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Algeria
A court sentenced Mokhtar Belmokhtar and four other jihadists to death in absentia. Four other defendants were sentenced to 13 years in prison. The government denied that Ansar Dine is seeking refuge on Algerian soil as military operations are underway in Mali.
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United States
Bomb suspect influenced by mysterious radical
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United States
Boston suspect: We learned how to make bombs from Inspire magazine
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Afghanistan
Afghan Diplomats Do Not Return, Seek Asylum: Experts
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Libya
Security problems persist in Tripoli
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Libya
A massive car bomb destroyed much of the French embassy in Tripoli and wounded two guards. The Foreign Ministry said a French-Libyan team would investigate the “terrorist act.” On April 19, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb threatened to retaliate against France for its military mission in Mali. A soldier was shot in Benghazi, and the brother of a prisoner who died in an ambush of a prisoner-transfer convoy tried to blockade Tripoli airport.
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Canadian terror plot linked to al Qaeda in Iran
A senior police official said two suspects involved in a plot to blow up a train received “support from al Qaeda elements located in Iran.” A Linkedin page of one of the suspects displayed al Qaeda’s black banner.
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Spain
Authorities arrested two men linked to al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, following a lengthy investigation. Nou Mediouni, 23, an Algerian thought to have trained with AQIM in Mali, was detained in Zaragoza; Hassan El Jaaouani, 52, a Moroccan also with ties to AQIM in Mali, was detained in Murcia. Jaaouani had contact with those responsible for the kidnapping and death of five French citizens in Niger in 2011.
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ISAF kills senior IMU leader in Afghan north
The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader “coordinated operations between IMU and Taliban networks” and directed suicide operations in Balkh province.
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United States
Boston bomb suspect: My brother was the mastermind
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United Kingdom
An appellate court refused the government’s bid to overturn a ruling that prohibits the deportation of extremist cleric Abu Qatada. He remains in prison following his arrest in March for violating bail conditions, and authorities are sifting through a large quantity of alleged extremist material seized from his home at the time.
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United States
Charges were filed in federal court in Massachusetts against Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. As a US citizen, he will not be tried in a military tribunal. He was given Miranda warnings, and could face the death penalty. The US agreed to an arms sale with Israel. Federal officials postponed implementation of a policy change that would allow small knives on planes.
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Canada
Canadian authorities disrupted a major terror plot, arresting Raed Jaser, 35, in Toronto, and Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, in Montreal. The al Qaeda-linked terrorists planned to bomb a passenger train in the Toronto area and possibly other targets. The plot was said to be in the planning stage and not imminent. The US is helping in the extensive ongoing investigation. The suspects were receiving support and guidance from al Qaeda elements in Iran.
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Afghanistan
The Taliban captured 11 people, including eight Turks and a Russian pilot, after their helicopter landed in Logar due to bad weather. ISAF killed a senior IMU commander in Balkh and a senior Taliban leader in Kandahar.
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Iraq
Insurgents killed six Iraqis in an IED attack at a restaurant in Fallujah and two construction workers at a jobsite in Nakhib near the border with Saudi Arabia. Security forces detained 12 wanted men in Mosul.
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Syria
The EU for the first time relaxed Syrian sanctions, in order to ease shortages and provide economic support in rebel-held areas; the export of crude oil from those areas will be allowed, as will EU investments and the import of gas and oil technology. Gunmen kidnapped a Greek Orthodox bishop and an Assyrian Orthodox bishop as they traveled in a rebel-held area from Turkey to Aleppo; the gunmen killed the bishops’ driver. Government forces are focusing on Damascus and strategic areas connecting the capital with Homs and the coast.
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Qatar
Qatar is focus as US weighs concerns about arming Syrian extremists
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Mali
Mali: Who controls Kidal?
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Israel
An Israeli delegation arrived in Turkey for discussions with Turkish officials on the potential for compensation for victims in the May 2010 flotilla incident. Defense Minister Ya’alon hinted that Israel had previously “acted” in Syria to prevent the transfer of advanced weaponry to Hezbollah. Ya’alon’s comment is believed to be in reference to the January strike on the SSRC facility. New video from the Burgas bombing attack last July was released by Israeli TV.
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Egypt
Authorities discovered weapons and drugs in a raid in the Sinai. At least one person was detained in the raid. Egypt announced plans to restart its nuclear program with the help of Russia. Prime Minister Qandil said the Egyptian cabinet will be reshuffled next week.
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Dagestan
Why the FBI Didn’t Make Much of Russia’s Request to Probe Boston Bomber
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Somalia
Six people were killed as Shabaab and government forces clashed in Hudur. The government arrested six Shabaab fighters in Hiran and accused the terror group of killing a journalist in Mogadishu.
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Al Qaeda
Boston’s Jihadist Past
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Afghanistan
Pakistan Building Up Second Gate in Eastern Nangarhar
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Afghanistan
Taliban’s Promotional Activities Rise in Kandahar
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Jordan
Jordan is said to have opened two corridors of airspace to unmanned Israeli drones, allowing them to monitor the situation in Syria. The government plans to ask the UN for help in dealing with the mounting Syrian refugee crisis. Foreign Minister Judeh reiterated Jordan’s call for an immediate ceasefire and peaceful transition of power in Syria.
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Dagestan
FBI did not catch Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s Russia trip because his name was misspelled
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Iran
Israel Embassy detains ‘suspicious’ Iranian man in Kathmandu
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Egypt
Activist’s Death in Egypt Spurs Charges of Police Abuse
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Al Qaeda intelligence chief reported killed in drone strike
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Abu Ubaydah Abdullah al Adam, a senior al Qaeda leader who serves as the intelligence chief for the terror group, was killed in a recent US drone strike in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
