Islamic State Urged Vehicular Attacks Weeks Before Nice Terror Attack, Says ‘Lone Wolf’ Attacks In America Are Next
The Islamic State released a new propaganda video just weeks before the horrific Nice terror attack. The video called for supporters to “fill your trucks with gas” while encouraging hopeful jihadists to run down people in Europe and Australia. The disturbing video showed life-like images of Islamic State terrorists filling an SUV with gas before preparing to run down people in Australia. Similarly, the video called for “lone wolf” attacks against American Christians. The call was followed by images of a suicide vest attack in New York City.
The Daily Mail reports that a disturbing propaganda video was released by the Islamic State in the weeks leading up to the Nice, France, terror attack. In the video, images of terrorists preparing to mow down a crowd with a vehicle were shown to depict a proposed attack in Australia. The terrorist organization encouraged followers to attack with vehicles and to “fill your trucks with gas.”
I just uploaded ‘Inside ISIS Chat Rooms: ICSVE Obtains ISIS Video Calling for Attacks with Vehicles’ to @academia! https://t.co/vdvYZI1VCn
— Ahmet S Yayla (@ahmetsyayla) July 15, 2016
The International Center for the Study of Violent Terrorism, ICSVE, reported that the video outlined numerous ways in which terrorists could cause the most damage in areas the Islamic State had targeted. The terrorist group encouraged attacks in Australia as well as European cities, specifically speaking to attacks in France. The ICSVE says that the video contained numerous images of various cities across the globe with various attacks taking place. For example, images showed a suicide vest “lone wolf” terrorist attacking New York City while terrorists loaded an SUV with gas cans before preparing to run over crowds in Australia.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for Nice attack, according to unconfirmed reports https://t.co/OJgZ7ukcDk
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) July 14, 2016
It is unclear if the terrorist responsible for the Nice terror attack had seen the most recent video, but ISIS has long encouraged followers to utilize vehicles in attacks and in 2014 spoke directly to the running down of non-believers in the streets. In fact, the ICSVE referred to a video by Mohammed al-Adani, the official spokesperson for the Islamic State, taken in 2014 in which he said told supporters to kill infidels in “any manner or way” possible. One of the methods mentioned was to “run him over with your car.”
“Kill them in any manner or way however it may be. Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife or run him over with your car or throw him down from a high place or choke him or poison him.”
The group noted that they can no longer “wait for Westerners” to attack them. Instead, they said it was time to bring the fight to their homes and that “the terror is now.” ISIS immediately praised the Nice attack claiming responsibility for the devastation. The group is already using images from the horrific attack in new propaganda pieces indicating that Paris, France, and New York City are next.
“ISIS has produced multiple graphic Internet memes with fiery images of the Eiffel Tower burning and ISIS flags flying in New York City with captions in which they warn Christians that ‘Lone wolves will hunt you in America’s streets.'”
FLASHBACK: ISIS Instructed Followers To Use Vehicles As Weapons https://t.co/WUTLSgqVKA pic.twitter.com/yphV9COrSu
— The Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 15, 2016
Additionally, ISIS seems to claim that sleeper cells are waiting in London as they post images of London streets burning claiming “we are here.” Following the latest videos and analysis of attacks, the ICSVE says that military efforts are not enough to combat the Islamic State and that social media will play a key role in the fight against the group.
“We must break the ISIS brand that readily draws in and radicalizes recruits online. ISIS is winning in the social media space where they are convincing disengaged people in the West that violence is the solution to bringing about their version of justice through a utopian Islamic ‘Caliphate.'”
[Photo by Militant Media Arm/AP Images]