By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

KIEV, Ukraine – After a lull in fighting and what finally appeared to be legitimate honoring of the Minsk truce over the past month, fighting has resumed around Donetsk airport. Ukrainian troops claim to have recaptured most of the territory they lost to rebels in the airport.

 

A passenger bus was attacked, allegedly by pro-Russian rebels, which resulted in the deaths of 13 civilians. Several thousand have gathered in Kiev for a peace march in response to the attack on civilians, prompting Ukrainian President Poroshenko to restate that “We will not give away one scrap of Ukrainian land… a very important aspect of our victory is our unity.” Further, two brothers, aged 7 and 16, were killed when a shell struck their home near Donetsk. The brothers’ 8-year-old sister was also injured in the attack that also allegedly came from pro-Russian rebels.

Pro-Russian rebel leader Zakharchenko blamed Kiev for the shelling death of the two brothers, claiming Kiev is “trying to unleash war again.” Those living in rebel-held territory report that shelling has been increasing, especially over the past 24 hours. Pro-Russians and Russia have both denied any Russian influence, either via direct troop involvement or funding weapons, but Kiev claims more proof of Russian involvement. Kiev claims that there has been increased Russian action just across the border and even funneling across into Eastern Ukraine, including moving and stocking of: “TOS-1 flamethrowers, C300 missile systems, and Smerch and Hurricane rocket launchers.”

An elderly man in Lugansk is also blamed for an attack on Ukrainian soldiers at a checkpoint. The man approached and handed soldiers a pot of honey while thanking the soldiers for their service. Later the soldiers tried to taste the honey and an explosive within the jar exploded, killing one and seriously wounding three others. All-in-all there have been over 4,800 people killed by fighting in Ukraine since last April.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Ukrainian troops retake most of Donetsk airport from rebels – 18 January 2015

Al Jazeera – Battle over Ukrainian airport intensifies – 18 January 2015

ABC (Australia) – Ukraine crisis: Booby-trapped honey jar explodes, killing Ukrainian soldier as fighting continues – 17 January 2015

ABC (US) – Ukraine Peace Talks Fall Apart Amid Renewed Fighting – 16 January 2015

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

PARIS, France – Following the recent deadly attacks that began with the shooting on Charlie Hebdo, France is actively responding. France is upping participation in the U.S.-led coalition strikes against ISIS, as well as cracking down on hate speech and anti-Semitism within its own borders.

A massive rally in Paris involving over 3 million people and many world leaders followed the deadly rampage on Charlie Hebdo. The rally was a peaceful show of solidarity and support for the magazine, as well as a proverbial and literal stand against terrorism. The rally was not limited to Paris, although the city was the scene of the largest rally.

Charlie Hebdo chose to rebound from the attack by not only publishing the mocking edition with Mohammed on the cover, but also publishing over 3 million copies with possibly more to come. World leaders, like German Chancellor Angela Merkel, were outwardly in support of promoting democratic values like free speech and promoting publication. Writers and artists around the world followed up the attacks, many that same day, with pictures mocking the terrorists and with a common theme of either resiliency or showing the absurdity of the attack on Charlie Hebdo.

France has since increased arrests on hate speech, anti-Semitism, and glorifying terrorism; at least 54 have already been arrested on these charges in the last week. 10,000 troops and 120,000 security forces have also been deployed around the country to protect Jewish schools, synagogues, mosques, and travel hubs. France is also sending an aircraft carrier to the Middle East to aid the U.S.-led coalition in fighting the Islamic State.

Two new events unfolded today following the release of the newspaper. First, a wave of cyber attacks has hit France with over 19,000 websites claiming to have been affected. In recent days, some of these same sites had reported being hacked by well-known Islamic hacker groups. Second, two suspects were killed in a gunfight with police in Verviers, Belgium. The two were being investigated as suspects of an operational cell with ties to Syria, and it is believed the group was about to commit terrorist attacks in Belgium.

For more information, please see:

ABC – Two Dead as Police Raid Terror Suspects in Belgium – 15 January 2015

CBS – France hit by unprecedented wave of cyber attacks – 15 January 2015

Huffington Post – France Arrests 54 For Defending Terror; Announces Crackdown – 14 January 2015

Huffington Post – Charlie Hebdo Cover Features Muhammad Holding ‘Je Suis Charlie’ Sign – 12 January 2015

The New York Times – Charlie Hebdo’s New Issue Features Muhammad on Cover – 12 January 2015

Los Angeles Times – 3 million across France march in solidarity against terrorism – 11 January 2015

By Kyle Herda
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

PARIS, France – Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical newspaper known for publishing the Prophet Mohammed twice over the past few years and causing an international stir, was attacked today by multiple gunmen armed with AK-47’s and possibly a rocket launcher. The gunmen, still on the run, stormed the building and began firing indiscriminately into the crowd for several minutes before an ensuing shootout with police outside. The gunmen eventually escaped into a rental car.

The attack came shortly after the newspaper released a tweet mocking Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. A few mocking releases by the paper in the past of the Prophet Mohammed have caused violent reactions. Following a 2011 “Shariah Hebdo” edition, a firebomb badly damaged the office after the paper claimed the Prophet Mohammed guest edited an edition to salute the victory of an Islamist party in Tunisian elections. In 2012, the magazine showed the Prophet Muhammed and forced French embassies and schools closed. Stephane Charbonnier, chief editor since 2009, has been on an al Qaeda hit list.

The paper, which has depicted many different religions and political figures in dissatisfactory manners, has been targeted by al Qaeda and affiliates in the past. This time has been the most severe, prompting French President Francois Hollande to visit the scene and report this is “undoubtedly a terrorist attack,” and that “several terrorist attacks were thwarted in recent weeks.” German Chancellor Angela Merkel also condemned the shooting as an “attack on freedom of speech and the press, core elements of our free democratic culture.” The United States, whom France was the first to join in striking IS targets in Iraq and Syria last year, also pledged assistance and condemned the attack.

France joins a few other nations in having suffered this type of lone-wolf attack. In May, a lone gunman shot four dead at a Jewish Museum in Brussels, Belgium. In October, Canada had a gunman storm Parliament after shooting dead a soldier at a monument across the street. In December, a lone gunman and two hostages were killed in Sydney, Australia after a long hostage crisis. All of these attacks have been linked to ISIS, although today’s attack has not yet been formally linked to any particular group.

For more information, please see:

NBC – Paris Terror Attack: What You Need to Know about Charlie Hebdo – 7 January 2015

France 24 – Live: Deadly shooting at Paris HQ of French satirical magazine – 7 January 2015

The Jerusalem Post – Merkel says shooting in France attack on core democratic freedoms – 7 January 2015

The New York Times – Terror Attack on Charlie Hebdo Newspaper in Paris Kills 12 – 7 January 2015

Mediaite – Charlie Hebdo’s Last Tweet Spoofed ISIS Leader Al-Baghdadi – 7 January 2015

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Over the past twelve months there have been 14 attacks on mosques in Sweden, with three arsons alone in the past week. With no suspects and praise online, it appears that these recent attacks fall in line with a rising “Islamophobia” sentiment in Sweden.

In addition to the recent arsons, there have also been several accounts of vandalism with racist remarks and symbols attached to mosques and even cars of Muslims. Muslim women claim that they are harassed on the streets on The Swedish Democratic Party, a popular nationalist political party, has also increasingly been adding fuel to the anti-immigrant movement. Sweden Democrats have pushed for a 90% reduction in asylum seekers allowed into Sweden due to the fact that roughly 16% of Sweden’s population is foreign-born, many from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. Sweden accepts more asylum seekers per capita than any other nation in Europe, and expects over 100,000 asylum applications this year; Sweden Democrats aim to change that.

While Sweden Democrats aim to make change through political means, others have taken matters into their own hands. On Thursday, a mosque in Uppsala was attacked with a petrol bomb, although the building did not catch fire. Not long before, however, arson at a mosque in Eskilstuna injured five people. Social media praise claims that these attacks intend to intimidate and scare away Muslims. Some of the anti-Muslim sentiment comes from the fact that Sweden has one of the highest rates of ISIS recruits in Europe and reports of sleeper cells within Sweden.

In response to the rising Islamophobia, Muslims have staged a rally in Stockholm to raise support for Muslims across the nation. Further, the rally aims to solidify the validity of a Muslim political acceptance in Sweden, essentially affirming the high asylum rate and combatting Sweden Democrats’ proposed changes.

For more information, please see:

NDTV – In Sweden, the Land of the Open Door, Anti-Muslim Fervor Finds a Foothold – 3 January 2015

The Sydney Morning Herald – Sweden hit by third mosque arson attack – 2 January 2015

Vox – Thousands of people in Sweden show the right way to respond to Islamophobia – 2 January 2015

BBC – Sweden protest after three mosque fires in one week – 2 January 2015

The Local – Sweden’s Islamophobia is getting stronger – 2 January 2015