Our open access book "Holding ISIL Accountable: Prosecuting Crimes in Iraq and Syria" with ICCT Press has been reviewed in the journal Middle East Policy. The reviewers note: "Holding ISIL Accountable is an essential look at ISIL’s violations... /1

Over 40 French nationals linked to Islamic State sent from #Syria to #Iraq for trial #ISIS www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...

UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry's report shows #Israel has committed #genocide in #Gaza. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

A very compelling read about children taken by Assad’s regime, still waiting to be reunited with their families in #Syria They Were Treated Like Orphans. But They Knew the Truth. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/m...

I'm pleased to share a forthcoming chapter: "Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in the Public Interest," based on a keynote speech at @tmcasser.bsky.social. Many of the themes discussed are as timely today as they were then. You can access the pre-print below papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

RCMP charge Montreal minor with terrorism offences involving Islamic State. 70% of those now referred for deradicalization are children, average age 13-14. Deeply concerning. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Last month the RCMP charged four Quebec men, all with military ties, for allegedly planning an ideologically motivated violent plot "intending to forcibly take possession of land in the Quebec City area." One warned of another Waco. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

A 24-year-old member of a nationalist right-wing student association has been arrested on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack in the Netherlands. The man possessed firearms and was willing to commit a terrorist act, the public prosecution service said. www.dutchnews.nl/2025/08/far-...

I'm pleased to share a forthcoming chapter: "Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in the Public Interest," based on a keynote speech at @tmcasser.bsky.social. Many of the themes discussed are as timely today as they were then. You can access the pre-print below papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

A Montreal woman who joined #ISIS as a teen convicted of aiding a terrorist group. Oumaima Chouay is the first person in Canada convicted for providing family support to a terrorist entity as a spouse. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Another success story of the innocent children of ISIS members being successfully returned home to join their family, and reintegrating into a normal life. Thousands more remain in northeast #Syria and their status remains urgent. www.npr.org/2025/05/27/n...

Details emerge in Palm Springs bombing, including website. Alleged perpetrator references “abolitionist veganism,” “negative utilitarianism”, and “anti-mortality” then bombed an IVF clinic. A rather unique case with strong nihilistic tones @latimes.com t.co/ZGhUfwF5Ur

🚨NEW🚨 @surajlakhani.bsky.social and my new edited collection is out! Hard copy available in a few months. academic.oup.com/book/60071

AP: "Iraq says more than 19,000 prisoners have been released under a new amnesty law" apnews.com/article/iraq...

Incredible images coming out of Saudi Arabia today of #Trump and #alSharaa following the lifting of US sanctions on #Syria. This will make such a difference for Syria’s recovery. This will be a case study for a long time to come of terrorist transitions to governance. Photo: @spagov

Several years ago I met @mark-carney.bsky.social in London when he was generously supporting Canadian scholars with the ⁦‪@CCSF67‬. A warm congrats to him on his electoral victory in #Canada - it’s a complicated time, but I believe he will be an strong, highly competent PM for all Canadians

Girl, 15, in court accused of six terrorism charges in Dundee. One charge alleges she belonged or professed to belong to a banned organisation, while another charge alleges she invited support for such an organisation. ⁦‪⁦‪@BBCNews‬⁩ www.bbc.com/news/article...

I am so pleased to announce that Dr. Lynn Schneider and I have signed a contract with @columbiaup.bsky.social for our book “Extreme Childhoods: Growing Up in Families Affiliated with Violent Extremism and Terrorism.” /1

Tune in to the Weekend program on BBC World Service this Saturday morning where I’m pleased to be back as a guest host alongside @alanposener.bsky.social. Lots to discuss in the world right now. @icct.bsky.social @unileiden.bsky.social

I am so pleased to announce that Dr. Lynn Schneider and I have signed a contract with @columbiaup.bsky.social for our book “Extreme Childhoods: Growing Up in Families Affiliated with Violent Extremism and Terrorism.” /1

Almost 24 hours now, incredible

Iraq repatriates over 180 families from Syria’s al-Hol camp. The transfer, which included 681 individuals, marked the seventh repatriation operation since the start of 2025 and the 24th overall. #Iraq #alHol #Syria shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Iraq...

“A mack-truck-sized breach”: @jeffreygoldberg.bsky.social discusses being accidentally added to a Trump administration group chat planning military strikes. Read more in The Atlantic Daily: theatln.tc/0VASTR78

The population of Al-Hol Camp is rapidly decreasing⬇️ At its peak in 2019, Al-Hol held more than 73,000 residents. Six years on, the population has now fallen by more than half, and international repatriation efforts are continuing to accelerate. #AJourneyHome #Syria #Iraq

NEW VIDEO: Hope for al Hol? The Syria Breakdown Ep. 6 - where I address what's next after the fall of the Assad regime including factors that could greatly decrease the population in Al-Hol, turning the former unsolvable problem into a more solvable one. www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bM6...

Decision not to classify Southport killer as a terrorist was right, says UK watchdog

An excellent and detailed profile of #HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) by @rayajalabi.ft.com for @FT www.ft.com/content/8aa8...

#Bellingcat, a specialist in fact-checking and open-source intelligence (OSINT), has begun working with #universities to develop open-source #investigation courses and create student-led investigative hubs in an attempt to solve the “crisis in democracy”. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/open-so...

Having a beautiful little baby is the only immediate antidote I have found to the current state of global affairs. If I’m not posting much, it’s because I’m hanging with my little lady. Also, no we are not the 51st state, and slava Ukraini - keep standing up to the bullies.

Trump’s global funding freeze leaves anti-terror programs in limbo. U.S. officials say now-suspended programs across Africa were designed specifically to respond to national security threats and contain the spread of terrorism. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Two-year-old girl and her mother die from Munich car attack injuries

One dead, and five injured in knife attack in Austria www.bbc.com/news/article...

Ex-Google boss Eric Schmidt fears for ‘bin Laden’ AI scenario www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

In this deep dive for the New York Times, I've explored the Southport attack, its impact and what it means for the future of counter-terrorism and counter-violence efforts in the UK Axel Rudakubana is part of a trend that has been building for years www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/w...

U.S. Funding Freeze Threatens Security at ISIS Camps in Syria www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/w...

In the wake of a spat of midnight tweets targeting various foreign governments, a new YouGov poll shows that a majority of citizens of those countries think that Elon Musk knows little about UK and Germany and should not interfere. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Callum Parslow has been jailed for life for a terror attack targeting asylum seekers, and racist and misogynistic offences against a black female journalist

Inside the ultraviolent neo-Nazi abuse network behind the crimes of a Sussex teenager news.sky.com/story/bluesk...

Inside the ultraviolent neo-Nazi abuse network behind the crimes of a Sussex teenager

Criticism mounts against controversial Islamist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir that says it plans to host conference in Hamilton. The group was recently banned as a terrorist group in the UK. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Man in Las Vegas Tesla Cybertruck explosion used generative AI, including ChatGPT, police say - the first incident on U.S. soil where ChatGPT was utilized to help an individual build a particular device. apnews.com/article/tesl...

The @nytimes.com‬⁩ has done an excellent piece on the radicalization process of the #NewOrleans shooter Shamsud-Din Jabbar. Clearly highlights rapid change in personality, increasing black & white thinking & several impactful life events in recent years. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/04/u...

I had the chance to speak with @dwnews about Shamsud-Din Jabbar - the #ISIS -inspired attacker in #NewOrleans. We discussed radicalization processes and how his profile was comparable to previous Islamic state attackers.

At least four killed and four more wounded in Montenegro shooting

“No Lives Matter is a nihilistic, far-right ideology [whose] adherents promote “targeted attacks, mass killings and criminal activity” and have “historically encouraged members to engage in self-harm and animal abuse” - Grateful to see this caught but also so 1/ www.nytimes.com/2024/12/31/u...

The 18th batch of ISIS families will arrive in Mosul in days, coming from the Al-Hol camp in Syria, comprising 159 families. First transfer under the new administration in Syria. shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Over...

I spoke with ⁦BBC Turkish‬⁩ about future considerations of women under an #HTS government in #Syria. For an Islamist group there are hopeful signs for women’s rights in society being upheld, but their participation in a transition government is currently absent. www.bbc.com/turkce/artic...

As more information on Talab A. and the attack in #Magdebourg comes out today, several points are worth noting. Motive: There is still no clear ideological motivation for this attack. What originally had all the hallmarks of a jihadist attacker now suggests this individual /1

It’s been a particularly busy end of the year, but happy to celebrate this with Dr Graig Klein. We have won a Google Safety and Trust award for our project Countering Violent Extremist Content Online: A Multidisciplinary Approach. You can read more below. www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2024...