Summary of Terrorist Incidents and CT Operations: April 2015
The ICT Database Team is pleased to present a brief overview of the terrorist incidents and counter-terrorist actions that occurred worldwide in April 2015. The incidents covered in this month’s report join the over 35,000 previously-recorded terrorist and counter-terrorist incidents in the ICT database.
This month’s report covers terrorist incidents throughout the world, with special emphasis in Asia specifically in Afghanistan. On April 18, 33 people were killed and 100 others injured when a suicide bomber on a motorcycle detonated in front of the Kabul Bank, located in Jalalabad.
The attack targeted many civilians including government staff who were at the bank to collect their salaries. The IS claimed responsibility for the attack, in what authorities said was the first time the organization had claimed a suicide attack in Afghanistan.
April 2015 was also marked by terrorist incidents in Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Iraq , Israel and the West Bank, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Thailand Turkey, and Yemen
This month’s report covers counter- terrorist incidents throughout the world, with special emphasis in the Europe specifically in Italy. On April 24, the Italian police arrested nine men, from Afghanistan and Pakistan, who were allegedly involved in a militant cell based in Italy and Pakistan.
A manhunt for the other cell members was made. The suspects were allegedly planning to carry out an attack against the Vatican in 2010 but the plot never came to fruition. According to authorities, they were part of a group with links to Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP) and had previously carried out attacks against civilian’s targets in Pakistan in 2009. According to the police, the network financed itself through the smuggling of migrants to Italy and then used the money to fund other cell members who were based in Pakistan.
Amongst the suspects arrested, were two alleged bodyguards of the late Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The suspects were indicted on charges of terrorist financing and terrorist recruitment.. Italian authorities did not name all the individuals who were arrested but Police Chief of Cagliar, Mauro Mura, said that the cell was based in Cagliar although arrests were made nationwide.
April 2015 also marked by counter-terrorist incidents in: Australia, Afghanistan, Bahrain, China, France, Germany, Israel and the West Bank Kenya, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, North America, Nigeria, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UK and Yemen.
