Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 02 November 2023

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters. 

Police in at least 3 European countries arrest suspects for allegedly planning terror attacks tied to Israel-Hamas war

In Duisburg, a German city of about 500,000 located near the Netherlands border, a man previously convicted of terrorism was arrested after police said he shared with an associate in Syria that he was planning an attack, possibly against a pro-Israel demonstration. The man had previously trained with ISIS in Syria, according to local reports.

In England, The Telegraph newspaper reported that a man who arrived in the country in 2020 had been arrested after committing some kind of attack that he said he committed because children had been harmed in Gaza. But while police told the newspaper that they had made an arrest, they did not disclose any further information about the man or the nature of the attack. Security analysts said they might be withholding information in an effort not to inspire copycats.

In Brussels, a Palestinian man was arrested after telling a federal refugee support agency that he was distressed by what was happening in Gaza and hoped to ​”die as a martyr by blowing himself up.” The man had applied in September for asylum in Belgium but missed an appointment after learning that members of his family had been killed in Gaza, according to local news reports.

Also see: Global Antisemitic Incidents In the Wake of Hamas’ War on Israel

Analyst Comments:

The Israeli/HAMAS War has continued to fuel hate and hostile events across the international landscape, and today’s headlines indicate that the trend is showing no signs of slowing down. We encourage members to join us in the FB-ISAO Slack Workspace for daily and real-time information sharing on current threats to people and organizations of all faiths. Maintaining situational awareness is always critical, but especially in this heightened threat environment.

Catholic Charities reacts to ‘disturbing’ online threats to staff over migration work

Catholic Charities USA, the organization dedicated to carrying out the domestic humanitarian work of the Catholic Church in the United States, responded Oct. 31 to “disturbing” recent remarks by a social media influencer threatening its staff.

Kevin Brennan, a spokesperson for Catholic Charities USA, said in a statement provided to OSV News Oct. 31 that “these comments are deeply disturbing and could endanger Catholic Charities staff members and volunteers, who on a daily basis selflessly serve people in need in every corner of this country.”

“Sadly, these reprehensible threats against our agencies are an extension of a disturbing trend from a small but vocal group of critics who misrepresent and malign the basic humanitarian care — a warm meal, fresh clothing, a bed to sleep in for a night — that some Catholic Charities agencies provide to migrants after they have been released into the country by federal authorities,” he said. “As our nation continues to mourn in the wake of yet another mass shooting, we pray for all victims of gun violence and for an end to dangerous, hateful rhetoric.”

Analyst Comments:

Yesterday, Founder and President of the Board for the Faith-Based ISAO Andy Jabbour shared his thoughts on the inflammatory comments from Stew Peters.

White House to develop first national strategy to counter Islamophobia

The White House announced Wednesday it is developing the first national strategy to counter Islamophobia in the United States amid backlash from many Muslim Americans over its support for Israel.

“President Biden ran for office to restore the soul of our nation. He is unequivocal: There is no place for hate in America against anyone. Period,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. Jean-Pierre’s full statement can be found here.

Analyst Comments:

This announcement follows President Biden’s directive last year to establish an interagency group to increase and better coordinate U.S. Government efforts to counter Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and related forms of bias and discrimination within the United States.

The new strategy follows weeks of backlash toward Biden from Democrats on the left wing of the party, young voters, Arab Americans and others over his response to the violence in the Middle East, as Israel has pummeled Gaza with airstrikes.

The strategy may be met with skepticism by some Arab Americans. According to The Hill, “A poll released Tuesday showed that Biden’s support among Arab American voters has plummeted since the Israel-Hamas war, from 59 percent in 2020 to just 17 percent. The poll marks the first time in the 26 years the Arab American Institute has conducted it that the majority did not claim to prefer the Democratic Party.”