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July 31, 2023
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NJOHSP 2023 Homegrown Violent Extremist Snapshot
As a supplement to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness’ 2023 Threat Assessment, agency analysts have compiled a snapshot outlining the 2022 nationwide activities of homegrown violent extremists and the threat level they pose to New Jersey. Analysts assessed that HVEs would remain a high threat in 2023 as these extremists may plot and conduct attacks and provide financial support within the state. Foreign Terrorist organizations often inspire HVEs, who become radicalized through various means, including the internet. FTOs are known for producing and disseminating propaganda on social media and other online platforms, calling for attacks against Western nations and encouraging support for terrorists overseas. While there is no single factor that leads to radicalization, HVEs’ motivations can be ideological, personal, sociopolitical or group- or community-driven. HVEs usually target law enforcement officers, religious facilities and congregations and generally, highly populated locations. NJOHSP identified at least 83 HVEs throughout the U.S. between 2019 and 2022 with 19 arrested in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania for conducting attacks, organizing plots and providing material support to FTOs, namely ISIS and al-Qa’ida. In December 2022, federal authorities charged Seema Rahman, of Edison, New Jersey, Abdullah At Taqi, of New York City, New York, and two others with conspiring to provide material support to ISIS. In November 2022, authorities arrested Omar Alkattoul, of Sayreville, New Jersey, for using social media to share a manifesto containing a threat to attack a synagogue. On July 12, he pleaded guilty. In August 2022, Hadi Matar, of Fairview, New Jersey, attacked author Salman Rushdie on stage at a lecture in Chautauqua, New York. Look for additional snapshots highlighting other high- and moderate-ranked threats to New Jersey in future issues. Learn more in our Homegrown Violent Extremists snapshot.
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Additional Resources 2023 Terrorism Threat Assessment | Suspicious Activity Reporting
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![New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/NJOHSP/2023/01/7012162/4571535/njccic-header-new_crop.png) The Aftermath of Data Breaches
The prevalence of data breaches highlights the importance of staying vigilant to help prevent successful social engineering attempts, account compromise, identity theft and other fraudulent activity. Data breaches result from unauthorized access to systems and often lead to the public exposure of sensitive information online. To obtain access and conduct data theft operations, cyber threat actors use a variety of tactics, including phishing campaigns, impersonation scams, credential-stuffing attacks and other methods. Most breaches involve the compromise of personally identifiable information, which may include Social Security numbers and account credentials. Cybercriminals use this sensitive information for identity theft schemes, to steal additional PII or financial information and to launch future cyberattacks. The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell recommends users educate themselves and others on these continuing threats and tactics to reduce victimization. NJCCIC also advises users to refrain from opening attachments or clicking links delivered in suspicious or unexpected communications, including those from known senders. NJCCIC further recommends that users carefully examine unsolicited communications for signs of phishing and spoofing. For more information, visit the NJCCIC’s website.
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Additional Resources Incident Reporting | NJCCIC Membership
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![New and Note Official](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/NJOHSP/2023/02/7210443/4594763/my-project-copy-1_crop.png) West Africa Records Over 1,800 Terror Attacks During First 6 Months of 2023
West Africa recorded more than 1,800 terrorist attacks during the first six months of 2023, resulting in nearly 4,600 deaths, due to insecurity within the region, a top regional official told the U.N. Security Council July 25. Half a million individuals in the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States are refugees, nearly 6.2 million are internally displaced and 30,000 need food, said ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray. He attributed the instability to terrorism, armed rebellion, organized crime, unconstitutional changes of government, illegal maritime activities, an environmental crisis and fake news. Touray said the 4,593 individuals killed in terror attacks between January and June 30 include 2,725 in Burkina Faso, 844 in Mali, 77 in Niger and 70 in Nigeria. He added that terrorist attacks in Benin and Togo, which have coastlines on the Atlantic Ocean, are a “stark indication of the expansion of terrorism to littoral states, a situation that poses an additional threat to the region.” To counter the terrorism, ECOWAS military officials proposed either creating a 5,000-strong brigade to support member states or deploying troops on demand for which the African Union is seeking U.N. funding.
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Contact Information
For more information, please contact communications@njohsp.gov.
The NJOHSP Weekly Bulletin is a weekly publication of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and is intended to provide our constituents with finished intelligence and resiliency publications and announcements.
Report Suspicious Activity: Call 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ or email tips@njohsp.gov
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