Breaking encryption: the Westminster effect
After the Westminster attack the new Home Secretary called for access to encrypted applications, notably What's App, as the suspect had sent a message or more immediately before the attack. A quite odd call given the legal powers the agencies now have and that the attacker's intention had not bene known, so how would access help?
David Wells, a SME on CT & Sigint, has a commentary and I cite on passage:
Quote:
What this all means is that while the UK is equipped to monitor the known knowns (even though this remains very difficult), triaging new leads is a separate issue in the context of encryption. That of course doesn’t mean that ‘backdoors’ into encrypted services are the answer. But we need to be clear on the nature of the different problems facing intelligence agencies. And most importantly, have a grown-up conversation about new terrorism realities. Must we always apportion blame beyond the attacker?
Link:https://counterterrorismmatters.word...ent/#more-1092
We will never understand why he did this: an update
The lack of a known motivation for Khalid Masood's attack may now be challenged.
First and controversially 'The Times' reported that his name and mobile phone number was affixed to leaflets @ Luton Islamic Centre; where Masood had lived five years before. See:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/k...cc8e7dd190a2fc
The Centre denied being involved and cited their public record in opposing extremism, including releasing to BBC TV a clip from Friday prayers after the attack and they have made a complaint about the story. See:http://lutonislamiccentre.com/press-release/
Today 'The Daily Mail' had a remarkably detailed story that Masood a week before the attack contacted a family relative saying:
Quote:
You will soon hear of my death, but don’t worry, be happy, because I will be in a better place, I will be in paradise. I want you to be happy for me, I don’t want you to be sad. ‘I want it to be our secret.
It adds at the end:
Quote:
So far, no letter, note or martyrdom video from Masood has emerged in which he explained his actions.
Link:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ll-family.html
We will never understand why he did this: a 2nd update
Somehow the police and friends have accessed the WhatsApp message and:
Quote:
In the message, sent just minutes before he began the rampage in which five people died and 50 were injured, the 52-year-old Muslim convert had declared that he was waging jihad in revenge against Western military action in Muslim countries in the Middle East.
Plus he had doing a recce four days beforehand.
Link:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-a7706561.html
Secret Victory: The Intelligence War that beat the IRA
Last week William Matchett, a thirty year veteran of the RUC / PSNI Special Branch spoke at a book launch @ Policy Exchange, London and in summary his argument is:
Quote:
Secret Victory shows what a successful rule of law approach looks like in an irregular war.
There is a 35 mins podcast (yet to listen to):https://policyexchange.org.uk/event/...liam-matchett/
The book 'Secret Victory: The Intelligence War that beat the IRA' was released in November 2016, in Ireland and has a plethora of five star reviews. Citing in part one review by Professor Michael Rainsborough, Head of War Studies, King’s College London:
Quote:
The author trenchantly, and effectively deconstructs the dirty war thesis, illustrating that much of the narrative is partial, factually flawed or often simply incoherent and contradictory. The systematic critique of this popular orthodoxy through evidence and argumentation, along with the more detailed illumination of the Special Branch’s evolution as a vital arm in the security effort, constitutes a highly original contribution to knowledge and understanding of the Northern Ireland conflict.
Link:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Vict...secret+victory
Link to USA Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Victor...secret+victory
Manchester (UK) concert terror attack
There's a lot of fake news and disinformation online about the Manchester explosion. We're keeping track of it here.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson...ena-fake-news#
Manchester (UK) concert terror attack
Quote:
Children were among 22 people killed in a suicide attack after an Ariana Grande concert at Britain's Manchester Arena, police said early Tuesday.
The bomber also died when he detonated an improvised explosive device at about 10:33 p.m. local time (5:33 p.m. ET) on Monday, Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins told reporters.
Authorities said 59 other people were injured.
The incident sparked a nightlong search for loved ones as frantic parents tried to locate their children, and groups of friends scattered by the explosion sought each another.
Video shot inside the 21,000-capacity venue showed teenagers screaming as they made their way out amid a sea of pink balloons. Some fans were still wearing the star's trademark kitten ears as they fled.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/am...turing-n763286
Manchester (UK) concert terror attack
Created for updates on this suicide bomber's attack @ Manchester Arena, at the end of a pop concert by an American Singer and as yet no claims of responsibility. Link to BBC News "rolling" update:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...ester-40010124
Two earlier relevant posts will be moved here, so this will slip to being the third post.
Three of the better commentaries today
Three of the better commentaries today; being a very topical subject their content is wide at times.
On information sharing, which starts:
Quote:
It’s not the first time sensitive information about an ongoing British counter-terrorism investigation has leaked out in US media but, make no mistake, the decision to stop sharing information about the Manchester attack with America is unprecedented. In July 2005, I was the Head of News at Scotland Yard and strategic communications lead for all blue light services in the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings.
Link:http://crestadvisory.com/its-good-to-share/
How many times did those around the bomber tell the authorities? Which starts with:
Quote:
he was repeatedly flagged to the authorities over his extremist views, but was not stopped by officers, it emerged Wednesday night.
Link:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/24/security-services-missed-five-opportunities-stop-manchester/?
Finally the always sane Richard Barrett, ex-MI6 & UN, takes a wider view and asks is our strategy really working; from near the end:
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Preventing future attacks will be as complex as preventing past ones. It gets no easier. But one thing is for sure. The answer is not more bombs and bullets. We have been trying that for almost 16 years with little or no improvement to show. In fact, it is indisputable that the terrorist threat is now more serious than it was before the 9/11 attacks.
Link:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017...ck-inevitable/