tag

The FBI said Thursday it had launched an international terrorism investigation after a gunman — identified as an Afghan national who served with US troops in Afghanistan — shot and critically injured two National Guard soldiers near the White House in Washington.The shooting, which officials described as an unprovoked, "ambush-style" attack, cast a grim shadow over the Thanksgiving holiday and triggered a hard-line, anti-immigrant response from President Donald Trump and some of his top law enforcement officials.In a brief video statement in which he called the shooting an "act of evil," Trump painted immigrants as an existential threat to national security and his administration ordered an immediate halt to the processing of immigration applications from Afghanistan."We must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here, or add benefit to our country. If they can't love our country, we don't want them," the president said.The US attorney for Washington DC, Jeanine Pirro, said the suspected assailant — identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29 — had been living in the western state of Washington and had driven across the country to the nation's capital.In what she called a "brazen and targeted" attack, Pirro said the gunman opened fire with a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver on a group of guardsmen on patrol Wednesday just a few blocks shy of the White House."One guardsman is struck, goes down, and then the shooter leans over and strikes the guardsman again. Another guardsman is struck several times," Pirro said.Both soldiers remained in critical condition on Thursday, while the suspected shooter was in detention in hospital. He was charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill — charges that Pirro said would immediately be upgraded to first-degree murder if one of the guardsmen died.Officials said they still had no clear understanding of the motive behind the shooting.CIA director John Ratcliffe said the suspect had been part of a CIA-backed "partner force" fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, and had been brought to the United States as part of a programme to evacuate Afghans who had worked with the agency.FBI director Kash Patel told reporters Thursday that officials were investigating any associates the suspect had either back home or in the United States."That is what a broad-based international terrorism investigation looks like," Patel said, without elaborating on what the precise terrorism motive might be.The incident brings together three politically explosive issues: Trump's controversial use of the military at home, immigration, and the legacy of the US war in Afghanistan.Trump has deployed troops to several cities, all run by Democrats, including Washington, Los Angeles and Memphis. The move has prompted multiple lawsuits and allegations of authoritarian overreach by the White House.In the wake of Wednesday's shooting, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced 500 more troops would deploy to Washington, bringing the total to 2,500. This despite a federal judge last week ordering a temporary suspension of the deployment on the grounds that it was likely illegal.The heads of the FBI, CIA and Homeland Security and other senior Trump appointees all insisted that Lakanwal had been granted unvetted access to the United States because of lax asylum policies in the wake of the chaotic final US withdrawal from Afghanistan under former president Joe Biden.But AfghanEvac, a group that helped resettle Afghans in the US after the military withdrawal, said they undergo "some of the most extensive security vetting" of any migrants.While Lakanwal had applied for asylum during the Biden administration, his application was approved under the Trump administration, the group said."This individual's isolated and violent act should not be used as an excuse to define or diminish an entire community," said its president, Shawn VanDiver.More than 190,000 Afghans have been resettled to the United States since the Taliban takeover, according to the US State Department. 

The State of Qatar has reaffirmed its strong commitment to combating terrorism and violent extremism, expressing readiness to continue close cooperation with the United Nations and international and regional partners in a way that contributes to promoting international peace and security and fostering a safer and more stable global environment. This came in the State of Qatar's statement, delivered by Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Abdulaziz Fadala Al Sulaiti, before the United Nations General Assembly Sixth Committee Agenda Item 109: Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, at the UN headquarters in New York. Al Sulaiti reiterated the State of Qatar's unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of its motives or justifications, and its absolute rejection of any attempt to associate terrorism with any religion, culture, or people. He emphasized that combating this scourge requires a sincere collective commitment to the principles of international law, respect for human rights, avoiding selectivity or politicization in counterterrorism efforts, and refraining from using it as a pretext to violate rights or discriminate against people living under occupation, who are guaranteed the legitimate right to self-determination by international law. He further explained that the State of Qatar contributed during the 2023 UN Counter-Terrorism Week to the launch of the Compendium of Good Practices on monitoring and evaluating counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism initiatives, in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), to provide governments and civil society with evidence-based, practical tools to address the root causes of extremism. He noted that Qatar continues to support intercultural and interfaith dialogue, promote mutual understanding, and protect religious and cultural sites, out of its recognition of the importance of these efforts in countering hate speech and preventing extremism. The State of Qatar actively participates in multilateral forums to combat terrorism, foremost among them the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), whose coordination meeting will be hosted in Doha later this month, Al Sulaiti said. In this context, he noted that the State of Qatar continues its role as a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and supports regional efforts within the framework of the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council, through information sharing and close coordination to confront common terrorist threats. In terms of partnership with the United Nations, the State of Qatar is proud to be the main partner of UNOCT, he said, pointing out that since 2020, the State of Qatar has committed to providing USD 15 million annually to the UN Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism, making it the office's largest donor, accounting for 37% of total contributions, with cumulative funding reaching USD 139 million by the end of 2024. This support has enabled the Office to plan long-term projects and implement core programs covering all pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. In 2023 alone, Qatar's contributions helped the Office implement 40 capacity-building programs. He underlined that recent global developments have shown that terrorism remains a complex and evolving threat, as terrorist organizations continue to exploit advancements in technology and cyberspace to spread propaganda and recruit new members. There are also increasing links between terrorism and transnational organized crime, including illicit arms trafficking and terrorism financing, he added. Al Sulaiti also stressed that this necessitates the development of more comprehensive and adaptable approaches, based on prevention, strengthened international cooperation, and the use of innovation and behavioral sciences to confront these challenges. The Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations noted that the success of international efforts to eradicate terrorism requires multilateral action that addresses all its dimensions, including its root causes, while ensuring respect for the rule of law and human rights. He affirmed that the State of Qatar will continue to play an active role and maintain a strategic partnership with the United Nations and member states, in order to build national and regional capacities capable of confronting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Qatar, under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, pursues a holistic approach to countering terrorism and violent extremism that is based on addressing the root causes of this phenomenon through development, justice, and respect for international law, HE the Shura Council Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim has affirmed.HE al-Ghanim highlighted that Qatar has made support for education, funding of development programmes, and provision of job opportunities for young people in crisis-battered zones a core priority in its efforts to counter extremist ideology.Hewas speaking at the opening session of the Global Parliamentary Conference on Counter-Terrorism, hosted in Istanbul, Turkiye, with the participation of a host of speakers of parliaments, legislative councils, as well as representatives of international organisations.The conference convenes at a critical time, as the need grows to unify efforts, strengthen international peace and security, and co-operate in confronting the scourge of terrorism that imperils societal stability and undermines development opportunities, he said.He noted that Qatar pursues a firmly rooted policy against terrorism and violent extremism, one that goes beyond mere security measures to address the economic, social, and political factors that lead to marginalisation and exclusion, the very environment in which extremist ideology takes root.Doha is preparing, as part of its efforts to support sustainable development and strengthen global parliamentary work, to host the second World Summit for Social Development in November. The summit will feature a parliamentary forum organised in partnership between the Shura Council and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on investing in people and institutions: the role of parliamentarians in social development, HE al-Ghanim noted.He further indicated that the forum will serve as a parliamentary platform to exchange experiences and best practices, and to discuss policies and legislation that bolster social development, thereby enhancing the role of parliaments in advancing communities and building human and institutional capacities.He averred that the ongoing practices of the Israeli occupation reflect yet another face of terrorism, noting that occupation forces have committed blood-soaked massacres in the Gaza Strip, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, in an egregious breach of international law and human values.The Israeli aggression has extended to target Qatar, which is mediating and spearheading international efforts to secure a ceasefire and alleviate the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip, he said, stressing that attacking the negotiating delegation at a civilian-safe location in Doha, which houses schools and embassies, constitutes state terror and a direct threat to civilian lives, in unconscionable violation of international law and diplomatic norms.HE al-Ghanim further added that silence in the face of such violations encourages impunity and undermines the international legal framework, noting that the arbitrary policies of the occupation not only threaten global peace and security but also help foster a fertile environment for the spread of violence and extremism, exacerbating instability across the region and the world.He called on the international community and all parliaments to assume their moral and legal responsibilities, condemn these crimes, hold Israel accountable, and work to suspend the Israeli Knesset’s membership in regional and international parliamentary organisations until it complies with international law and the principles of legitimacy, especially following remarks by the Speaker of the Knesset in which he described the aggression as a message to the Middle East, in presumptuous defiance of the international community and parliamentary values.Qatar has placed counter-terrorism at the forefront of its foreign policy priorities through its active engagement in international coalitions, contribution to shaping global strategies, and support for development programs that address the root causes of terrorism, HE al-Ghanim underlined, before noting that Doha hosts the Office of Parliamentary Participation in Preventing and Combating Terrorism, in partnership with the UN.This office serves as a comprehensive platform for parliaments from around the globe to co-ordinate international parliamentary efforts and organise conferences, seminars, and workshops that enhance legislative and oversight cooperation in this field, he outlined.He called on national parliaments, regional parliamentary associations, and the IPU to intensify efforts and co-ordinate closely with the aforementioned office in support of its programmes and objectives, and to activate its role in forging practical partnerships that contribute to achieving global peace and security, and in reinforcing the values of justice and respect for human rights.HE al-Ghanim hoped that the conference would yield effective outcomes in countering terrorism and violent extremism through concurrence on a comprehensive and precise international definition of terrorism, which draws a clear line between the legitimate struggle of peoples against occupation, as an inherent right, and the terrorist acts carried out by certain states and organisations.Parliamentary unity remains the most effective means to enhance international co-operation, achieve peace and security, and safeguard the future of coming generations, he stressed.For his part, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, Numan Kurtulmus, underscored the depth of the brotherly relations and strategic co-operation between Qatar and Turkiye, lauding the Shura Council's role in combating terrorism and boosting international cooperation in this field.Kurtulmus called out the double standards of certain nations that claim to fight terrorism while supporting it through proxy wars. He pointed out that the most perilous form of terrorism is state terror perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people, amid the silence of the international community.The conference is organised in partnership between the Shura Council and the Doha-based UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) on Parliamentary Participation in Preventing and Combating Terrorism, in collaboration with the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).It intends to bolster the role of parliaments in supporting legislative and oversight frameworks for combating terrorism and violent extremism, and in coordinating efforts between parliaments and relevant international organisations to formulate integrated policies grounded in respect for the rule of law and human rights.The agenda includes panel discussions addressing a wide range of issues, foremost among them the absence of a unified international definition of terrorism and its implications, the nexus between terrorism and organised crime, and the impact of occupation and armed conflicts in fueling extremism.Additional sessions will focus on parliamentary oversight in enhancing transparency, ensuring a balance between security and the protection of rights and public freedoms, culminating in the adoption of a final statement containing practical recommendations for the development of the next UN strategy for counter-terrorism.

Qatar was subjected to a treacherous attack by the Israeli occupation forces on Tuesday, which can only be interpreted as an act of state terrorism, stressed HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani at special press conference held in Doha Tuesday. HE the prime minster said the assault targeted the headquarters of the political bureau of Hamas during the ongoing negotiations. “From the very first moment, and under the directives of His Highness the Amir, the security authorities, the civil defence, and other agencies concerned immediately responded to the incident. The casualties and martyrs resulting from this treacherous attack were recorded, and the necessary measures were taken to ensure public safety and contain its consequences.” HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, pointed out that Qatar will not tolerate any violation of its sovereignty or the integrity of its territory, and that it will respond firmly to any reckless breach or aggression that targets its security and threatens the stability of the region. “Qatar reserves the right to respond to this blatant attack and will take all necessary measures to address it. The directives of His Highness the Amir are clear: the security of citizens and expatriates is our top priority. Accordingly, starting from Wednesday, a comprehensive review of the policies and procedures will begin to ensure deterrence of such actions and prevent their recurrence.” He noted that the Israeli attack that took place on the Qatari soil can only be described as state terrorism carried out by someone like Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Within the context of these systematic policies and his ongoing attempts to destabilise regional security and stability, this is nothing more than a clear message to the entire region. “That message is that there is a rogue player in this region, one that engages in continuous political bullying and violates the sovereignty of states. Netanyahu himself has declared that he intends to reshape the Middle East. Does this message mean that he also seeks to reshape the Gulf? “We believe that today we have reached a critical juncture where the entire region must respond to such barbaric actions, which reflect the brutality of this individual who is leading the region toward a level, unfortunately, that cannot be repaired—one that makes it impossible to work within the international systems, frameworks, and laws, all of which he has blatantly disregarded.” HE Sheikh Mohammed added that at this point of time there is a need for a collective response from the entire region. He stressed that this attack was not only a blatant violation of all international laws but also a transgression of the most basic ethical and moral standards. “We are speaking about a mediating state that is hosting official negotiations under a declared sponsorship and in the presence of official delegations. However, the missiles were launched and fired targeting the negotiating delegation from the other side. By what logic or moral standard can this be accepted? What took place can only be described as outright treachery.” He added that in recent days, intense negotiations were held at the request of the American side to discuss the latest proposal it had submitted. “Despite being fully aware and actively involved through the continuous dispatch of its delegations to Doha, the Israeli side deliberately worked to obstruct every effort aimed at opening a window for peace. “Does the world need a clearer message than this? Who is the one closing the door to peace? Does the international community still need further proof? Who is the real bully in this region? He pointed out that history will write down this incident as a flagrant violation of the International laws and traditions. “We have to take this incident into consideration as the infringement on the sovereignty of countries and recklessness that should not be overlooked.” The prime minister stressed that Qatar is taking all the necessary measures in coordination with friendly and brotherly countries against this unjustifiable attack. He said that all such measures to be taken shall be announced in the coming days. He expressed his condolences for the Qatari personnel from the internal security forces who was martyred during the attack. “All the necessary measures have been taken to guarantee the safety and security of the public as Qatar will never spare efforts to defend its sovereignty and integrity of its territories. It will deal decisively with any reckless action or attack that touches on its security and the security of the region.” HE the prime minister said that the American side informed Qatar government ten minutes after the attack took place and the US said that they had just received the message. He affirmed that the attack was a 100% treacherous operation; no body informed ahead, and any other talk or tales about this are only lies and unfounded rumours. He said the efficiency of the Qatari air defence system was proven during the Iranian missile attacks. “However, these attacks were conducted using sophisticated weaponry that were not detected by the radar.” He said that Israeli side used to send its delegation to Doha for negotiations in a continuous manner, and they knew that the peace negotiations were going on.