Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

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Activities: Abbas’s group was responsible for the 1985 attack on the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro and the murder of U.S. citizen Leon Klinghoffer. The PLF was suspected of supporting terrorism against Israel by other Palestinian groups into the 1990s. In April 2004, Abu Abbas died of natural causes while in U.S. custody in Iraq. The PLF took part in the 2006 Palestinian parliamentarian elections but did not win a seat. In 2008, as part of a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hizballah, Samir Kantar, a PLF member, and purportedly the longest serving Arab prisoner in Israeli custody, was released from an Israeli prison. After going approximately 16 years without claiming responsibility for an attack, PLF claimed responsibility for two attacks against Israeli targets on March 14, 2008. One attack was against an Israeli military bus in Huwarah, Israel, and the other involved a PLF “brigade” firing at an Israeli settler south of the Hebron Mountain, seriously wounding him. On March 28, 2008, shortly after the attacks, a PLF Central Committee member reaffirmed PLF’s commitment to using “all possible means to restore” its previous glory and to adhering to its role in the Palestinian “struggle” and “resistance,” through its military. There were no known PLF attacks in 2012. Strength: Estimates have placed membership between 50 and 500. Location/Area of Operation: PLF leadership and membership are based in Lebanon and the West Bank and Gaza. Funding and External Aid: Unknown POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE aka PFLP; Halhul Gang; Halhul Squad; Palestinian Popular Resistance Forces; PPRF; Red Eagle Gang; Red Eagle Group; Red Eagles; Martyr Abu-Ali Mustafa Battalion Description: Designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on October 8, 1997, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a Marxist-Leninist group founded by George Habash, broke away from the Arab Nationalist Movement in 1967. The group earned a reputation for spectacular international attacks in the 1960s and 1970s, including airline hijackings that killed at least 20 U.S. citizens. A leading faction within the PLO, the PFLP has long accepted the concept of a two-state solution but has opposed specific provisions of various peace initiatives. Activities: The PFLP stepped up its operational activity during the Second Intifada. This was highlighted by at least two suicide bombings since 2003, multiple joint operations with other Palestinian terrorist groups, and the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze’evi in 2001, to avenge Israel’s killing of the PFLP Secretary General earlier that year. The PFLP was involved in several rocket attacks, launched primarily from Gaza, against Israel in 2008 and 2009, and claimed responsibility for numerous attacks on Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza, including a December 2009 ambush of Israeli soldiers in central Gaza. The PLFP claimed numerous mortar and rocket attacks fired from Gaza into Israel in 2010, as well as an attack on a group of Israeli citizens. In 2011, the group continued to use rockets and mortars to target communities in Israel, including rocket attacks in August and October in Eshkolot and Ashqelon, 276
espectively, which caused no injuries or damage. In October 2011, the PFLP claimed responsibility for a rocket attack that killed one civilian in Ashqelon. In August 2012, the Israeli Shin Bet security agency arrested a cell of PFLP militants on suspicion of engaging in terrorist activities. The group of militants, three of whom were previously imprisoned, was accused of plotting to carry out shooting attacks on IDF checkpoints in the West Bank, and planning to kidnap an Israeli IDF soldier. In December, Israeli authorities arrested 10 more members of the PFLP and charged them with attempted kidnapping. The suspects were allegedly planning to kidnap an Israeli soldier to use as leverage in a prisoner swap for PFLP head Ahmad Sadaat, who is incarcerated by the Israelis for his role in a number of terrorist attacks. Strength: Unknown Location/Area of Operation: Syria, Lebanon, Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Funding and External Aid: Leadership received safe haven in Syria. POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE-GENERAL COMMAND aka PFLP-GC Description: The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on October 8, 1997. The PFLP-GC split from the PFLP in 1968, claiming it wanted to focus more on resistance and less on politics. Originally, the group was violently opposed to the Arafat-led Palestinian Liberation Organization. Ahmad Jibril, a former captain in the Syrian Army, has led the PFLP-GC since its founding. The PFLP- GC is closely tied to both Syria and Iran. Activities: The PFLP-GC carried out dozens of attacks in Europe and the Middle East during the 1970s and 1980s. The organization was known for cross-border terrorist attacks into Israel using unusual means, such as hot-air balloons and motorized hang gliders. The group’s primary recent focus was supporting Hizballah’s attacks against Israel, training members of other Palestinian terrorist groups, and smuggling weapons. The PFLP-GC maintained an armed presence in several Palestinian refugee camps and at its own military bases in Lebanon and along the Lebanon-Syria border. In recent years, the PFLP-GC was implicated by Lebanese security officials in several rocket attacks against Israel. In May 2008, the PFLP-GC claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on a shopping center in Ashqelon that wounded at least 10 people. In 2009, the group was responsible for wounding two civilians in an armed attack in Nahariyya, Northern District, Israel. In 2011, the PFLP-GC targeted Israeli communities in a March 20 rocket attack by its Jihad Jibril Brigades in the city of Eshkolot, Southern District, Israel. The attack caused no injuries or damage. In November 2012, PFLP-GC claimed responsibility for a bus bombing in Tel Aviv that injured 29 people, although four Palestine Islamic Jihad and Hamas operatives were later arrested for being behind the attack. 277
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Country Re
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Chapter 5. Terrorist Safe Havens (U
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Chapter 1. Strategic Assessment The
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While terrorism from non-state acto
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training courses in Algeria and Mor
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Countering Radicalization and Viole
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Legislation, Law Enforcement, and B
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emained an active security threat t
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youth in positive activities. In ad
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Countering Terrorist Finance: Kenya
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(CEMOC), based in Tamanrasset, Alge
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On September 24, Arab Maghreb Union
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widespread destruction of property
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While Nigeria regularly froze the a
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DRC to encourage the FDLR and other
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On April 4, a bombing of the nation
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etween some South Africa government
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Emrah Erdogan, in Dar es Salaam sug
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(DRC); and one defunct Ugandan rebe
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enforcement officers attended U.S.-
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February, the Supreme Court rejecte
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1980s. Despite two rounds of DPRK-J
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cooperated closely with the interna
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curfews and limits on their travel
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Republic Act No. 10167, which amend
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and was awaiting extradition to Tha
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countries signed or ratified agreem
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the confiscation of assault rifles,
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On June 25, six members of the so-c
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possession of weapons. They were se
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agreements; and lacked the legal an
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Prevention constitutes a key elemen
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powers to security services for the
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attempted murder of a U.S. consul i
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2012 Terrorist Incidents: The year
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of South America against Money Laun
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DHS/ICE provided training to Hellen
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On January 24, an individual was se
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On March 27, Venice prosecutors ord
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In December, the Supreme Court of K
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United States admissible, which was
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Federal Bureau of Investigation (FB
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For further information on money la
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According to the Prosecutor's Offic
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Additional information on arrests o
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Swedish citizen Paul Mardirossian,
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On May 25, a policeman was killed a
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Regional and International Cooperat
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separate addresses in Luton under t
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nascent security institutions, allo
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On March 3, a vehicle-borne IED was
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effects of fanaticism, and ways to
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equired actions. There are no speci
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cooperation between investigators,
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On November 21, a bomb exploded in
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states with counterterrorism effort
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The PASF detained terrorists in the
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The State Security Court (SSC) is J
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Countering Terrorist Finance: Kuwai
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On October 3, an explosion at a Hiz
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Overview: In 2012, Libya was marked
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intensify cooperation with their ne
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In December, authorities dismantled
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territorial waters. In addition, th
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Saudi security forces in Jizan prov
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Overview: Tunisian security forces
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the presidential amnesty granted af
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Tunisia. Tunisian authorities inten
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In March, ICE and CBP provided BCS
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comprehensive and does not include
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There were a number of arrests of t
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AFGHANISTAN Overview: Though the pr
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established by President Karzai in
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In December, the Indian government
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government infrastructure or armed
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KYRGYZSTAN Overview: 2012 was a yea
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Countering Terrorist Finance: Maldi
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Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), which cont
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Pakistan did not conclude the trial
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organizational remnants have contin
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Annual Report to Congress on Intern
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that address terrorism, including t
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took place in Switzerland. Argentin
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Overview: Canada is an indispensabl
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Canada has a rigorous detection and
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On April 27, in a complex attack in
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expert to Peru to provide instructi
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Executive Decree 448 of December 28
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Department. Estimates of membership
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Peruvian population in border areas
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ut instead choose to rejoin SL upon
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Chapter 3. State Sponsors of Terror
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of millions of dollars in support o
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In June 2010, four Sudanese men sen
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Chapter 4. The Global Challenge of
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provided equipment and training to
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Chapter 5 Terrorist Safe Havens (Up
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Iraq. In 2012, the Government of Ir
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Yemen’s political instability mak
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existing designations. The Departme
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MULTILATERAL EFFORTS TO COUNTER TER
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information on remaining listings h
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system against money laundering and
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possible AU-originated designations
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in Africa, the Middle East, and Sou
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SUPPORT TO PAKISTAN The United Stat
Page 225 and 226: Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, De
Page 227 and 228: participate in future elections (ex
Page 229 and 230: Radio Sawa also broadcast on medium
Page 231 and 232: observations, suggestions, and ques
Page 233 and 234: pages with RFA news content. RFA al
Page 235 and 236: Religion Magazine programs have bee
Page 237 and 238: and training model to improve stude
Page 239 and 240: Morocco. USAID’s Improving Traini
Page 241 and 242: tool to more than 433 teachers thro
Page 243 and 244: programs. As an integral part of im
Page 245 and 246: Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Banglades
Page 247 and 248: Funding and External Aid: The ANO
Page 249 and 250: Kurdistan. On May 4, 2010, Abu Abdu
Page 251 and 252: Activities: In March 1995, AUM memb
Page 253 and 254: warfare. Jose Maria Sison, the Chai
Page 255 and 256: cease-fire, along with post-Septemb
Page 257 and 258: Embassy and ISAF headquarters in Ka
Page 259 and 260: HARAKAT UL-MUJAHIDEEN aka HUM; Hara
Page 261 and 262: eplaced his cousin, Imad Mugniyeh,
Page 263 and 264: Activities: The IJU primarily opera
Page 265 and 266: Funding and External Aid: To avoid
Page 267 and 268: JUNDALLAH aka People’s Resistance
Page 269 and 270: Strength: Membership is estimated a
Page 271 and 272: In 2011, LeT was responsible for mu
Page 273 and 274: Funding and External Aid: The LTTE
Page 275: Location/Area of Operation: Mostly
Page 279 and 280: Al-Zawahiri claimed responsibility
Page 281 and 282: Funding and External Aid: AQAP’s
Page 283 and 284: Activities: Since 2007, when AQIM b
Page 285 and 286: Over the years, the FARC has perpet
Page 287 and 288: a small arms attack on a Turkish po
Page 289 and 290: There were frequent reports of al-S
Page 291 and 292: Throughout 2011, TTP carried out at
Page 293 and 294: (B) the extent to which the governm
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Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

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