns about this matter and to provide clarity on the Department of Homeland Security and ICE’s policy regarding the immigration enforcement actions against immigrants with protected status, we ask that your Administration answer the following questions by April 22, 2025: 
    The standard and legal course for the government to take to deport someone with protected status would be to reopen the case, introduce evidence that grounds for terminating the protected status exist, and then allow an immigration judge to make a determination as to their status. Why was that course of action not taken in this case?  
    In the past, DHS and ICE worked to quickly return people to the U.S. who were erroneously deported. Why is DHS and ICE no longer following these well-established procedures and practices?   
    Vice President J.D. Vance and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt have both claimed that Mr. Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 gang member, but the government was unable or unwilling to provide any evidence to substantiate that claim to the court. Please provide any evidence of Mr. Abrego Garcia’s membership in MS-13.
    Given that the Administration is reportedly paying $6 million to El Salvador to detain deported immigrants at CECOT, why does it believe that there is nothing it can do to return Mr. Abrego Garcia to his family in the United States? Please provide a copy of the agreement between the U.S. and El Salvador on the detention of people deported from the U.S. in CECOT.
    Are there any other cases that the Administration is aware of in which an immigrant with protected status was illegally deported without due process? If so, identify those cases and explain what, if anything the government is doing to rectify those errors. 
    Will the Administration commit to reviewing all of the cases of its deportees to ensure that it has appropriately identified all of the errors? 
    What actions will the Administration take in the future to ensure that immigrants with protected status are afforded their appropriate due process? 
    We appreciate your prompt attention to this vital matter and look forward to reviewing your fulsome, timely response. 
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Inaction from Brussels over the arrest of an opposition leader in Turkey may be a strategic mistake

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Seda Gurkan, Assistant Professor in European Studies and International Relations, Institute of Security and Global Affairs, Leiden University

    The European Union faces a pressing problem as it decides how to handle another major slide towards autocracy in Turkey. So far, the signs are not good.

    Over the past decade, core democratic institutions have been systematically eroded in Turkey, under the rule of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has been in power since 2003. Media freedom, independent judiciary and civil society have all been targeted. A major turning point came in 2016, when Turkey abandoned its parliamentary democracy in favour of a hyper-centralised presidential system. Since then, the national parliament has been marginalised and nearly all checks on executive power have been eroded.

    While elections in Turkey have not been fair for many years, they were at least free. According to the international observers, elections were not fair as President Erdoğan and the ruling parties enjoyed “unjustified advantage”. However, elections still could offer voters a “choice between genuine political alternatives” – providing citizens with a sliver of hope for democratic change.

    That era may have ended on March 19, with the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul’s mayor. İmamoğlu was on the cusp of being made the opposition’s presidential candidate and was widely seen as Erdoğan’s main electoral rival. He now looks unlikely to be able to stand for president. This is not just a blow to the opposition but potentially indicates the end of free elections in Turkey according to some observers.

    All this has been happening in the EU’s immediate neighbourhood. Indeed, it has been happening in a country that remains, at least nominally, a candidate for EU membership. Yet Brussels has largely remained silent. This silence may prove a strategic mistake.

    Why is the EU silent?

    The EU’s reaction to İmamoğlu’s arrest has been, at best, cautious. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, issued a carefully worded expression of “deep concern”. The spokesperson for the EU echoed a familiar refrain, saying that as a candidate country, Turkey must “uphold democratic values”.

    In their joint statement Kaja Kallas, high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy, and Oliver Várhelyi, commissioner for enlargement, struck a similarly cautious tone. They said Turkey is “expected to apply the highest democratic standards and practices”.

    Only the European parliament, long considered the flagbearer of the EU’s values, adopted a more direct stance. Several political groups openly criticised Turkey during the plenary session on April 1. A delegation led by the European parliament first vice-president Katarina Barley visited İmamoğlu in a symbolic gesture of support.

    But these expressions of concern and acts of solidarity with İmamoğlu have not been matched by any credible action or condemnation potent enough to have a deterrent effect on the Turkish government. As many observers have noted, the EU’s strategic interests have increasingly overshadowed its commitment to democratic principles.

    It is no secret that the EU has never had a coherent strategic vision on Turkey. In a prime example of the transactional nature of the relationship, the EU outsourced refugee challenge to Turkey in 2016 in exchange for financial aid to Ankara. It was a deal driven not by long-term goals but short-term pragmatism.

    Today, in an era of growing geopolitical instability, Turkey has only become a more critical partner for the EU. Ankara commands the second-largest army in Nato, boasts a rapidly advancing defence industry, and has ample experience in peacekeeping and out-of-area operations. These are all increasingly valuable as the US, under Donald Trump, retreats from European security.

    Turkey has also become a key player in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. With strong political and economic ties to the new leadership in Damascus, Turkey started to play a central role in Syria’s reconstruction, as well as in its energy and defence sectors. Working toward the stabilisation and reconstruction of Syria is a shared interest for both Brussels and Ankara. For both sides, potential collapse of Syria involves major security concerns, including further refugee inflows to Turkey, and via Turkey to Europe, the proliferation of armed groups, jihadist terror and the spillover of regional instability.

    And while the containment of Kurdish groups in Syria is a priority for Ankara, the control of ISIS militants in detention in Northern Syria is a priority for the EU. Brussels has recognised Turkey’s “essential role to play in stabilising the region”, adding to the growing list of areas of common interest.

    Add in the fear of destabilisation in the EU’s immediate neighbourhood, and it becomes clearer why Brussels might prefer “stability” under Erdoğan over the uncertainty of post-Erdoğan period.

    The wrong strategy

    But failing to stand up to Turkey now is a mistake – and one with long-term consequences. The EU should care about what is happening in Turkey, not just for the sake of Turkish democracy, but for its own security. How it responds has implications for the credibility of the European project itself.

    Seeking closer security and defence cooperation with Turkey, in the absence of a shared understanding of fundamental values between Ankara and Brussels, is not realistic. As Hungary’s stance toward Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has shown, if there is no agreement on core values, aligning strategic interests becomes increasingly difficult. Turkey is a self-confident and assertive regional power, and it will not hesitate to follow a foreign policy that could ideologically diverge from that of the EU.

    Turkey’s recent foreign policy decisions illustrate this perfectly. Its actions in the eastern Mediterranean, northern Syria before Assad’s fall, Libya and the Caucasus demonstrate its readiness to pursue a more assertive path without consulting western partners. A prime example of this was Turkey’s decision to purchase S-400 missile defence systems from Russia, which created interoperability problems with Nato allies.

    Moreover, autocratic ideas tend to be contagious. When a country follows a more illiberal trajectory, it affects its wider neighbourhood. Turning a blind eye to Turkey’s authoritarian turn while cooperating on security and defence matters risks legitimising Erdoğan’s governance model. This could further strengthen the illiberal axis in the region.

    Finally, the EU risks alienating democrats and younger generations in Turkey. Despite the ups and downs in EU-Turkey relations, Turkish citizens have consistently shown strong support for the EU. Maintaining this momentum is not just an ethical responsibility or a matter of credibility for the EU – it is also a long-term investment in building a more democratic, trustworthy and stable neighbour.

    Seda Gurkan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Inaction from Brussels over the arrest of an opposition leader in Turkey may be a strategic mistake – https://theconversation.com/inaction-from-brussels-over-the-arrest-of-an-opposition-leader-in-turkey-may-be-a-strategic-mistake-253982

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Steil Introduces Bill to Maintain Sanctions on Terrorists in Iran

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Contact: Michael Donatello

    Steil Introduces Bill to Maintain Sanctions on Terrorists in Iran

    Washington, DC – This week, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) introduced the No Sanctions Relief for Terrorists Act, part of the Republican Study Committee’s Enforcing Maximum Pressure Initiative. Steil’s bill ensures that sanctions on Iran cannot be lifted unless the country stops funding terrorist activity.

     

    “The Iranian regime is the largest State Sponsor of Terrorism in the world and has continued to finance terrorist proxies for more than four decades. Iran’s actions have endangered U.S. citizens, companies, and allies around the world,” said Steil. “No administration should repeat the errors of the Biden Administration.  We must ban sanctions waivers that can enable the Iranian regime to finance attacks on America and our allies.”

    Background:

    • In 2023, the Biden Administration allowed the Islamic Republic of Iran to access up to $10 billion in previously restricted funds using a sanctions waiver.
    • This action occurred despite increasing terrorist activities and Iran’s role in funding and arming Hamas, including providing weapons used in the October 7th terrorist attack against Israel.
    • Congressman Steil previously called on the Biden Administration to cease the use of this workaround and address why the administration saw fit to provide relief to the world’s largest State Sponsor of Terrorism.
    • Congressman Steil joined his colleagues with the Republican Study Committee at a press conference Wednesday to introduce a package of bills that would restore maximum pressure on the Iranian Regime and protect the American people from terrorism.
    • The No Sanctions Relief for Terrorists Act prevents any presidential administration from providing sanctions relief to individuals and entities in Iran sanctioned for terrorism unless the President could certify to Congress that Iran was no longer sponsoring terrorism.
    • Specifically, the legislation would prevent the abuse of humanitarian waivers and licenses, as used under the Biden Administration, which allowed the administration to circumvent terrorism-related sanctions.
    • This bill follows the restoration of significant sanctions on Iran by the Trump Administration.
    • Video of the press conference can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Finds Redwood Falls Man Guilty of Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, Trafficking Marijuana

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS– On Friday, April 4, 2025, a federal jury convicted Andrew David Munsinger, 41, a resident of Redwood Falls, Minnesota, of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition as a felon and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to evidence presented at trial, Munsinger was a member of the Aryan Freedom Network, a white supremacist organization, and he was the subject of a year-long FBI investigation that gathered multiple audio- and video-recordings of Munsinger possessing and shooting firearms, purchasing and using ammunition, and admitting that he could not legally possess a firearm. On February 7, 2024, FBI agents executed search warrants at Munsinger’s residence in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, his two vehicles, and a farm near Lake Lilliam, Minnesota. Law enforcement seized a total five firearms, including two personally made semi-automatic rifles, two shotguns, and a nine-millimeter pistol, hundreds of rounds and casings of ammunition, multiple high-capacity magazines and other firearm accessories, and a tactical bullet-resistant vest. They also discovered over five pounds of marijuana in heat-sealed packages, a marijuana grow operation, and $24,300 cash in $100-bill denominations. Because Munsinger has prior felony convictions, he was prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.

    “The safety and security of Minnesotans is of the upmost importance to my office. We will ensure Munsinger—and all others who bring violence and drugs to Minnesota—sees federal justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “We are grateful to the FBI for their work on this this investigation.”

    “A convicted felon with a cache of firearms, ammunition, and drugs is a clear threat to public safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI and our partners will not tolerate individuals who break the law and promote extremist views that incite violence. Together, we will continue to disrupt violent extremists and prevent convicted felons from arming themselves and endangering others.”

    After a five-day jury trial before Judge John R. Tunheim in U.S. District Court, Munsinger was convicted of one count of being a felon in possession of firearms, one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, and one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Bejar and Raphael B. Coburn tried the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Money laundering gang who exploited Russia-Ukraine war jailed

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Two people have been jailed for a combined 13 years for laundering more than £6 million, after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s economic crime team.

    The group used criminal money to purchase vans and lorries in the UK and sold them to Ukraine. The earnings were then converted into cryptocurrency. They exploited the legitimate demand in Ukraine for vehicles as part of their war effort, and the lack of cryptocurrency regulation, to maximise their profit and made millions in just over a year.

    Valeriy Popovych, 52, (08.09.1972) of The Avenue, Sudbury‐on‐Thames, and Vitaliy Lutsak, 43, (07.08.1981) of Shortmead Drive, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, were sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday, 7 April, following a five-week trial.

    Oksana Popovych, 42, (19.03.1983) of The Avenue, Sudbury‐on‐Thames is due to be sentenced on Friday, 30 May at Wood Green Crown Court.

    They were all found guilty of transferring criminal property and running an unregistered money service business, following an investigation by the Met.

    The criminal enterprise enabled Valeriy and Oksana Popovych and to purchase a second house in South West London for just under £1 million.

    Detective Constable Harry Davies, from the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation, said:

    “This was a thorough and complex investigation into an organised crime gang operating internationally, I’d like to thank the dedicated officers and our partners for their work in bringing this group to justice.

    “Mr Popovych presented himself as a hardworking, legitimate tradesman and used his reputation within the second-hand lorry market to clean criminal cash. He also callously saw the conflict in Ukraine as a lucrative business opportunity.

    “The sentences given to the group today show how committed we are in tackling organised crime groups and the serious risk they pose to our communities.”

    The investigation

    Valeriy Popovych ran an export business, Sprint Commercial Ltd, purchasing vehicles in the UK from legitimate traders and selling them in Ukraine. His wife, Valeriy Popovych, was also employed by the business.

    He would purchase the goods with criminal cash, the money was deposited in Ukraine and converted to cryptocurrency.

    Lutsak acted as the money co-ordinator and would send the Popovychs to collect criminal cash from ‘customers’ in the UK. During the investigation officers found more than $14million in cryptocurrency had passed through his “cyrptowallets” stored on his computer.

    A part of the laundered cash was controlled by a Russian National called Semen Kuksov, who was convicted on Friday, 27 October 2023 at Southwark Crown Court, under the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) Operation Destabilise.

    Kuksov was sentenced to five years and seven months’ imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, 1 February 2024.

    The arrests

    Acting on intelligence, on Wednesday, 28 June 2023, police stopped a vehicle in Twickenham in which Valeiry Popovych was the passenger. Following a search of the vehicle Met officers found more than £60,000 in cash and arrested him at the scene.

    During a further search at his address on Gloucester Road, Feltham, officers recovered £130,000 in cash. This was seized, alongside a laptop and mobile devices.

    Following Popovych’s arrest, extensive investigations by the Economic Crime Unit discovered the link with Oksana and Lutsak, who were arrested at their homes on Wednesday, 15 May 2024. Lutsak was charged on the same day.

    Valeriy and Oksana Popvych were charged on Tuesday, 14 June 2024.

    They were all found guilty by the jury on Wednesday, 5 March 2025 at Wood Green Crown Court.

    A variety of complex evidence was obtained by officers, including chats, money transactions, CCTV, cryptocurrency wallets and call logs.

    The Met’s economic crime unit worked with partner agencies including the NCA, HM Revenue and Customs and the Financial Conduct Authority to conduct a robust investigation.

    Messages outlined key times in which Valeriy and Popovych visited addresses to collect cash.

    The most crucial element was an Excel spreadsheet, named ‘V Enf Acc’. This document proved the group laundered over £6 million between August 2022 and June 2023.

    Valeriy Popovych and Vitaliy Lutsak were were both sentenced to six years and six months’ imprisonment.

    They were all found guilty of transferring criminal property over the value of £6 million under Section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and running an unregistered money service business under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017.

    Negeen Momtahen, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

    “Together, these defendants used an export business as a front to launder millions of pounds of criminal cash across borders. They attempted to conceal the source of this illicit money by using secret token exchanges and cryptocurrency.

    “Money laundering is not a victimless crime – it is the financial lifeline which enables criminals to profit from their illegal activities.

    “Last year we convicted other key members of this same money laundering network. I hope this latest prosecution demonstrates our ongoing determination to dismantling these criminal operations and bringing all involved to justice.

    “We will be pursuing confiscation proceedings against the defendants to remove any available criminal benefits gained from this enterprise.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Comprehensive Security in Universities: The Ministry of Education and Science and the National Anti-Corruption Commission held a seminar for rectors

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    On April 4 and 5, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University hosted a training seminar on “Comprehensive Security in a Higher Education Organization” for rectors of Russian universities. The event was organized by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the National Anti-Terrorism Committee. Participants discussed issues of comprehensive security for universities under the jurisdiction of the ministry.

    The seminar was opened by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia Valery Falkov. In his video address, he drew the attention of university rectors to the need to personally monitor student safety issues.

    In the context of a special military operation, the topic of comprehensive security of universities is more relevant than ever. External national threats – extremism, terrorism, “school shooting”, “Columbine”, interethnic and interfaith conflicts – are taking place against the backdrop of an unprecedented hybrid war declared against our state. Today, personal attention and participation of university management in ensuring anti-terrorist security is necessary, – emphasized Valery Falkov.

    In this regard, on behalf of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia has developed and launched a refresher course on “Integrated Security in a Higher Education Organization” for rectors of universities subordinate to the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. As a result of the training, participants will gain knowledge of effective methods of countering threats among young people and a corresponding certificate.

    Every rector without exception should know the basics of comprehensive security. All universities should develop their own comprehensive security program, which is designed to preserve the lives and health of students, teachers and staff. The management should approach the development of security measures in a comprehensive manner, not only include in the program measures to increase the level of physical security, but also conduct training for staff and students on emergency response measures, noted Valery Falkov.

    The Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation called on university leaders to establish cooperation with regional authorities and law enforcement agencies on all issues, especially those related to security. He emphasized that universities should do a lot of work to debunk myths and refute unreliable facts in connection with the information attack, which is primarily aimed at young people.

    Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Konstantin Mogilevsky also addressed the participants.

    We thank the rector of SPbPU Andrey Ivanovich Rudskoy for organizing the venue for the event. Polytechnic University is an outstanding university, one of our leading universities, so everyone will surely find something interesting here. Rectors face many tasks, and the most important of them is to create conditions for our young people to receive a quality education, to train highly qualified specialists. And such issues as comprehensive security must definitely be in the rectors’ field of vision, – said Konstantin Mogilevsky.

    He said that comprehensive security is a multi-level system that can be divided into two areas: physical protection of facilities and preventive work. Together with the NAC, the Russian Ministry of Education and Science’s universities have developed algorithms for the actions of personnel, employees of private security organizations and students in the event of the commission (threat of commission) of terrorist crimes. Interaction with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Russian Guard, the FSB has also been defined, and a model of behavior for offenders has been developed. Konstantin Mogilevsky presented the activities of the Coordination Council and coordination centers on issues of developing an active civic position among young people, preventing interethnic and interfaith conflicts, countering the ideology of terrorism and preventing extremism.

    Rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy shared the experience of the Polytechnic University in the field of ensuring comprehensive security.

    This task is one of the priorities for our university community. Taking into account modern realities, we must ensure the sustainable functioning of educational institutions, create safe conditions for students to study for the benefit of Russia’s further development. In recent years, the Polytechnic University has created a fairly effective system of measures to ensure the safety of students and employees, Andrey Rudskoy emphasized.

    Andrey Ivanovich spoke about the technical equipment of the university facilities, interaction with law enforcement agencies and security organizations, and the activities of the University Security Center. The Polytechnic regularly conducts training in various areas with the involvement of the city’s law enforcement agencies. Particular attention is paid to issues of prevention of possible involvement of employees and students in illegal activities using phones and other messengers. Also, the Polytechnic carries out extensive information work in the field of security.

    State Secretary — Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Denis Ashirov spoke about joint work with the National Anti-Terrorism Committee. First Deputy Head of the Office of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee Igor Kulyagin gave a lecture on “Comprehensive Security of an Educational Organization of Higher Education in Counteracting Terrorism. The Structure of Preventive Work”. Director of the National Center for Information Counteraction to Terrorism and Extremism in the Educational Environment Sergey Churilov spoke about ensuring anti-terrorist security within the framework of comprehensive security of an educational organization of higher education.

    The seminar participants considered the most important issues of security in universities, discussed anti-terrorist activities, information threats, and the prevention of illegal actions. In addition, they were given a tour of the laboratories of the Technopolis Polytech research complex.

    On April 5, Andrey Tolmachev, Director of the Department of Information Policy and Comprehensive Security of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, presented certificates to rectors who had completed the training.

    Photo archive

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Targeted attacks against Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – defending religious freedom and security – P10_TA(2025)0066 – Thursday, 3 April 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to its previous resolutions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),

    –  having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

    –  having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

    –  having regard to the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which guarantees the right to freedom of conscience and the free exercise of religious worship for all citizens,

    –  having regard to the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 November 1981,

    –  having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights,

    –  having regard to Rules 136(2) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A.  whereas the eastern DRC has endured decades of widespread violence and instability; whereas the situation continues to deteriorate significantly, with persistent human rights violations by armed groups, mass displacement, attacks on civilians and alarming humanitarian conditions further exacerbated by armed conflicts, such as the conflict between the DRC Government, the Rwanda-backed armed rebel group March 23 Movement (M23) and other militias, which has already resulted in the forceful internal displacement of 4,6 million people in the eastern DRC; whereas around 100 separate armed groups are estimated to be operating in the eastern DRC; whereas a series of overlapping issues are driving destabilisation in the country;

    B.  whereas M23 has intensified attacks in North Kivu and on 19 March 2025, it seized the mineral-rich town of Walikale, defying the ceasefire;

    C.  whereas the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is one of the most prominent extremist groups with explicitly religious objectives, especially since its leader pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2019, becoming its Central Africa Province branch (ISCAP); whereas the ADF’s attacks need to be seen in the wider African context of a rise in the number of Islamist groups, in particular those affiliated to ISIS, in the Sahel region, the Horn of Africa, Mozambique, Nigeria and the DRC; whereas the ADF has been designated a terrorist group by Uganda and the United States;

    D.  whereas in May 2024, the UN Group of Experts on the DRC warned that the ‘armed group established strong networks in prisons, particularly in Kinshasa where ADF detainees were active in recruiting and mobilising combatants and collaborators’, using not only ideological means, but also coercion, deception, abduction and financial incentives to attract members and collaborators;

    E.  whereas the ADF has a long history of committing terrorist attacks in the eastern DRC, particularly in North Kivu and Ituri provinces; whereas North Kivu is a resource-rich region, with vast supplies of critical raw materials including cobalt, gold and tin, which are necessary for the global digital and energy transitions; whereas it is known that the ADF and other armed groups, including M23, have been relying on, among other sources of financing, the illegal exploitation of these resources to fund their activities; whereas the Congolese Catholic Church claims that the ADF is responsible for the deaths of around 6 000 civilians in Beni between 2013 and 2021 and more than 2 000 in Bunia in 2020 alone; whereas in 2024, a large number of Christians were killed in the DRC by jihadists; whereas civilians in the DRC’s eastern provinces are facing an increasing number of attacks, killings and abductions, as well as church bombings and the destruction of (religious) property, perpetrated by armed groups with extremist and jihadist ideologies; whereas most victims of ADF attacks have been Christian; whereas these attacks undermine religious freedom and exacerbate intercommunal tensions; whereas the Catholic bishops of the DRC spoke out in an April 2021 statement about the threat of the ‘Islamization of the region [North Kivu] as a sort of deeper strategy for a long-term negative influence on the general political situation of the country’;

    F.  whereas in 2021, a prominent local Muslim leader received death threats from the ADF, and he was later gunned down; whereas in 2023, the ADF bombed services at a Pentecostal church in Kasindi, killing 14 people; whereas the ADF has been linked to an attack on the village of Mukondi in 2023, in which at least 44 civilians were killed, according to local authorities; whereas the group claimed 48 attacks in December 2024 alone, killing over 200 people; whereas in January 2024, the ADF killed eight people in Beni during an attack on a Pentecostal church and, in May 2024, ADF assailants reportedly killed 14 Catholics in the North Kivu province for refusing to convert to Islam; whereas the ADF also reportedly executed 11 Christians in the village of Ndimo in Ituri province and kidnapped several others;

    G.  whereas local and international human rights organisations have documented numerous instances of religious violence in the DRC, while stressing the urgent need for the state to provide adequate protection; whereas, while the DRC Government has demonstrated a strong intention to address the impacts of armed group violence in the eastern DRC, other recent developments call into question the government’s commitment to safeguarding religious freedom specifically; whereas women and children are particularly vulnerable to rape as weapon of war, human trafficking and sexual slavery;

    H.  whereas the Armed Forces of the DRC have been conducting a joint military offensive, Operation Shujaa, with the Ugandan People’s Defence Force against the ADF and other insurgent forces in the eastern DRC since November 2021; whereas the conflict between the DRC Government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels has led to a decrease in the funds, personnel and equipment being allocated to this counterterrorism operation;

    I.  whereas the right to freedom of religion and belief is a fundamental human right and must be protected given the high level of violence and persecution; whereas the Constitution of the DRC provides for freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination based on religious belief;

    J.  whereas over 7 million people in the DRC are currently displaced because of the wider ongoing conflicts, with limited access to food, water, healthcare and essential services; whereas state authorities and rebel groups have obligations to civilians under international humanitarian law, including protecting and facilitating access to humanitarian assistance, and permitting freedom of movement;

    K.  whereas women and children in the DRC face increased levels of sexual and gender-based violence, including rape as a weapon of war, resulting in there being one victim of rape every four minutes;

    L.  whereas the illegal exploitation of mineral resources continues to fuel conflict in the region, necessitating stronger international oversight and responsible sourcing policies;

    M.  whereas in March 2025, President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda issued a joint statement announcing a ceasefire; whereas despite this, the violence perpetrated by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels continues;

    N.  whereas the DRC has one of the highest rates of internal displacement in the world; whereas many women and children live in precarious conditions and are being exposed to the risk of harassment, assault, sexual exploitation and forced military recruitment; whereas displaced populations often receive no basic life-saving services and are at risk of malnutrition and disease; whereas cities that host internally displaced people in precarious circumstances are also targets of attacks by different militias, causing great distress to the displaced communities and to the local population;

    O.  whereas the EU has committed to supporting stability in the DRC through diplomatic engagement, financial assistance and targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for violence and human rights abuses; whereas on 17 March 2025, the EU imposed sanctions on nine individuals and one entity responsible for acts that constitute serious human rights violations and abuses or that sustain the conflict in the DRC, including through the illegal exploitation of resources, but further diplomatic and economic measures may be necessary;

    P.  whereas the Council has renewed the EU’s financial support for the deployment of Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) troops in Mozambique under the European Peace Facility (EPF); whereas the head of these forces was previously deployed in the eastern DRC to support abuses committed by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, giving rise to serious doubt as to whether there are sufficient safeguards attached to EPF support, including effective vetting and other human rights requirements;

    Q.  whereas the EU has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to the promotion and protection of religious freedom globally, and has taken steps to combat religious persecution and intolerance in various parts of the world; whereas Christians are the largest persecuted religious group in the world;

    R.  whereas Parliament has consistently called for the strengthening of international efforts to combat religious persecution and to hold accountable those responsible for attacks on minority communities;

    1.  Strongly condemns the occupation of Goma and other territories in the eastern DRC by M23 and the RDF as an unacceptable breach of the DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; urges the Rwandan Government to withdraw its troops from DRC territory, the presence of whom is a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, and cease cooperation with the M23 rebels; demands that Rwanda and all other potential state actors in the region cease their support for M23;

    2.  Expresses deep concern at the alarming continuation of violence; deplores the loss of life and the attacks, both indiscriminate and targeted, against civilians; expresses deep concern over the worsening security and humanitarian crises in the eastern DRC as a whole; calls for the immediate cessation of all forms of violence and for the commitment of all parties involved in the ongoing conflict in the eastern DRC to respect international humanitarian law;

    3.  Strongly condemns the targeted terrorist attacks carried out by the ADF against Christian communities in the eastern DRC, including killings, abductions and the destruction of religious property, and calls for an immediate halt to such acts of violence; expresses its solidarity with the families of the victims and with Christian communities;

    4.  Strongly condemns the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group and the ADF, as well as other rebel groups, and their egregious human rights abuses that amount to crimes against humanity in accordance with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC); underlines that there must be no impunity for the perpetrators of these acts and that those responsible should be referred to the ICC; encourages the establishment of an international commission of inquiry to examine the human rights violations committed in the DRC, renewed investigations in North Kivu by the ICC Prosecutors Office and the creation of a special tribunal for atrocity crimes in the DRC, including crimes committed against Christian communities; backs the efforts by the National Episcopal Conference of Congo and the Church of Christ in Congo, which launched the ‘Social pact for peace and coexistence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes Region’, with the aim of restoring peace in the country’s eastern provinces;

    5.  Supports the international efforts against the ADF, including the Shujaa counterterrorism operation carried out jointly by the DRC and Ugandan armed forces; encourages the EU Member States to consider ways of contributing to these efforts, including increased efforts to trace and interdict ISIS secret funds held overseas and to trace any raw materials stemming from their illegal exploitation by the ADF; calls for the EU to support the necessary capacity-building and expertise to combat ADF ideology and rhetoric, particularly within the Muslim communities of both Uganda and the DRC, to prevent recruitment among those communities; requests the application of the EU global human rights sanctions regime to those responsible for planning, ordering or participating in the killing of Christians in the DRC;

    6.  Calls for an immediate and effective ceasefire, and for the full implementation of diplomatic agreements, including the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes; underlines the urgent need for the stabilisation of the country and reiterates its call on M23 to halt its territorial advances and withdraw from the territory of the DRC;

    7.  Reiterates its full support for the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) in protecting civilians and stabilising the region; urges the EU to cooperate with all actors on the ground, in particular MONUSCO, to ensure the protection of civilians in the eastern DRC; calls on the UN to work towards a stronger mandate for MONUSCO in order to enable peacemaking; calls on the UN to ensure the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law;

    8.  Urges the international community to increase support for services in the eastern DRC so that civilians who have been targeted can have access to legal services and psychological support; calls on the DRC Government to counter extremist propaganda; calls for the establishment of early warning mechanisms to more effectively prevent and respond to attacks by the ADF and other armed groups against civilians;

    9.  Reiterates its call for all parties, including armed groups operating in the eastern DRC, to allow and facilitate humanitarian access to address the urgent need for essential services in the eastern DRC and neighbouring countries, notably Burundi; emphasises that humanitarian workers must be able to operate safely to deliver life-saving assistance to Congolese civilians; stresses that this is a central obligation under international humanitarian law, and that perpetrators violating these obligations should be held to account; calls on all parties to provide a safe environment for civil society organisations;

    10.  Is appalled by the shocking use of sexual violence against women and children as a tool of repression and weapon of war in the eastern DRC, and by the unacceptable recruitment of child soldiers by the various rebel groups; demands that these matters be addressed by the international community without delay;

    11.  Calls for stricter enforcement of the EU regulation on conflict minerals(1) to prevent illicit trade from fuelling armed groups in the DRC; reiterates its previous call on the Commission to suspend the EU’s Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda; requests that the Commission share detailed mapping of current projects with Rwandan authorities and its assessment of whether they may contribute to addressing or may fail to address human rights violations either inside Rwanda or in the DRC;

    12.  Calls for the EU and its Member States to support the DRC in implementing the recommendations of the 2010 mapping report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), including reforming the security sector, strengthening its efforts to prevent further atrocities against civilians, and ending support for or collaboration with abusive armed groups; urges the DRC Government to ensure accountability for human rights violations and prosecute those responsible for attacks; calls for the EU and its Member States to support the DRC in fighting corruption, strengthening governance and the rule of law, improving security and ensuring the lasting protection of communities at risk, including religious communities, and to ensure that perpetrators of attacks are brought to justice;

    13.  Underlines the role of communities, including religious communities and faith-based organisations in the DRC, in promoting peace, social cohesion and the well-being of local communities;

    14.  Calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service to intensify diplomatic efforts by working closely with regional partners, including the African Union, the East African Community and the United Nations, in order to step up diplomatic efforts to achieve a sustainable resolution to the conflict and prevent extremist groups from using religion as a tool for violence and division;

    15.  Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase humanitarian aid to address the urgent needs of displaced persons and vulnerable communities in the DRC, ensuring safe access to food, medical care and shelter;

    16.  Supports the imposition of further targeted EU sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for financing or engaging in violence, human rights abuses and resource exploitation; calls for the implementation of the sanctions outlined in the OHCHR mapping report;

    17.  Confirms its commitment to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as a fundamental human right guaranteed by international legal instruments recognised as holding universal value, and to which most countries in the world have committed, and which is enshrined in the Constitution of the DRC;

    18.  Echoes the calls for international solidarity in defending religious freedom and the protection of religious minorities in conflict zones, particularly in the DRC, while addressing the root causes of violent extremism in the DRC and its neighbourhood;

    19.  Urges the EU to uphold its commitment to the promotion of religious freedom and the protection of communities, including religious communities, ensuring that the rights of these groups are prioritised in the EU’s external policies;

    20.  Notes, with concern, the growing influence of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa, which is a staunch supporter of the Putin regime and its violent, unlawful war in Ukraine; underlines that this development raises significant questions regarding the broader geopolitical and ideological objectives of the Russian Federation in Africa;

    21.  Deplores the fact that Rwanda announced the termination of its diplomatic relations with Belgium, and expresses its solidarity with Belgium;

    22.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Governments and Parliaments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, the African Union, the secretariats of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Southern African Development Community and the East African Community, and other relevant international bodies.

    (1) Regulation (EU) 2017/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 laying down supply chain due diligence obligations for Union importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas (OJ L 130, 19.5.2017, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/821/oj).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Do we need a Martyn’s Law for venue security in Australia? The MCG gun scare is a wake-up call

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne

    Two men were arrested for allegedly bringing loaded firearms into the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during Thursday’s AFL match between Collingwood and Carlton.

    The incident didn’t result in harm but it triggered serious questions about venue security processes in Australia.

    The MCG had recently adopted AI-powered security screening systems, designed to detect weapons while streamlining crowd flow.

    The scanners reportedly flagged the men’s belongings but a failure in the follow-up manual check allowed them to enter.

    The event has reignited a national conversation about the right level of security at major venues. How do we balance the need for thorough screening with the goal of maintaining smooth ingress, individual freedom and public comfort?

    The timing is notable. Just days earlier, the UK passed Martyn’s Law, which introduces a legal duty for venues to assess and mitigate terrorism risks.

    The passage of this legislation prompts a broader question for Australia: should international developments like this influence how we think about security preparedness?

    AI security scanners

    The MCG recently contracted Evolv Technology, a US-based company, to supply AI-powered security screening systems for its major events.

    Their system is designed to detect weapons using a combination of sensors, millimetre wave technology and artificial intelligence, rather than relying on traditional metal detection.

    Evolv claims the system allows people to flow into the stadium faster compared to older technologies.

    Unlike traditional metal detectors, which operate on a simple binary system – alerting whenever metal is present – these scanners claim to offer a more granular assessment of objects.

    Instead of flagging all metal indiscriminately, the system is meant to evaluate the shape, size and density of objects to distinguish between benign items (such as keys or belts) and potential threats like firearms or large knives.

    This means patrons can pass through without removing metal items from their clothing or bags, significantly reducing wait times.

    When an item of interest is detected, the system highlights the specific area of the body or bag where it is located. This enables security staff to conduct a targeted search and avoid the need for a full-body inspections using hand-held detectors.

    Investigations and independent tests overseas have, however, identified false positives and missed detections as potential weaknesses in the Evolv system. One report found the system failed to detect certain knives and even some firearms in school settings.

    The risk associated with missed detection is self-explanatory: prohibited items can slip through the screening.

    But a high rate of false positives can also present challenges, particularly at the manual inspection stage, where staff are required to follow up on each alert. Over time, this can increase the likelihood of human error due to fatigue, reduced vigilance, or assumptions that flagged items are benign.

    So while AI scanners may be faster, they still depend heavily on the effectiveness of secondary manual screening and appropriate training of personnel. In the MCG breach, it is reported the scanners flagged items of concern when the two men entered the venue but the threat was missed during the manual follow-up process.

    Security matters

    The MCG breach exposed a gap in security that could, in other circumstances, be exploited with far more serious consequences.

    Public venues such as stadiums, especially during major events, are known to be targets for those planning high-impact attacks.

    Australia’s Strategy for Protecting Crowded Places from Terrorism explicitly lists stadiums and arenas as high-risk environments due to their crowd density, symbolic value and open access points.

    International experience reflects this concern. In the months leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, French authorities disrupted several planned attacks targeting Olympic-related venues and gatherings.

    Martyn’s Law: a new model

    As security practices evolve and new technologies are introduced, a parallel question is emerging: what should the legal expectations be for public venue operators when it comes to threat preparedness?

    In the United Kingdom, this question has led to Martyn’s Law – a major piece of legislation just passed by the parliament.

    The law was introduced in response to the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, when 22 people were killed in a terrorist attack. One of the victims was Martyn Hett, whose mother, Figen Murray, campaigned for stronger, legally binding safety obligations for public venues.

    After six years of advocacy, the legislation was passed a few days ago.

    Martyn’s Law introduces a legal duty for UK venues to assess and mitigate terrorism risks. Depending on the size and type of venue, this includes measures such as conducting risk assessments, training staff and developing clear emergency response plans.

    Australia already has detailed guidance for the protection of crowded places. But unlike Martyn’s Law, that guidance is not a legal mandate.

    The silver lining

    Long security queues can frustrate patrons and dampen crowd mood. It’s no surprise venues are adopting AI-based screening to ease entry.

    But emerging technologies have limits and vulnerabilities may only surface once they’re in use.

    From a safety perspective, the best-case scenario is for these weaknesses to be revealed without harm, which can strengthen systems before a real failure occurs.

    The recent breach serves as just that: a prompt for review without consequence.

    These tools don’t replace trained personnel. Their success depends on clear procedures and defined responsibilities.

    That’s where legislation like the UK’s Martyn’s Law becomes relevant: turning good practice into legal obligation.

    As Australia prepares for global events, this is a chance to consider the governance that supports venue security.

    The presence of a legislative framework could serve as part of our overall security posture. And that, in itself, can help deter or mitigate risk.

    Milad Haghani does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Do we need a Martyn’s Law for venue security in Australia? The MCG gun scare is a wake-up call – https://theconversation.com/do-we-need-a-martyns-law-for-venue-security-in-australia-the-mcg-gun-scare-is-a-wake-up-call-253928

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Curtis Bipartisan Bill to Counter Hezbollah’s Influence in the Western Hemisphere Passes Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Near East Subcommittee, announced that her bipartisan bill with Senator John Curtis (R-UT) to direct the U.S. Department of State and other federal agencies to assess and counter Hezbollah’s influence in Latin America advanced in committee. The No Hezbollah in Our Hemisphere Act requires an official determination of whether any Western Hemisphere country meets the legal definition of a terrorist sanctuary and imposes restrictions on officials who support Hezbollah.
    “Iran-backed Hezbollah is a terrorist organization that’s intent on targeting the United States and our allies, like Israel,” said Senator Rosen. “This terrorist group has operated in the Western Hemisphere for decades to raise funds for their illicit activities, which is a threat to our national security. I’m glad that my bipartisan bill to prevent Hezbollah from continuing to operate in this hemisphere has advanced through committee.”
    Hezbollah, with direct support from Iran, has built an extensive network in Latin America, using the region as a hub for terrorism, illicit financing, and organized crime. The group plays a central role in the cocaine trade, collaborating with Colombian and Mexican cartels to smuggle multi-ton shipments of narcotics across the hemisphere.
    While countries such as Argentina and Paraguay have designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, many others have not—allowing the group to operate with impunity. Some authoritarian regimes in Latin America, particularly Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro, openly support Hezbollah and its Iranian backers. Brazil, Iran’s primary trading partner in the region, has even allowed Iranian warships to dock in Rio de Janeiro.
    Following the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel, authorities in Brazil and Argentina intercepted multiple Iranian-backed terrorist plots targeting Jewish communities. The lack of coordinated regional action against Hezbollah poses a direct security threat to the United States and its allies.
    Senator Rosen continues to fight to protect the United States and our allies against terrorist organizations. Last Congress, she introduced a bipartisan resolution urging the European Union (EU) to fully designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Senator Rosen also introduced the bipartisan No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act to prevent any person who participated in Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attacks from entering the United States.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Irish national charged in multistate home repair fraud scheme

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    PROVIDENCE, R.I. – An Irish national illegally residing the United States and initially arrested for immigration violations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been ordered detained on criminal wire fraud and conspiracy charges related to an alleged scheme to defraud homeowners in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

    Prior to making an initial appearance April 3 for criminal charges in U.S. District Court on a federal criminal complaint charging him with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, John O’Brien, 28, was arrested for immigration violations on March 28 for violating the terms of his admission and failing to depart the United States as required by October 2021.

    Charging documents allege that O’Brien and others defrauded property owners by inducing them to pay for home repairs that were not needed and often not completed. O’Brien misrepresented the need for the repairs and services, as well as the qualifications of his purported construction business, Traditional Masonry & Construction.

    O’Brien’s alleged fraud scheme came to the attention of law enforcement when an 83-year-old Warwick resident, identified in court documents as Victim 1, contacted the Warwick Police Department to complain that he had been defrauded by a contractor. Victim 1 reported that O’Brien told him that, while doing work in the neighborhood, he observed cracks in Victim 1’s foundation. O’Brien offered to professionally repair the damage to the foundation. O’Brien collected $9,500 from Victim 1. As work proceeded, O’Brien allegedly claimed that further damage was discovered. O’Brien allegedly revised the costs for repairs and sought an additional $80,000 from the victim. A home inspector hired by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island later reviewed the property and found no evidence of a need for these extensive foundation repairs.

    As described in court documents, other alleged victims have been identified who described similar interactions with O’Brien that began with initial, unsolicited recommendations for small home repairs, followed by O’Brien’s purported discovery of major repairs needed, and often a representation that the homeowner’s foundation was in urgent need of repairs. It is estimated that this scheme has defrauded homeowners out of over $1,000,000.

    At the time of O’Brien’s arrest, investigators allegedly seized from his vehicle hundreds of Traditional Masonry & Construction flyers, identical to the ones handed out to the victims in this case, and four binders containing quotes, contracts, and invoices for Traditional Masonry & Construction. The documents and contracts are dated between April 2024 through March 2025, and range from $300 to $205,000. The approximate value of the contracts contained within the binders totaled $1,987,650.00.

    The scheme O’Brien is alleged to have been executing is becoming increasingly common throughout the United States. It has come to be known as Traveling Conman Fraud. According to the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center, Conmen Travelers are groups of Irish or U.K. nationals who entered the United States on pleasure or tourist visas and overstayed their visits or, more commonly, entered the United States illegally. Once in the United States, they go to different cities and states, soliciting construction work. The members often quote a low price and after further inspection, demand much more money and convince the homeowner that their property is in need of major repairs. The fraudsters often hire day laborers; do not have work authorization documents or pull permits; and do low quality, unnecessary, or incomplete work, sometimes damaging homeowners’ residences.

    A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    The case was investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations Providence and the Warwick and East Providence Departments.

    ICE HSI and the United States Attorney’s Office recommend consumers follow a few simple rules to lessen the likelihood of being defrauded by this organization or others:

    • Be very cautious with offers from contractors who visit unsolicited saying they noticed a problem that needs to be fixed.
    • Don’t fall victim to high pressure scare tactics. Proceed cautiously before you commit to allowing work to be done.
    • Get at least one second opinion and cost estimate.
    • Check that contractors have a legitimate business address and consider visiting to verify that the business does exist.
    • Verify that the contractor is licensed before agreeing to have any work started. In Rhode Island, confirm licensing information on the Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board website; in Massachusetts check the website of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
    • Ensure that the contractor obtains permits to do the work from your local city or town before work begins. Ask to see the permit and verify its authenticity with your city or town.
    • Beware of schemes where work is begun with a relatively small job and then the contractor claims to have found far greater damage that will cost significantly more money to repair
    • Don’t leave new or unfamiliar contractors alone at your house, even if they’re working outside. Bad actors may intentionally cause damage. Keep a close eye on work being done.

    If you or someone you know believes they may have fallen victim to the Traveling Conman Fraud scheme, you are urged to contact ICE HSI via email at HSINewEnglandVictimAssistance@hsi.dhs.gov or via the ICE Tipline by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Arizona Man Convicted of Crimes Arising Out of Plot Targeting Christian Churches

    Source: US State of Vermont

    After an 11-day trial, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday against Zimnako Salah, 45, of Phoenix, Arizona, convicting him of strapping a backpack around the toilet of a Christian church in Roseville, California, with the intent to convey a hoax bomb threat and to obstruct the free exercise of religion of the congregants who worshipped there.  The jury’s verdict included a special finding Salah targeted the church because of the religion of the people who worshipped there, making the offense a hate crime.

    According to the evidence at trial, from September to November of 2023, Salah traveled to four Christian churches in Arizona, California, and Colorado, wearing black backpacks. At two of those churches, Salah planted those backpacks, placing congregants in fear that they contained bombs. At the other two churches, Salah was confronted by security before he got the chance to plant those backpacks.

    While Salah had been making bomb threats by planting backpacks in Christian churches, he had been building a bomb capable of fitting in a backpack. During a search of his storage unit, an FBI Bomb Technician seized items that an FBI Bomb Expert testified at trial served as component parts of an improvised explosive device (IED).

    A search of Salah’s social media records revealed that he had consumed extremist propaganda online. Specifically, those records showed that Salah had searched for videos of “Infidels dying,” and he had watched videos depicting ISIS terrorists murdering people.

    “This Department of Justice has no tolerance for anyone who targets religious Americans for their faith,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The perpetrator of this abhorrent hate crime against Christians will face severe punishment.”

    “Planting a hoax bomb at the Roseville church was not an isolated incident or a prank for this defendant,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California. “His actions were designed to threaten and intimidate the congregation because he disagreed with their religious beliefs. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of federal and local law enforcement and the attorneys from my office and our DOJ partners in Washington D.C., our communities are safer with yesterday’s verdict. People of all religions should be able to worship freely and exercise their First Amendment rights in this country without fear of violence.”

    “The Sacramento Division of the FBI is proud of our collaboration with local partners in bringing Mr. Salah to justice. His deliberate targeting of multiple places of worship and calculated efforts to spread panic were intended to terrorize people of faith and disrupt the peace of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to protecting the American people and will continue to work within the confines of the law to hold individuals accountable for acts of terrorism whether those acts are true threats or intended as hoaxes.”

    Salah faces a maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Salah is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18 by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Roseville (CA) Police Department, the San Diego Police Department, the San Diego Harbor Police Department, and the Arapahoe County (CO) Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Christopher Perras and Trial Attorney Sarah Howard of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Assistant United States Attorney Shea Kenny for the Eastern District of California.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Arizona Man Convicted of Crimes Arising Out of Plot Targeting Christian Churches

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    After an 11-day trial, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday against Zimnako Salah, 45, of Phoenix, Arizona, convicting him of strapping a backpack around the toilet of a Christian church in Roseville, California, with the intent to convey a hoax bomb threat and to obstruct the free exercise of religion of the congregants who worshipped there.  The jury’s verdict included a special finding Salah targeted the church because of the religion of the people who worshipped there, making the offense a hate crime.

    According to the evidence at trial, from September to November of 2023, Salah traveled to four Christian churches in Arizona, California, and Colorado, wearing black backpacks. At two of those churches, Salah planted those backpacks, placing congregants in fear that they contained bombs. At the other two churches, Salah was confronted by security before he got the chance to plant those backpacks.

    While Salah had been making bomb threats by planting backpacks in Christian churches, he had been building a bomb capable of fitting in a backpack. During a search of his storage unit, an FBI Bomb Technician seized items that an FBI Bomb Expert testified at trial served as component parts of an improvised explosive device (IED).

    A search of Salah’s social media records revealed that he had consumed extremist propaganda online. Specifically, those records showed that Salah had searched for videos of “Infidels dying,” and he had watched videos depicting ISIS terrorists murdering people.

    “This Department of Justice has no tolerance for anyone who targets religious Americans for their faith,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The perpetrator of this abhorrent hate crime against Christians will face severe punishment.”

    “Planting a hoax bomb at the Roseville church was not an isolated incident or a prank for this defendant,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California. “His actions were designed to threaten and intimidate the congregation because he disagreed with their religious beliefs. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of federal and local law enforcement and the attorneys from my office and our DOJ partners in Washington D.C., our communities are safer with yesterday’s verdict. People of all religions should be able to worship freely and exercise their First Amendment rights in this country without fear of violence.”

    “The Sacramento Division of the FBI is proud of our collaboration with local partners in bringing Mr. Salah to justice. His deliberate targeting of multiple places of worship and calculated efforts to spread panic were intended to terrorize people of faith and disrupt the peace of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to protecting the American people and will continue to work within the confines of the law to hold individuals accountable for acts of terrorism whether those acts are true threats or intended as hoaxes.”

    Salah faces a maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Salah is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18 by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Roseville (CA) Police Department, the San Diego Police Department, the San Diego Harbor Police Department, and the Arapahoe County (CO) Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Christopher Perras and Trial Attorney Sarah Howard of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Assistant United States Attorney Shea Kenny for the Eastern District of California.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: San Fernando Valley Man Arrested for Allegedly Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material Tied to Online Violent Network Known as ‘764’

    Source: US State of California

    WASHINGTON — A California man was arrested on a federal criminal complaint alleging that he targeted children for sexual exploitation online as part of his role in an online violent network that seeks to accelerate social unrest and the downfall of the current world order.

    Jose Henry Ayala Casamiro, 28, of San Fernando Valley, was arrested by the FBI on charges of attempting to possess and the possession of child pornography. He made his initial appearance on April 3 in federal court in the Central District of California. A federal magistrate judge ordered him jailed without bond and an April 22 arraignment date was scheduled in Los Angeles federal court.

    According to court documents, Ayala allegedly caused minors to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as well as other video content depicting themselves engaging in self-harm as part of his participation in an online network known broadly as “764”, a network of nihilistic violent extremists who engage in criminal conduct, particularly targeting children for sexual exploitation online, to further the network’s goals of accelerating the downfall of the current world order, including the U.S. government. Members of 764 work in concert with one another towards a common purpose of destroying civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, including minors.

    As part of the 764 network, Alaya was allegedly involved with an online group that blackmailed underage girls into creating child pornography videos depicting themselves engaging in degrading sadistic sexual acts, torture sessions, and carving their abusers’ initials or names on their bodies. The group also encouraged the female minors to commit suicide. As one example, the criminal complaint details a March 2020 photo in which an individual had cut the defendant’s name “Henry” into their right forearm. The complaint also outlines four videos that allegedly depict Ayala directing teen girls to engage in specific sexual acts. In February and March 2025, the complaint also alleges that Ayala participated in a new server created as a “grooming pool” targeting many underage girls, which included two minor students in a public school district in Colorado.

    Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli for the Central District of California; and Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division made the announcement. 

    The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Elbogen and David Ryan for the Central District of California and Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Trump administration says Tren de Aragua is a terrorist group – but it’s really a transnational criminal organization. Here’s why the label matters.

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ernesto Castañeda, Professor, and Director, Center for Latin American and Latino Studies, American University

    Venezuelan immigrants, whom the Trump White House says are members of the Tren de Aragua gang, arrive in El Salvador on March 31, 2025. El Salvador Press Presidency Office/Anadolu via Getty Images

    The U.S. State Department declared on Feb. 20, 2025, that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, as well as some Mexican drug cartels, are now considered foreign terrorist organizations.

    Is the new label warranted?

    Tren de Aragua is at the center of a controversial immigration case that the Supreme Court is going to consider.

    The Trump administration is using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justify deporting more than 100 of the 238 Venezuelan and Salvadoran male immigrants it sent to a prison in El Salvador on March 15. The administration says that these immigrants are members of gangs such as Tren de Aragua and are foreign enemies, so they can be sent away with just an order from the White House.

    The administration uses a checklist of items, including physical markers like tattoos, to determine these individuals’ association with Tren de Aragua. Although in reality, the Tren de Aragua gang members do not use any specific tattoos.

    Family members and lawyers representing some of the Venezuelan immigrants say that they are not actually associated with the gang, and that some of them were living in the U.S. legally.

    I am an expert on immigration, and I think it is important to understand why classifying Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization has sparked debate among observers.

    One important reason is that Tren de Aragua is primarily a profit-driven group, not an ideological one – placing the organization more firmly in the transnational organized crime category rather than a political terrorist group.

    Venezuelan immigrants deported from the U.S. arrived in El Salvador in March 2025.
    El Salvador Press Presidency Office/Anadolu via Getty Images

    Understanding Tren de Aragua

    Tren de Aragua originated as a small prison gang in the early 2000s within Tocorón prison in Venezuela’s state of Aragua, located near the country’s capital, Caracas.

    Over the past 25 years, Tren de Aragua has expanded rapidly across South and Central America, and evolved into a transnational criminal organization under the leadership of Hector Guerrero Flores. Also known as Niño Guerrero, Flores is a 41-year-old Venezuelan who first served time in Tocorón prison in 2010 for killing a police officer before he escaped for the first time in 2012. His current location is not known.

    Flores is wanted by the U.S. and Colombia for various crimes related to expanding the group’s criminal network throughout South and Central America.

    Today, an estimated 5,000 people are affiliated with Tren de Aragua, which is mainly focused on human trafficking and other crimes targeting migrants. The gang has also been linked to other criminal organizations in Latin America and is involved with extortion, kidnapping, money laundering and drug smuggling. The number of active members in the United States is in the low hundreds, and clearly the great majority of Venezuelans here are not members.

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrives at the presidential palace in San Salvador, El Salvador, to discuss the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants to the country on March 26, 2025.
    Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images

    Different end goals

    Tren de Aragua has expanded in part because of its ability to exploit weak governance within the state of Aragua, and eventually across Venezuela, which faces political instability and a weak economy. An expansion beyond Venezuela has allowed the gang to connect with other transnational criminal networks.

    Most accepted definitions of terrorism say it is a kind of violence, usually used against civilians, motivated by political and ideological beliefs and goals. Tren de Aragua does not fit that definition. It does not have a political ideology and therefore is not an actual terrorist organization.

    The U.S. government considers a foreign terrorist organization a foreign group that engages in terrorist activity, or plans to do so, in a way that threatens the security of U.S. nationals or the country more broadly.

    Tren de Aragua is among the eight groups that the State Department first classified as foreign terrorist organizations in the first few months of 2025 after Donald Trump’s inauguration. The other new groups put on the list primarily include Latin American drug trafficking organizations, like the Mexican Sinaloa cartel.

    While transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist organizations both engage in violence and illicit activities, their end goals are different.

    Foreign terrorist organizations such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State group seek political, religious or ideological change – or all three – as they try to use violence to reshape the political landscape of their regions.

    Terrorist groups and transnational criminal organizations are not the same

    Tren de Aragua, as well as other transnational criminal groups like MS-13 – which originated in Los Angeles but now operates throughout the Americas – and the Sinaloa cartel, carry out illegal, violent activities across borders in order to make money.

    These groups do not have political or ideological motives beyond creating conditions to maximize their own profits. They do not aim to take political power in the U.S. or elsewhere, or try to remake society in their own image. That is beyond their purview and capabilities.

    Properly distinguishing between terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations is crucial for devising effective policies and responses to their violence. Mislabeling these groups can lead to inappropriate responses such as putting aside civil liberties, due process and human rights.

    Incorrectly classifying Tren de Aragua and other criminal groups as terrorist organizations could shift U.S. foreign policy and resources toward counterterrorism efforts and away from decreasing the power and violence exercised by organized crime and drug cartels in many parts of Latin America.

    However, the way in which many Venezuelans and other immigrants have been deported from the country over the past few months without passing through immigration court seems to indicate that the main rationale for the talk about alien enemies and these terrorist designations is to aid in the goal of mass deportations, rather than to fight domestic or international terrorism.

    If the U.S. truly wants to curb undocumented immigration and reduce drug and human trafficking, then I believe that it should ensure that its classification of these organizations is accurate and aligned with its actual objectives.

    Melissa Vasquez, a graduate student at American University studying international affairs and the Northern Triangle in Central America, contributed to this piece.

    Ernesto Castañeda does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The Trump administration says Tren de Aragua is a terrorist group – but it’s really a transnational criminal organization. Here’s why the label matters. – https://theconversation.com/the-trump-administration-says-tren-de-aragua-is-a-terrorist-group-but-its-really-a-transnational-criminal-organization-heres-why-the-label-matters-252793

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Africa Command 2025 Posture Statement to Senate Armed Services Committee

    Source: United States AFRICOM

    U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael E. Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command, testified yesterday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, delivering the command’s 2025 posture statement and highlighting the strategic importance of the African continent.

    “Everything we do has one overarching goal in mind: achieving peace through strength,” Langley said during his opening remarks. “This requires three things – a clear understanding of national security threats, a robust and dependable network of like-minded allies and partners, and appropriate resourcing to match military requirements.”

    Providing his assessment of the terrorist threat in the region to committee members, Langley discussed the persistent and growing risk to regional and global security from violent extremists including ISIS, which he said is directing global operations from Somalia and al Shabaab. 

    “Left unchecked, they will have a direct effect on the homeland.” 

    Addressing the intent and goals of the strategic competitors in Africa, Langley described the Chinese Communist Party intent on using Africa to become the global hegemon and a Russian Federation that seizes opportunity created by chaos and instability.

    “In order to protect our homeland and United States interests. We must deter these nations and their malign actors from their goals on the African continent,” he said.

    Asked about tools the command needs to be effective, Langley explained that USAFRICOM continues to leverage security cooperation as a primary tool to build operational independence among African partners; and that exercises such as FLINTLOCK, AFRICAN LION, and OBANGAME EXPRESS enhance military readiness, promote interoperability, and reinforce strong bilateral and multilateral relationships across all domains.

    “As a posture-limited theater, we establish strength and work towards peace by enhancing the security capabilities of our African partners through a robust system of alliances. Exercises, training events, security cooperation, and foreign military sales programs are the backbone of our military activities on the continent,” Langley said.  

    Langley wrapped up his testimony by underscoring the importance of capabilities such as airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and counter-unmanned aerial systems in counterterrorism efforts. The command, he said, “seeks to match these capabilities against current and emerging threats to ensure the security of our forces while advancing American interests.”

    The full statement and hearing can be viewed on the U.S. Africa Command website.

    U.S. Africa Command, one of 11 U.S. Department of Defense combatant commands with an area of responsibility covering 53 African states, more than 800 ethnic groups, over 1,000 languages, vast natural resources, a land mass that is three-and-a-half times the size of the U.S., and nearly 19,000 miles of coastland. Working alongside its partners, AFRICOM counters transnational threats and malign actors, strengthens security forces and responds to crises.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: ONDCP Releases Trump Administration’s Statement of Drug Policy Priorities

    Source: The White House

    >Today, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is announcing the release of the Trump Administration’s Drug Policy Priorities, a comprehensive and coordinated blueprint to reduce the devastating impact of illicit drugs on American society. The Statement lays out the urgent, first-year steps that must be taken to address the scourge of illicit drug use that continues plaguing our nation and taking American lives. The implementation of these priorities will complement President Trump’s tireless efforts to stop Foreign Terrorist Organizations, cartels, and drug traffickers from harming Americans, and will help build a safer, healthier future for America.  

    In the next year, the White House will work across the government to implement the following six priorities:

    1. Reduce the Number of Overdose Fatalities, with a Focus on Fentanyl
    2. Secure the Global Supply Chain Against Drug Trafficking
    3. Stop the Flow of Drugs Across our Borders and into Our Communities
    4. Prevent Drug Use Before It Starts
    5. Provide Treatment That Leads to Long-Term Recovery
    6. Innovate in Research and Data to Support Drug Control Strategies

    “Terrorists, cartels, and other drug traffickers are taking hundreds of thousands of American lives by poisoning them for profit,” said Jon Rice, the ONDCP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director. “To meet the urgent need of this moment, the Trump Administration is launching an unprecedented whole-of-government effort to stop these drugs from entering our communities and hold drug traffickers accountable. The priorities in this framework outline the first steps to kick cartels out of our country, free Americans from the deadly grip of addiction, and guide America back to health and safety.”

    To achieve our vision of a safer, healthier future for Americans, we will disrupt the supply chain from tooth to tail. We will continue to take decisive action and exploit all existing authorities, both punitive and economic, to eliminate the production and distribution networks that allow these drugs to reach the United States. We will develop bold policy choices, employ innovative and sophisticated technology, and create a skilled, recovery-ready workforce to combat this crisis and ensure the safety of all Americans. Domestically, we must acknowledge the complexity of substance use disorder and addiction. The statistics surrounding drug use and overdose deaths mandate a comprehensive approach that emphasizes drug use prevention and increases access to recovery and overdose prevention and reversal services. Recognizing that a sustainable solution requires coordination across all levels of government, we will collaborate with law enforcement, first responders, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and individuals to ensure the health and well-being of all Americans.

    The staggering loss of life caused by illicit drugs underscores the severity of the challenge, but the Trump Administration has already taken critical steps to confront this crisis through a series of Executive Orders that secure our borders, combat foreign terrorist organizations and drug trafficking organizations, and demand reform by source countries from which illicit drugs and precursor chemicals flow into the United States. Critically, the Trump Administration will identify and hold accountable those responsible for exacerbating the flow of drugs within our borders. 

    While these Policy Priorities outline the broad areas of effort for the first year, the President’s drug control policy will evolve to keep pace with the changing landscape of illicit drug trafficking and ensure that our borders, communities, and schools are secure from the destructive influence of illicit drugs. 

    To read the Trump Administration’s Drug Policy Priorities, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Leads SASC Hearing on EUCOM, AFRICOM Posture

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today chaired a hearing examining the posture of and threats to U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

    In his opening statement, Chairman Wicker offered an update on the war in Ukraine, noting that Ukraine continues to heroically resist efforts of Russian subjugation, and that Russia will remain a long-term threat to the United States. Specifically, Chairman Wicker cautioned that reducing our military footprint in Europe would be dangerous for European peace, especially as many of our NATO allies have taken major steps to invest in their defense.

    Read Senator Wicker’s hearing opening statement as delivered below.

     

    The hearing will come to order. And today, we welcome General Christopher Cavoli, the Commander of U.S. European Command, and General Michael Langley, the Commander of U.S. Africa Command. We thank them both for being with us today.

     

    First of all, we meet today in the wake of the difficult news that that we have been learning more about over the last few days. We’ve been saddened by the death of four American service members and we now know the names of them all. They passed away in a tragic training accident in Lithuania, and so we recognize them and send our best to their families and friends.

     

    But this morning, we talk about two very important areas of responsibility. The European continent is now entering its third year of war as Russia continues its brutal assault against Ukraine. There’s no question who started this war.

     

    Despite the physical and psychological exhaustion and material constraints from the conflict, the Ukrainian military and people have heroically and successfully continued to resist Russian efforts to subjugate them. The war serves as a brutal reminder that Vladimir Putin has chosen to become an enemy of the West, and to throw away Russia’s future.

     

    The Department of Defense is right to label China as our pacing threat. Nonetheless, Russia and its thousands of varied nuclear weapons continue to pose an existential danger to the United States and to our allies. Moscow’s military aggression sows uncertainty and threatens vital U.S. interests every day, as Europe remains by far our largest trading partner and source of investment in the United States.

     

    The war in Ukraine has exposed the Russian army’s weakness, but it also has shown that Russia can adapt to changing circumstances and can endure heavy costs. The Russian industrial base, aided by China, North Korea, and Iran, has demonstrated its ability to sustain Putin’s army. Russia would likely use any pause in fighting to reconstitute its military.

     

    I say all this to make a simple point: we cannot wish away the Russian threat. Despite Russia’s aggression, there are some who believe now is the time to reduce drastically our military footprint in Europe. This is a viewpoint with which I disagree. I’m troubled that this deeply misguided and dangerous view is held by some midlevel bureaucrats within the Defense Department. They’ve been working to pursue a U.S. retreat from Europe, and they’ve often been doing so without coordinating with the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council. As I have said, Russia is now mobilized for a permanent war. Withdrawing now would do away with any hope of lasting peace in Europe.

     

    Right now, we have a unique opportunity in Europe. President Trump’s leadership and the Russian threat have jolted Europe awake. Many nations have begun rebuilding their militaries. Our allies on the eastern flank – Poland, the Baltic States, and Romania are all spending much more than we are. The United Kingdom and France are awakening. Even Germany shows signs of stirring.

     

    NATO should be led by the United States, but Europe should shoulder most of the military burden. We can achieve that by combining the right incentives with low-cost assistance from the United States, including a drastically overhauled foreign military sales system. To build that NATO, we must maintain our current posture, which will serve as a bridge to the planned buildup of combat power by our European NATO allies.

     

    After three years of war, we probably should make some posture adjustments, including moving forces east, but we must maintain a strong military posture in Europe overall. l Failing to do so risks tempting Russian adventurism before our European allies have been able to ramp up their forces fully and their capabilities.

     

    The Chinese Communist Party views its competition against the United States as a global project. To China, the continents of Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa are all critical in Xi Jinping’s unprecedented global military expansion. In particular, Beijing has been active on the African continent. In Djibouti, China’s naval base has grown substantially. It’s now capable of hosting China’s most advanced naval vessels and serving as an intelligence collection outpost against American and allied forces in the entire region.

     

    China is also actively pursuing a naval base on Africa’s western coast, the Atlantic coast, which would provide an enduring foothold along the Atlantic Ocean. According to General Langley, this would “change the whole calculus of the geostrategic campaign plans of protecting the American homeland.”

     

    Russia also has designs on the African continent. Its destabilizing strategy is to trade security assistance for access to Africa’s abundant natural resources. This would help fund Vladimir Putin’s malign activities around the world. At the center of Putin’s Africa strategy is Libya which, serves as Russia’s key logistical node and enables its activities across the continent. I look forward to General Langley’s assessment of Africa’s importance to Vladimir Putin’s strategic objectives, as well as his description of what’s being done to counter Russian efforts, particularly in Libya.

     

    We cannot ignore the enduring threat posed by ISIS and al-Qaeda in Africa. Without sustained pressure, these vicious terrorists will reconstitute and continue to threaten America. President Trump was absolutely right to approve strikes against ISIS leadership targets in Somalia in recent weeks.

     

    Our adversaries view their fight against America as a global fight. We see their efforts playing out across Europe and Africa in particular. Now is not the time for an American withdrawal from these theaters. We cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party and its partners in Moscow, Tehran, and Pyongyang to overcome us strategically, or to erode the ability to protect American interests around the world.

     

    So, we have a lot of important topics to talk about today. I look forward to hearing our witnesses address these and many other concerns during this hearing, along with my friend, the Ranking Member whom I recognize right now.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: San Fernando Valley Man Arrested for Allegedly Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material Tied to Online Violent Network Known as ‘764’

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley man was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint alleging that he targeted children for sexual exploitation online as part of his role in an online violent network that seeks to accelerate social unrest and the downfall of the current world order.

    Jose Henry Ayala Casamiro, 28, was arrested by the FBI on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of child pornography. He made his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. A federal magistrate judge ordered him jailed without bond and an April 22 arraignment date was scheduled in Los Angeles federal court.

    “The facts alleged in this complaint are disturbing,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Criminals lurk in the internet’s dark corners to prey on and do lasting damage to children. Let this arrest serve as notice to all online predators. We will find you and arrest you if you hurt children.”

    According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Ayala caused minors to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as well as other video content depicting themselves engaging in self-harm as part of his participation in an online network known broadly as “764”, a network of nihilistic violent extremists who engage in criminal conduct, particularly targeting children for sexual exploitation online, to further the network’s goals of accelerating the downfall of the current world order, including the United States Government. Members of 764 work in concert with one another towards a common purpose of destroying civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, including minors.

    As part of the 764 network, Ayala allegedly was involved with an online group that blackmailed underage girls into creating child pornography videos depicting themselves engaging in degrading sadistic sexual acts, torture sessions, and carving their abusers’ initials or names on their bodies. The group also encouraged the female minors to commit suicide. As one example, the criminal complaint details a March 2020 photo in which an individual had cut the defendant’s name “Henry” into their right forearm. The complaint also outlines four videos that allegedly depict Ayala directing teen girls to engage in specific sexual acts. In February and March 2025, the complaint also alleges that Ayala participated in a new server created as a “grooming pool” targeting underage girls.

    The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the case.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda Elbogen, of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, and David Ryan, Chief of the National Security Division, are prosecuting this case, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, 2025

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    This month, we recognize National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month by ending the unfathomable human abuse committed under open borders policies.

    One of the leading causes of sexual violence over the last 4 years has been the invasion of illegal aliens at our southern border.  In a treasonous act of betrayal against the American people, the previous administration unleashed an army of gangs and criminal aliens from the darkest and most dangerous corners of the world — causing a dramatic increase of sexual violence in our neighborhoods and communities.  These reckless policies empowered some of the most depraved people on the planet to exploit women and children in the most vicious ways imaginable.

    We will never forget the names of precious American souls like Jocelyn Nungaray, Laken Riley, Rachel Morin, and many others who were savagely killed by illegal alien crime.  Last June, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was brutally assaulted and murdered by two illegal aliens in her home state of Texas.  To memorialize her young life and love of nature and animals, I proudly renamed the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge.  May this be Jocelyn’s little piece of Heaven on Earth.

    Every act of violence committed against an American at the hands of an illegal alien is a crime beyond all comprehension.  For that reason, I am doing everything in my power to defend the dignity of every human life, keep violent criminals out of our country, and end sexual violence — including the degrading scourge of sex trafficking, a form of modern-day slavery that has battered multitudes of innocent lives and scarred untold numbers of our most vulnerable fellow citizens.

    To protect our communities, one of my first actions as President was to declare a national emergency at the southern border.  I also designated cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists to end their campaign of violence and bloodshed.  In my first legislative action as President, I signed into law the Laken Riley Act, which requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain illegal aliens convicted of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.  I have also initiated the largest deportation operation in the history of our country — including the deportation of hundreds of illegal alien gang members to El Salvador. 

    As President, I am bringing back security on our border, safety on our streets, and law and order in our communities.  Under my leadership, human trafficking is being brought to a rapid end, and justice is being swiftly served.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2025 as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.  I urge all Americans, families, law enforcement personnel, healthcare providers, and community and faith-based organizations to support survivors of sexual assault and work together to prevent these crimes in their communities.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SIA welcomes news that Martyn’s Law has received Royal Assent

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    SIA welcomes news that Martyn’s Law has received Royal Assent

    The SIA welcomes the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 – Martyn’s Law – receiving Royal Assent.

    Today (Thursday 3 April 2025) the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 – Martyn’s Law – has received Royal Assent.

    In welcoming the news, Heather Baily, Chair of the SIA, said:

    This is a watershed moment for public safety in the UK. Martyn’s Law will improve protective security and security standards at venues across the UK. The SIA has been confirmed as the new Martyn’s Law regulator. We have been entrusted with this important role, alongside our existing role regulating private security, which we will discharge with due care, proportion and diligence. We are working closely with the Home Office to prepare for this and look forward to reporting on progress to Home Office ministers.

    Our thoughts are with all the families who lost loved ones in the Manchester Arena terror attack as well as all those whose lives have been affected by other acts of terrorism.

    We would like to pay tribute to Figen Murray, and the rest of the campaign team, who have worked tirelessly to make the new duty a reality; we know they will be watching closely to ensure it is having the change intended.

    Michelle Russell, Chief Executive of the SIA, said:

    As the new independent regulator, our role will be to educate, support, and guide those covered by the new duty into compliance. This is to empower them to strengthen the protection and preparedness of premises and events across the UK and reduce the risk of harm from acts of terrorism.

    We will ensure in a robust and proportionate way premises and events in scope of this duty comply with the requirements.

    We are working with the Home Office on the preparation work for this new role and we will be setting up a new programme of work in due course.

    There will be a period of time prior to the legislation being commenced. We expect this to be at least 24 months to allow for the set-up of the regulator. This will also ensure sufficient time for those responsible for premises and events in scope to understand their new obligations before they come into force, being able to plan and prepare accordingly. We look forward to engaging with those in scope and other stakeholders during this period as the preparation work progresses.

    In the meantime, premises and events seeking advice on preparing for Martyn’s Law should continue to look for Home Office updates. They can also access free technical guidance and operational advice on protective security on the government partner websites of the National Protective Security Authority and ProtectUK.

    Read the Home Office press release: Landmark anti-terror legislation gains Royal Assent.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Landmark anti-terror legislation gains Royal Assent

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Landmark anti-terror legislation gains Royal Assent

    Martyn’s Law will deliver increased protection by ensuring public premises and events are better prepared in the event of a terrorist attack.

    Premises and events will be better prepared to respond to attacks as landmark legislation known as Martyn’s Law gained Royal Assent and became law today (Thursday 3 April).

    The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 will require public premises where 200 or more individuals may be present, to be better prepared and have plans in place to keep people safe in the event of an attack.

    Larger premises and events where 800 or more people will be present will be required to take further steps to reduce their vulnerability to acts of terrorism – such as having CCTV, bag search policies or vehicle checks where appropriate.

    ‘Martyn’s Law’ is named in tribute to Martyn Hett who was tragically killed alongside 21 others in the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017.

    It delivers on the Prime Minister’s personal promise to Martyn’s mother, Figen Murray, who has been the driving force in campaigning for this legislation in her son’s memory, that he would bring in this law.

    The Prime Minister invited Figen Murray into Downing Street today to mark this landmark moment and to express the debt of gratitude the nation has for her selfless work to turn such unimaginable pain into a lasting legacy for son Martyn.

    The government is securing Britain’s future through the Plan for Change and this Act delivers a manifesto commitment to strengthen the security of public events and venues.

    Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said:

    Today is a landmark moment for our security as my government delivers on its promise to introduce Martyn’s Law and better protect the public from terrorism.

    Figen’s courage and determination in the face of such unimaginable loss is truly humbling and it is thanks to her campaigning that Martyn’s Law means her son’s legacy will live on forever.

    Security is the foundation of our Plan for Change and the first duty of any government. Martyn’s Law will ensure everyone can enjoy public events more safely and ensure venues across the country have clear, practical measures in place to protect people.

    Figen Murray, mother of Martyn Hett said:

    My son Martyn Hett was murdered alongside 21 innocent victims in the Manchester Arena terror attack on 22 May 2017, and whilst nothing will bring Martyn back, I am determined to ensure nobody endures what my family has experienced.

    For the last 6 years I have campaigned to introduce measures that will improve security at public venues and how they respond to a terror attack – Martyn’s Law.

    I am grateful to the Prime Minister, the Security Minister and Lord Hanson for how quickly they’ve progressed Martyn’s Law through parliament. But this would not have happened without the tireless support of my co-campaigners Nick Aldworth, Brendan Cox, Nathan Emmerich, my husband Stuart, and my children.

    Over the implementation period it is vital that the government and Security Industry Authority provide all that is necessary for publicly accessible locations to implement Martyn’s Law.

    Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said:

    Martyn’s Law will significantly strengthen public safety across our country, I’d like to thank Figen Murray for her tireless work to make this law a reality.

    This government is securing Britain’s future through the Plan for Change and, as the eighth anniversary of the attack approaches, this new law delivers upon the lessons from the Manchester Arena Inquiry to keep people safe.

    CTP Senior National Coordinator for Protect and Prepare, Jon Savell, said:

    Martyn’s Law will ensure that the public have additional protection from terrorist attacks while at events and public venues. We will continue to work with businesses and with the government to make sure premises have the support they need to prepare for the implementation of the act.

    Figen Murray has campaigned tirelessly for the introduction of this legislation and it’s thanks to her unwavering determination that it has achieved Royal Assent.

    Mike Kill CEO of the Night Time Industries Association

    The passing of Martyn’s Law into legislation is a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to public safety. This law will ensure that venues and events across the UK take appropriate and proportionate steps to protect the public from the evolving threat of terrorism. The NTIA has long supported measures that enhance security while remaining practical for businesses to implement.

    We appreciate the government’s recognition of the challenges businesses face and the commitment to a 24-month implementation period, allowing time for preparation and adaptation. As an industry we will continue working closely with the Home Office, the SIA, and key stakeholders to provide clear guidance and support. Ensuring the safety of our night-time economy and public spaces remains our priority, and we fully support this crucial legislation.

    Security Minster, Dan Jarvis, said:

    I am proud that we have delivered Martyn’s Law as part of our commitment to strengthen the security at public events and venues.

    I would like to pay tribute to Figen Murray, who has been nothing short of inspirational in her campaign for this legislation and a driving force in making it happen.

    Giles Smith, Chief Executive of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) said:

    The SGSA welcomes the passing of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) 2025 legislation.

    Providing a safe, welcoming environment for fans is the SGSA’s top priority and we support the objectives of Martyn’s Law.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Arrest of two men in west London linked to Hezbollah

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Two men have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences as part of a proactive investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

    Detectives arrested a 39-year-old man [A] on Tuesday, 1 April at an address in north west London on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation, preparation for acts of terrorism and being involved in a funding arrangement for the purposes of terrorism.

    Officers also arrested a 35-year-old man [B] at an address in west London on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation.

    The investigation relates to Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation under UK counter terrorism legislation. The investigation is largely focused on activity overseas, as well as activity within the UK. At this time, there is not believed to be any imminent threat to the public .

    Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “Terrorism and terrorists have a global reach and impact and the activities of terrorist groups overseas can harm communities here in the UK as well as causing devastation to those abroad.

    “Our investigation remains ongoing, but I hope that these arrests show we will take robust action against anyone here whom we suspect as being involved in terrorist activity regardless of whether their activity is focused here in the UK or elsewhere.”

    The two men were taken to a London police station, and have since been released on bail until a date in mid-July.

    Searches were carried out at five addresses – two in North West London, one in West London, one in South West London and one in Essex – and these are now complete.

    Enquiries continue

    + Communities defeat terrorism, and information from the public is vital to counter terrorism investigations. If you see or hear something that doesn’t feel right, then trust your instincts and ACT by reporting it in confidence at www.gov.uk/ACT or call police in confidence on 0800 789 321.

    In an emergency, always dial 999.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Counter Terrorism officers call on parents to be aware

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Counter Terrorism officers from the Met Police are urging parents across London to be aware of the signs that might indicate that their child could be vulnerable to radicalisation or being drawn into dangerous forms of violent extremism.

    The call comes after heightened public and media focus on how schoolchildren are increasingly being drawn into extreme and radical ideologies after a similar storyline was featured in current TV drama Adolescence where a young schoolboy was drawn into a violent form ‘incel’ ideology online.

    Detective Superintendent Jane Corrigan, who is the Met’s London Prevent Co-ordinator said: “The themes and storyline in Adolescence have sparked some incredibly important debate about dangerous rhetoric and ideologies that young schoolchildren can be exposed to through online and social media platforms.

    “While it’s a fictitious drama, the story is grounded in a reality that we are seeing more and more in our work within Counter Terrorism Policing. Young people are being referred into us, and in almost every instance, a big part of their vulnerability is coming from what they are doing, seeing and consuming online.

    “But it’s actually those who aren’t being referred to us who most concern us. That’s why it is so important that parents and carers are taking an active interest in what their child is doing online – to have those conversations and be aware of the potential warning signs. And if following that, they are still concerned or worried about their child, then it’s really important they reach out for more help as quickly as possible.

    “The Act Early website is an excellent starting place, with tips and guidance on how to have those conversations and some of the warning signs to look out for. And there is also a support line they can call to get advice direct from one of our specialist officers.”

    If you are worried about someone, then visit the ACT Early website – actearly.uk – or call the Act Early Support Line on 0800 011 3764, in confidence, to speak with specially trained officers.

    Although public attention has been particularly drawn to this issue as a result of the Adolescence drama, Counter Terrorism officers have been concerned for some time over the increasing numbers of young people being radicalised.

    These concerns have found to be proven by recently published figures for terrorism arrests and Prevent referrals.

    Both 2023 and 2024 were the highest two years on record in terms of the number of children aged 17 or under being arrested for terrorism related offences, with 43 and 39 such arrests respectively. In 2002, there were only three such arrests and even as recently as 2019, the equivalent figure was as low as 12.

    Prevent referral figures paint a similar picture, with almost six out of every ten Prevent referrals in 2023/24 now relating to those aged 17 and under, up from around five in every ten back in 2016/17.

    Detective Superintendent Corrigan added: “I appreciate that this might seem quite daunting or unsettling for some parents or carers. And while it is still only a very small proportion of young people who may actually be affected, parents must not be fooled into thinking that this is something that only happens to others. We’ve had referrals and provided support through Prevent to a whole range of children, relating to a whole mix of different ideologies.

    “So please, visit the ACT Early website, speak to your child and if you have any concerns at all then trust your instincts and get in touch with us so that we can help – before it might become too late.”

    Prevent is the government-led programme which aims to stop vulnerable people from being drawn into terrorism, with police working with other safeguarding agencies to provide the necessary support.

    The public can also take an active role in reporting any terrorist or extremist online content that they come across via gov.uk/ACT.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bacon and Cuellar Introduce Bipartisan Law Enforcement Officers Safety Reform Act (LEOSA)

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

    Bacon and Cuellar Introduce Bipartisan Law Enforcement Officers Safety Reform Act (LEOSA) 

    Offers Real Solutions to Terrorism and Mass Shootings

    Washington – Recently, Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE-02) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) introduced H.R.2243, The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Reform Act (LEOSA). The bipartisan LEOSA Reform Act will improve public safety by allowing qualified law enforcement officers who have committed themselves to our communities the opportunity to continue doing so by extending their concealed carry privileges. The legislation removes existing prohibitions and will allow trained professionals to respond quickly to emergencies, should they happen to be in public places such as shopping malls, school zones, mass transit, etc. During the 118th Congress, the LEOSA Reform Act was passed by the House of Representatives in a 221-185 vote. 

    “The bipartisan LEOSA Reform Act offers real solutions to address threats such as terrorism and mass shootings by ensuring that our retired and off-duty law enforcement officers can exercise their right to concealed carry – no matter where they live or visit,” said Rep. Bacon. “These measured changes will make existing law stronger and more workable for those who seek its benefits while maintaining the rigorous standards that currently apply. I want to thank Rep. Henry Cuellar for his support of this important legislation.”

    “Many of our retired law enforcement officers are ready to continue serving our community but are unable to due to current law,” said Rep. Cuellar. “This bipartisan legislation will fix the issues that our nation’s off-duty officers and retired cops face while concealed carrying. I remain steadfast in my support for the men and woman who put their lives on the line every day to protect our homes, neighborhoods, businesses and communities.”

    Locally, the sheriffs of the three counties for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District and other law enforcement agencies support the legislation: Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, Sarpy County Sheriff Greg London, Saunders County Sheriff Chris Lichtenberg, Omaha Police Association President Patrick Dempsey, and Nebraska State FOP President Anthony Connor.

    The bill also was endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), The Air Marshal Association, the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA), International Union of Police Associations, Major Cities Chiefs Association, National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Narcotics Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, and Sergeants Benevolent Association NYPD.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Closes De Minimis Exemptions to Combat China’s Role in America’s Synthetic Opioid Crisis

    Source: The White House

    CLOSING LOOPHOLES IN THE TARIFF SYSTEM: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order eliminating duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value imports from China, a critical step in countering the ongoing health emergency posed by the illicit flow of synthetic opioids into the U.S.

    • Following the Secretary of Commerce’s notification that adequate systems are in place to collect tariff revenue, President Trump is ending duty-free de minimis treatment for covered goods from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong starting May 2, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT.
      • Imported goods sent through means other than the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption will be subject to all applicable duties, which shall be paid in accordance with applicable entry and payment procedures.
      • All relevant postal items containing goods that are sent through the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption are subject to a duty rate of either 30% of their value or $25 per item (increasing to $50 per item after June 1, 2025). This is in lieu of any other duties, including those imposed by prior Orders.
    • Carriers transporting these postal items must report shipment details to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), maintain an international carrier bond to ensure duty payment, and remit duties to CBP on a set schedule.
    • CBP may require formal entry for any postal package instead of the specified duties.
    • The Secretary of Commerce will submit a report within 90 days assessing the Order’s impact and considering whether to extend these rules to packages from Macau.

     
    COMBATING CHINA’S ROLE IN THE OPIOID CRISIS: President Trump is targeting deceptive shipping practices by Chinese-based shippers, many of whom hide illicit substances, including synthetic opioids, in low-value packages to exploit the de minimis exemption.

    • On average, CBP processes over 4 million de minimis shipments into the U.S. each day.
    • The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which exerts ultimate control over the government and enterprises of the PRC, has subsidized and otherwise incentivized PRC chemical companies to export fentanyl and related precursor chemicals that are used to produce synthetic opioids sold illicitly in the United States.
    • Many PRC-based chemical companies hide illicit substances in the flow of legitimate commerce, including through false invoices, fraudulent postage, and deceptive packaging.
    • While the U.S. previously offered a generous de minimis exemption, China enforces strict import restrictions and tightly limits de minimis exemptions, showing no similar leniency toward U.S. shipments.
    • Last fiscal year, CBP apprehended more than 21,000 pounds of fentanyl at our borders, enough fentanyl to kill more than 4 billion people.
      • It is estimated that federal officials are only able to seize a fraction of the fentanyl smuggled across the southern border. 
    • These drugs kill tens of thousands of Americans each year, including 75,000 deaths per year attributed to fentanyl alone.
      • More Americans are dying from fentanyl overdoses each year than the number of American lives lost in the entirety of the Vietnam War.

     
    KEEPING HIS PROMISE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: When voters overwhelmingly elected Donald J. Trump as President, they gave him a mandate to seal the border and stop the influx of deadly drugs. That is exactly what he is doing.

    • On the campaign trail, President Trump promised “We will not rest until we have ended the drug addiction crisis.”
    • Upon returning to office, President Trump immediately took action to seal the border and crack down on drug trafficking.
    • President Trump implemented 20% tariffs on China to address the threat of the sustained influx of synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, flowing from China into the United States.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Teenager convicted of multiple terrorism offences

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has pleaded guilty to a number of terrorism offences linked to sharing terrorist material online following an investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

    Leo Walby, 19 (08.08.2005) of Swanley, Kent, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on 2 April to six counts of dissemination of terrorist material, contrary to section 2 of the Terrorism Act (TACT), 2006. He also pleaded guilty to one count of failing to disclose a password, after being served notice, contrary to section 53, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), 2000.

    Walby was arrested on 4 October, 2024, as part of a proactive investigation by officers from the Counter Terrorism Command. He was arrested at an address in Swanley, Kent and officers also carried out a search at the address and seized various digital devices.

    As the investigation progressed, officers found evidence that Walby had been sharing various posts sharing extreme Islamist-related terrorist material, including Daesh propaganda through various social media accounts he was controlling.

    Walby was charged on 5 October 2024, with six counts of disseminating terrorist material. As the investigation continued, officers also applied to the court for a ‘section 49 notice’ to compel Walby to provide them with a password to a cloud-based storage account he held.

    However, even after the notice was obtained from the court, Walby still refused to provide officers with the password, so he was subsequently charged with failing to provide the password, contrary to section 53, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), 2000.

    Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “Our investigation found that Walby was sharing various pieces of terrorist material across a number of social media accounts he was controlling. This kind of content can be extremely harmful, so where we identify people like Walby who are responsible for this, then we will take action and he is now facing the very serious consequences of doing this.

    “I’d encourage anyone who comes across extremist or terrorist material online to report it to our specialist team who will review to determine whether further police action is necessary and appropriate.”

    Anyone who sees what they believe to be extremist or terrorist-related material can report it via www.gov.uk/ACT.

    After pleading guilty to the above offences, Walby was remanded in custody and is due to appear for sentencing at the Old Bailey on 9 May.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Defence College Field Studies Visit to NATO HQ on 19 March

    Source: NATO

    On 19 March, the NATO Defense College (NDC) conducted a Field Studies visit to NATO HQ, International Military Staff, providing a unique learning opportunity for the Senior Course (SC) and NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC) participants. This visit, which is an integral part of the NDC curriculum, allows course members to engage with national, regional, and global decision-makers while gaining firsthand insights into security policies, armed forces, and cultural values.

    The visit was attended by 121 participants, with 75 from “SC-146”, 36 from “NRCC-36”, and the remaining attendees from NDC staff. The program included a diverse and comprehensive schedule. The opening session featured a welcome address, keynote, and Q&A with Lt Gen Janusz Adamczak, Director General of the International Military Staff (IMS).

    This was followed by a panel discussion on the theme “NATO’s Deterrence and Defence: Strategic Imperatives for the Alliance”, with contributions from Mr. Angus Lapsley (Assistant Secretary General, Defence Planning Policy), Major General Ulf Haeussler (Director, Operations and Planning Division, IMS), Mr. Thijs van der Plas (Dutch Permanent Representative to NATO), and Lieutenant General Jérôme Goisque (French Military Representative to NATO).

    The group was briefed on NATO’s approach to defence and industry’s role in building capabilities from senior experts across the NATO structure. Further sessions also included “NATO Cooperation Security and Military Cooperation” and “NATO’s Assessment of the Terrorist Threat”.

    This visit was a valuable opportunity for NDC participants to gain a deeper understanding of NATO’s strategic direction and key areas of defense and security cooperation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Forces conduct strike against ISIS-Somalia

    Source: United States AFRICOM

    At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted a collective self-defense airstrike against ISIS-Somalia on April 1, 2025.

    The airstrike occurred southeast of Bosaso, Puntland, in Northeastern Somalia.

    AFRICOM’s initial assessment is that multiple enemy combatants were killed and that no civilians were injured or killed.

    ISIS-Somalia has proved both its will and capability to attack U.S. and partner forces. This group’s malicious efforts threaten U.S. national security interests.

    AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade ISIS-Somalia’s ability to plan and conduct attacks that threaten the U.S. homeland, our forces, and our civilians abroad.

    Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Pushes Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Nominee to Always Offer “Straight Advice”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    A full clip of the exchange can be downloaded here
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) pushed the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Nominee if he would resist political pressures if confirmed, and offer candid advice to the President, Vice President, National Security Council (NSC), and Congress. In the conversation with Lt. General Dan Caine, King asked if he would give a ‘straight ahead commitment’ to advise the executive with the best military advice.
    “We have discussed, almost every member of this panel has discussed the importance of giving straight advice to the President and the Secretary of Defense. These are two very strong personalities. The oval office is probably the most intimidating room in the world. I hope you will reiterate — you mentioned you owe it to them to give the best advice, but you also owe it to the country to give them the best advice. You mentioned to me when we discussed this before: you have been retired, you did not expect this job, you don’t need this job. Give me your straight ahead commitment that when the chips are down you are going to argue for your best military advice,” asked Senator King.
    “Senator, I don’t know any other way to operate as a leader. My job, if confirmed, is to always provide the best military advice to the President, the Secretary, the NSC,  and to Congress and to do so with candor every day,” replied Lt. Gen. Caine.
    Senator King then asked the nominee about his strategy and willingness to combat the increasing resurgence of terrorism across the world.
    “What I am very worried about now is resurgence of terrorism. Syria potentially could become another base for ISIS. There are thousands of ISIS fighters in jail in Syria. If they are released, that could be a major challenge. West Africa is now a major area of Al Qaeda activity. Talk to me about the terrorism threat and the fact that we can’t forget it because 19 people changed American history on September 11. It does not take many terrorists to create serious problems for this country and for people around the world,” said Senator King. 
    “Sir, I don’t know that I could say it any better than you just did. We have to keep our pressure on the terrorists who would continue—,” Lt. Gen. Caine started.
    “Could you make sure you have it in the record what he just said?” Senator King asked.
    “It is not something, unfortunately, we can ever take our eyes off of completely. The challenge that somebody who would want to do harm to us or to our interests around the world is not going to go away anytime soon,” continued Lt. Gen. Caine. 
    “One of the concerns I have, we always talk about deterrence. That is the main spring of our defense strategy. But deterrence does not work with a terrorist with a nuclear weapon. They don’t have a capitol to blow up, they don’t care about dying. The defense against that eventuality, which I think is absolutely terrifying, is intelligence. I hope you will continue to focus the forces in the Pentagon on intelligence and intervening if there is any threat of nuclear material getting into the hands of a terrorist organizations,” replied Senator King.
    A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues who has also been named a “fiscal hero” by government watchdogs for responsible spending. Senator King has previously urged the Department of Defense (DoD) to take advantage of private sector technologies or risk losing access to innovative defense technologies and encouraged the (DoD) to reevaluate its acquisition process of defense technologies.
    Senator King has been consistently sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump’s existential threat to the Constitution. He previously gave a speech on the Senate floor sharing that this administration is doing ‘exactly what the Framers [of the Constitution] most feared.” He also joined fellow Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) colleagues in writing a letter to the White House about the risks to national security by allowing unvetted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials.

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