The Week in Terrorism: January 29-February 4, 2024 - Borealis Threat & Risk Consulting

This blog is an attempt to track terrorist attacks worldwide on a weekly basis. While recognising the challenges in defining ‘terrorism’, the incidents listed here will be limited to attacks committed – or claimed – by known terrorist groups (Al Qaeda, Islamic State, FARC, etc.) or those where there is a clear underlying ideological, religious or political motive. Only actual attacks carried out, and not those thwarted through arrests, will be listed (for unsuccessful plots check out Borealis’ X feed @borealissaves). This list makes no claim to be exhaustive as it is limited by time and resources available to scan open source intelligence (OSINT).

Events where information is still being gathered may be included with a caveat that they may not turn out in the end to be terrorist in nature. Crimes motivated solely by hate will NOT appear here. Borealis realises that this too is problematic but believes that a distinction between terrorism and hate crimes is worth maintaining.

After the listing of individual incidents analysis of the visible trendlines will be briefly discussed. Multiple, independent sources (OSINT) will be listed wherever possible.

Date	Location	Method	Responsibility	Casualties	Type
Jan 29	Balochistan, Pakistan	guns	BLA	13 w	Islamist/nationalist
	Deir ez-Zor, Syria	guns	ISIS	1 d several w	Islamist
Jan 30	Chhattisgarh, India	guns	Naxalites	3 d 14 w	Maoist
	Balochistan, Pakistan	motorcycle bomb	ISIS	4 d 6 w	Islamist
	Western Cameroon	guns	Ambazonian extremists?	1 d ? w	Ethno-nationalists
	Cabo Delgado, Mozambique	guns	ISIS	2 d several w	Islamist
Jan 31	Borno State, Nigeria	landmine	Boko Haram	12 d many w	Islamist
	Cabo Delgado, Mozambique	beheadings	ISIS	2 d 1 w	Islamist
	Stockholm, Sweden	grenade		0	Islamist?
Feb 1	Kocaeli, Turkey	hostage taking
	Balochistan, Pakistan	bombs		1 d 4 w	Islamist
Feb 3	Borno State, Nigeria	guns	ISWAP	4 d	Islamist
	Lyon, France	knife	lone actor	3 w	Islamist?
	Mudug, Somalia	guns, bombs	Al Shabaab		Islamist

Analysis

Two issues of interest arose this week. Firstly, both Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State West African Province) reminded the world that terrorism in Nigeria is alive and well despite repeated government claims that it is winning the ‘war’ on this tactic. Banditry, falsely called terrorism, may pose a greater threat these days in the West African nation, but no one should overlook the jihadis.

Secondly, terrorist attacks in Pakistan are on the increase. Carried out by a variety of Islamist and ethno-nationalist actors (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and a variety of Baloch separatists), these target democratic elections (jihadis HATE democracy) and immunisation clinics (jihadis HATE needles for some reason). Pakistan blames neighbouring Afghanistan for harbouring the TTP in particular.

Finally, the knife and hammer attack at the main train station in Lyon, France may or may not constitute terrorism at the time of writing. It is important to note, however, that the likelihood the assailant was mentally ill does not preclude possible terrorist motive: the two can co-exist.

Sources

More than six militants killed in western Pakistan in overnight gun battle: Official (alarabiya.net); Six terrorists neutralized as forces thwart Mach terror attacks (tribune.com.pk)

ISIS ambush kills one SDF fighter in Deir ez-Zor (kurdistan24.net)

2 CRPF personnel killed, 10 injured in Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur : The Tribune India; 3 killed, 14 security personnel injured in Maoist encounter in Bastar | Latest News India – Hindustan Times

IS Claims Attack On Rally Of Khan’s PTI Party That Killed 4 (rferl.org)

Landmine blast kills 12 in Borno – Vanguard News (vanguardngr.com); Landmine By Boko Haram Terrorists Kills 12 Persons In Borno State | Sahara Reporters

Cameroon: Attack blamed on separatists leave at least 1 dead in South-West region | Africanews

Mozambique: Terrorists kill members of local militia | Club of Mozambique

Mozambique: Terrorists kill two in Metuge district | Club of Mozambique

Sweden investigates foiled Israel embassy attack as ‘terrorist crime’ (thelocal.se)

Armed attacker takes hostages at P&G plant in Turkey – DW – 02/01/2024; Armed man takes hostages in Turkey protesting war in Gaza (ynetnews.com)

One killed, several injured as multiple blasts reported in Balochistan (nation.com.pk);