IS boasts of attacks on Christians and urges followers to attack the West – as does Al Shabaab

Europe, June 22, 2017: Both Islamic State and Al Shabaab (who are affiliated to Islamic State’s rival, the Al Qaeda terror group) have this week urged their followers in the West to attack targets in their own countries. On 14 June, Al Shabaab’s deputy leader released a statement on their Andalus radio station calling for attacks on US and British interests worldwide. (Andalus is the Islamic name for Spain, parts of which were under Islamic rule until 1492 and therefore seen by Islamists as a main target for jihad.)

On 12 June, IS released an audio urging Muslims living in Europe, the US, Russia and Australia to carry out attacks in their own country and commending IS attacks in the Philippines, where they have specifically targeted Christians. The audio was released on the same day that IS released a video showing the execution of Christians near the Philippines city of Marawi.

– memri