Category Archives: Security

Islamic State Blitzkrieg Propaganda – by F. Borgonovo, G. Porrino & S.R. Lucini

The recent Hamas attack has brought the Israeli-Palestinian conflict back into the international spotlight, and this has awakened the communication of the main jihadist groups. With al-Qa’ida supporting Hamas and its actions, a statement on the attack by the Islamic State was expected. On 20th October, through the publication of the 413th issue of al-Naba, an official newspaper issued by the Central Media Office of the Islamic State, IS expressed its position.

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28Ott/23

Il cambio di strategia di Hamas verso il jihad globale -by Giovanni Giacalone

L’eccidio di civili perpetrato da Hamas lo scorso 7 ottobre ha sconvolto l’opinione pubblica e la comunità internazionale, infiammando nuovamente l’eterna questione israelo-palestinese e riportando al centro dell’attenzione mediatica e politica il problema del terrorismo di matrice islamista, messo nel dimenticatoio dall’emergenza Covid e dalla guerra in Ucraina. In molti hanno commesso l’errore di credere che il problema del jihad globale fosse sparito dopo la disfatta territoriale dell’ISIS nel Siraq (che non implica però una sua sconfitta), ma la realtà è ben diversa.

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20Ott/23

War and peace in the global village. Second half – by Giacomo Buoncompagni*

Shortly after the clashes in Ukraine, the apparently silent Israeli-Palestinian conflict reignited, at least in the Western media. A few months later, more blood, death and hostages between polarised information and a desperate plea for peace. Diversity has historically been a potential source of friction and misunderstanding.

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09Ott/23

Hamas attack in Israel: European security perspectives – by Maria Chr. Alvanou

As the world is watching Hamas attacking Israel in an unprecedent violent terrorist campaign within its borders, it is important to understand that the situation is also a security crisis from a European perspective. The following points show why Hamas actions are dangerous for European security and parameters that need attention in order to prevent and manage the threat created:

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02Ott/23

Gang o aggruppamenti predatori urbani? – by Giovanni Giacalone

Cosa c’è dietro il fenomeno delle violente aggressioni a scopo di rapina che sta caratterizzando i grandi centri urbani italiani. Negli ultimi mesi si è parlato molto di aggressioni a scopo di rapina, spesso in pieno giorno e in zone centrali delle grandi aree metropolitane italiane e messe in atto da gang e dalle cosiddette “baby-gang”, termine quest’ultimo che come vedremo risulta quanto meno inappropriato se non errato.

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29Set/23

Time to be realistic about Swarmcast2.0 – by Ali Fisher

For all the meetings, presentations and reports from embedded academics and industry groups, purporting to show success against Salafi-Jihadi groups, the movement is still comfortably able to disseminate content through Swarmcast2.0.

The Western metanarrative has long been accepted by the orthodoxy of Terrorism Studies. However, while claims of success resonate at events hosted by industry funded bodies, the challenge encapsulated by Swarmcast2.0 remains. Salafi-Jihadi groups and the media mujahidin maintain persistent networks which function across multiple platforms simultaneously.

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30Ago/23

Wagner Digital Ecosystem: what happens after Prigozhin’s Death – By Federico Borgonovo & Giulia Porrino

After the March of Justice, announced on June 23, the evolution of the relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and PMC Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin was discussed at length. On August 23, exactly two months later, one of the private jets on which Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, considered his right hand, were traveling crashed en route between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

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13Ago/23

Soccer hooliganism episode in Athens: lessons from a security perspective – by Maria Chr. Alvanou

An episode of hooligan violence, with a 22-year-old man dying from multiple stab wounds took place in Athens, Greece, the night before Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League qualifying soccer match between teams AEK (Greece) and visiting Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia).[1] Additionally to one man violently losing his life, there are 8 people injured (Croatian and Greek) and the clashes were especially violent.

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26Giu/23

PMC Wagner and Allied Mercenaries, Aftermath of the March by – Federico Borgonovo & Giulia Porrino

During the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, PMC Wagner exploited online and offline support of some military groups, including:

  • Española, a parallel battalion of Russian ultras led by Alexander Shum and with a special training centre near San Petersburg.
  • Rusich, a reconnaissance, sabotage and assault group, directly attached to the PMC Wagner.
  • Serb members, active since the deployment in Syria. Those are linked with several ultras’ communities.
  • Níðhöggr (Nidhogg), a little unit near to the Scandinavian right-wing militia funded by an actual Wagner member.  

All these units were orbiting around the PMC Wagner as embedded support groups. Starting from their online propaganda we theorized a pro-Wagner alliance system (figure 1).

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07Mag/23

Gli arresti di nove Latin Kings a Milano: i preoccupanti legami con i leader in Ecuador e la mafia albanese – by Giovanni Giacalone

Il 19 aprile 2023 un’operazione della Polizia di Stato, coordinata dalla Procura di Milano, ha portato all’arresto di nove appartenenti alla pandilla sudamericana “Latin Kings”, fazione “Chicago”, tutti tra i 20 e i 36 anni e accusati di associazione a delinquere, tentato omicidio, lesioni personali, rissa, danneggiamento, furto aggravato e lancio pericoloso di oggetti. Continue reading