Skip links

Summary of Terrorist Incidents and CT Operations: March 2014

This month’s report covers terrorist incidents throughout the world, with special emphasis in Asia, where 29 people were killed and 143 others were injured on March 1 when a team of suspected Uyghur separatists attacked the Kunming metro station in southwest China. Militants targeted civilians waiting for trains or disembarking from arriving trains, and stabbed people indiscriminately. In a statement to the media, the Ministry of Public Security said that six men and two women, led by a person identified as Abdurehim Kurban, were responsible for the attack. There were no details about how the suspects were identified and captured. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. However, authorities said that evidence, such as insignia and flags about “East Turkestan” found at the scene of the attack, suggests Uighur separatists from Xinjiang were responsible.  March 2014 was also marked by terrorist incidents in Afghanistan, China, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Thailand and Yemen.

This month’s report also covers counter-terrorist incidents throughout the world, with particular emphasis on events in North America. Of particular significance was the March 26 conviction of Suleiman Abu Ghaith, the son-in-law of Osama bin Laden and former Al-Qaeda spokesman, in New York on charges of conspiring to kill Americans and supporting terrorists. He was the highest ranking Al-Qaeda militant to be convicted after the 9/11 attacks. Sentencing was set for September 8, 2014. The charges carry a potential penalty of life in prison. March 2014 was also marked by counter-terrorist incidents in Albania, Algeria, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel and the West Bank, Kenya, Mali, Philippines, Spain, Tunisia and the United Kingdom.

Click Here to view Article File