Threats that “sleeping” terror cells have been awakened by the American attack – Dagbladet.no

(Dagbladet): The “hashtag” #AmessagefromISIStoUS (A message from ISIS to the United States, ed. President.) Started extremists a fierce propaganda war filled with threats, grotesque images and attempted humiliation of Americans.

“sleeper” terror cells

The messages began to flow while the United States started an operation consisting of both humanitarian assistance to tens of thousands of refugees who have taken refuge on a mountain in northern Iraq and the bombing of jihadists who approaches either refugees or the Kurdish provincial capital Arbil.

More threatens including that “sleeper” terror cells in the West have been raised as a result of America’s war against jihadists.

The private intelligence company SITE reports that many of the accounts are linked to Isil.

– Can be dangerous

Social media is an extremely effective tool and is actively used by jihadistgruppen Isil, says senior adviser Cecilie Hellestveit by International Law and Policy Institute (ILPI) to Dagbladet.

– The is problematic and especially dangerous because it is completely uncontrollable propaganda. It is difficult to know who is behind and it is extremely strong measures used – including images of beheadings and executions. This is used in several ways, both to glorify and show how strict them with their enemies, but also to demonize jihadists and make them inhuman actors, she says to Dagbladet.

She believes it certainly is cause for concern when dispersed threats in this way. Among other threats that “sleeper” terror cells are resurrected can get disaster follows.

– First, it can provide an indication that such sleeper cells exist and that the jihadists have the capacity to form them. Secondly, there are many who sympathize with Isil case, and who can see themselves as a sleeper cell without having any real organizational connection with Isil, explains the researcher.

– This means that social media can have a huge damage potential, and that makes it a problematic instrument, stressing Hellestveit.

Grotesque pictures

Supporters of jihadistgruppa Islamic state (IS, former Isil) has posted thousands of messages where they threaten to repeat the terror attacks of 11 September 2001, in addition to that, they write that no Americans are safe.

Someone has posted pictures of dead American soldiers, as well as images of weeping soldiers.

Some urge Americans to send troops to the country, so that they can take kill them. Others come with a direct threat to American embassies.

Americans responded

But Americans on Twitter has responded to the propaganda war by creating your own hashtag – #AmessagefromUStoIS.

In one of the messages is the image of three female fighter pilots with the text “their women might not run, but even our.”

While some of the messages are directly Muslim enemy, choose the most paying attention to the technological difference between the jihadists and the Americans. More posts photos of fighters, drones and explosions.

Risk of Genocide

Researcher Cecilie Hellestveit think Americans involvement in Iraq could be a turning point for Isil and who supports their struggle because Many of the members until now have been Iraqis with interest to gain control of Baghdad.

– With Americans awakened in another part of Isil grouping to live, says Hellestveit.

Hellestveit think Americans are going to have such a modest role possible and try to be as neutral and balanced as possible.

– There is a real danger of genocide of Yezidi-people, and when the situation is so precarious, Americans have an excuse to go in and be a apolitical actor. There is a modest intervention, and they have indicated that they will not solve the political tangle in the country, she said.