Brazilian police said they thwarted a bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga’s concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro state, in co-ordination with the justice ministry, said suspects had recruited participants to carry out attacks using improvised explosives and the plan was aimed at gaining notoriety on social media. The person responsible for the plan and a teenager were arrested, the police said. Lady Gaga’s team said they learned about the bomb threat only from media reports the morning after the gig. A crowd of more than two million people gathered for the concert, which was free to attend. Police said the group that planned the attack had been spreading hate speech, mainly against children, adolescents and the LGBTQ+ community. The alleged mastermind was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, while the teenager was detained for storing child pornography in Rio. Those responsible were also promoting the radicalisation of teenagers, including self-harm and violent content “as a form of belonging and challenge among young people”.
“This is one of the most disturbing things we’re seeing,” an FBI official said. FBI officials say they are growing increasingly concerned about a loose network of violent predators who befriend teenagers through popular online platforms and then coerce them into escalating sexual and violent behavior — pushing victims to create graphic pornography, harm family pets, cut themselves with sharp objects, or even die by suicide. The online predators, part of the network known as “764,” demand victims send them photos and videos of it all, so the shocking content can be shared with fellow 764 followers or used to extort victims for more. Some of the predators even host “watch parties” for others to watch them torment victims live online, according to authorities. “We see a lot of bad things, but this is one of the most disturbing things we’re seeing,” said FBI Assistant Director David Scott, the head of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, which is now leading many of the U.S. government’s investigations tied to 764. The FBI has more than 250 such investigations currently underway, with every single one of its 55 field offices across the country handling a 764-related case, Scott told ABC News in an exclusive interview. He said the FBI has seen some victims as young as nine, and federal authorities have indicated there could be thousands of victims around the world. ‘Nihilistic violent extremists’ “[It’s] very scary and frightening,” the Connecticut mother of a teen girl caught up in 764 told ABC News.
Telegram hat sich in den vergangenen Jahren zur zentralen Kommunikationsplattform für rechtsextreme Gruppen entwickelt. Experten konnten mehr als 650 Deutsche in den “Terrorgram”-Gruppen finden. Waffenbau- und Sprengstoffanleitungen. Ein Handbuch zur Giftherstellung. Grafiken, in denen jüdischen oder schwarzen Menschen mit Gewalt gedroht wird. Diese Inhalte werden in Telegram-Gruppen geteilt, die zu einem internationalen rechten Netzwerk gehören – auch Deutsche sind dort aktiv. Ein Nutzer aus Sachsen teilt ein Foto von Bettwäsche mit einem SS-Symbol, prahlt damit, zu Hause eine Hakenkreuz-Flagge aufgehängt zu haben, und schreibt im Chat, es gebe “nicht genug ‘Nazis’ in Deutschland”.Solche Chat-Gruppen gehören laut Experten zum sogenannten Terrorgram-Netzwerk. Ein Wortspiel aus Telegram und Terrorismus. Die Mitglieder gelten als gewaltorientiert und rechtsextrem.Hans-Jakob Schindler vom International Centre for Counter-Terrorism stuft diese Gruppen als äußerst gefährlich ein: “Erstens geht von dem Netzwerk eine Gefahr aus, weil hier eine Vernetzung von gewaltorientierten Personen stattfindet. Es wird dann irgendwann auch für die Sicherheitsbehörden schwierig, alle gleichzeitig zu bewachen. Und zweitens werden in diesen Kanälen von Bombenanschlägen bis Messerattacken jegliche Anschlagsszenarien durchgespielt.” Auch in Chats mit deutschen Mitgliedern tauschen sich Nutzer über solche Szenarien aus. Ein Mitglied schreibt auf Englisch: “Töte keine Menschen für eine einmalige Aktion, warte auf Tag X (…).” Ein deutscher Nutzer antwortet auf diesen Vorschlag: “Tag X steht kurz bevor und wird auch in Deutschland passieren. Es gibt keine andere Option.” Mit “Tag X” ist der Tag gemeint, an dem die demokratische Ordnung kollabieren soll. Ein Systemzusammenbruch ist eines der Ziele solcher rechtsextremen und rechtsterroristischen Gruppen.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz had a rough Thursday. While he made it in that job longer than Mike Flynn, he’s out after just over 100 days. Unfortunately for him, Reuters press photographer Evelyn Hockstein caught him using a Signal-like interface to view chats on his phone under the Cabinet table at a public meeting. Much like the earlier SignalGate chats, key Trump officials like Vice President JD Vance and Tulsi Gabbard show up in the messages on that sole photo. Signal users regularly get messages reminding them to enter their PIN number, a kind of secondary lock on the account data. This phrase “TM SGNL” was oddly different than normal on Waltz’s phone, which quickly led people to a software vendor called TeleMessage that is based in Israel, first reported in detail by 404Media. TeleMessage is owned by Portland, Oregon-based Smarsh, which provides communication compliance, recordkeeping, legal, and other software according to its website. Smarsh started to acquire TeleMessage in 2022 to “deliver unmatched capability for mobile communications compliance for the hybrid workforce.” Official developer docs show that TeleMessage’s “tech stack” has included a user management function implemented on the server side to connect directly with a WordPress site, a few eagle-eyed people pointed out online. Additionally, Unicorn Riot found that at least one access pattern must have been implemented through the WordPress Gravity Forms plugin, which is a very unusual design choice for a set of company programs with such sensitive devices to track. (Details on that below.) (…) TeleMessage says it can “CAPTURE, ARCHIVE AND MONITOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION: SMS, MMS, Voice Calls, WhatsApp, WeChat, Telegram & Signal,” as well as network carrier capture, voice calls, and Signal capture: “Record and capture Signal calls, texts, multimedia and files on corporate-issued and employee BYOD [bring your own device] phones.” Tom Padgett from Smarsh told the Times that no information they collect would be sent in any fashion that “could potentially violate our data residency commitments to our customers,” adding, “We do not de-encrypt.” Interestingly, the service also has some other ways to capture data at the network carrier level as well. Its features would clone the Signal traffic and archive it:
Authorities say Damien Allen had 18 guns, 300 pounds of ammo, and police uniforms — and was in contact with a teen who carried out a deadly school shooting. A possible mass shooting in Palm Beach County may have been stopped just in time. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw says 22-year-old Damien Allen, of Loxahatchee, was arrested Sunday after investigators found an arsenal of weapons, disturbing online messages, and a closet full of law enforcement uniforms. “The investigators that worked this case — there’s no doubt in my mind they have stopped a mass shooting that was going to happen,” Sheriff Bradshaw told WPBF 25 News. “This guy was ready to go, had all the equipment, had the propensity to do it. It’s just a matter of what day was going to set him off to go do it.” Inside Allen’s home, deputies say they found 18 firearms, including what appeared to be automatic weapons, more than 300 pounds of ammunition, and full PBSO deputy uniforms. Also recovered: a taser, a two-way radio, and a fake body camera made with a 3D printer. The arrest report says Allen posted videos to Discord, TikTok, and Instagram while wearing a PBSO uniform — falsely claiming to be a deputy. Detectives say he was also communicating with Natalie Rupnow, the 15-year-old who shot and killed two people at a Wisconsin school last year before taking her own life. In those exchanges, Allen reportedly described his “loadout,” shared tactical plans, and said he was targeting seven locations — including a church and a police department.
siehe auch: Loxahatchee man linked to WI school shooter accused of 7 mass shooting threats. Damien Blade Allen, 20, was arrested after messages from the teenager behind a December 17 school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, were linked to him. He is accused of making mass shooting threats against seven locations. (PBSO) … TOPICS: LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Loxahatchee man is behind bars after the discovery of romantic and racist messages between him and the teen behind a mass shooting late last year at a Wisconsin school. A Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) affidavit alleges Damien Blade Allen made clear in TikTok chats that he had identified seven potential locations and made threats to commit mass shootings at them. “There is no doubt in my mind that they have stopped a mass shooting that was going to happen,” Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said about the investigators working the case. “This guy was ready to go, had all the equipment, had the propensity to do it. It’s just a matter of what day was going to set him off to go do it.” The PBSO report also notes that Allen, 22, had multiple weapons that could be used in such shootings. The affidavit points out that while investigators believe he clearly violated the law, they also believe he was serious in his threats to commit such atrocities.
Ukrainische Geheimdienste berichten von einer perfiden Kriegstaktik des Kreml. Die Opfer wissen bis zu ihrem Tod nicht, was sie eigentlich tun. Immer wieder kam es in den vergangenen Monaten zu mysteriösen Selbstmordattentaten in der Ukraine. Dahinter steckt offenbar eine Taktik des russischen Militärgeheimdienstes GRU – in der Kinder eine zentrale Rolle spielen. Der Geheimdienst wirbt gezielt Ukrainer am Rande der Gesellschaft an und wirbt mit leicht verdientem Geld, wie das “New Lines Magazine” berichtet. Unter russischer Aufsicht müssen die Angeworbenen demnach eine Bombe bauen und werden für einen Botengang zu ukrainischen Rekrutierungszentren oder Militäreinrichtungen geschickt. Kommen sie dort an, zünden russische Agenten die Bombe aus der Ferne – ohne dass die Boten eingeweiht wurden. Russland wirbt gezielt Kinder für Selbstmordattentate an In jüngerer Vergangenheit ist Russland offenbar auch dazu übergegangen, speziell Kinder für diese Todesmissionen zu gewinnen. Der Erstkontakt erfolgt meist über Telegram, eine russische Messenger-App, die auch in der Ukraine weit verbreitet ist. Liubov Tsybulska, eine ukrainische Expertin für russische hybride Kriegsführung, sagte “New Lines”: “Fast alle Kinder in der Ukraine nutzen Telegram.” Sie erklärte, es habe bereits Hunderte solcher Vorfälle gegeben, nur ein Bruchteil davon tauche letztlich in den Nachrichten auf. In ein Fünftel der Anschläge sollen Kinder verwickelt sein. Es sei “eine unglaublich finstere und heimtückische Taktik, aber leider sehr effektiv”. Mehrere Vorfälle mit ukrainischen Kindern Ein Vorfall hatte sich im März im westukrainischen Iwano-Frankiwsk ereignet. Ein 15- und ein 17-Jähriger hatten mit einem russischen Betreuer eine Bombe gebaut, nachdem sie mit der Aussicht auf “leichtes Geld” gelockt worden waren. Im Anschluss wurden sie laut “New Lines” in die Nähe eines Bahnhofs geschickt. Der Sprengsatz explodierte dann mittels GPS-Ortung und Fernzündung. Der 17-Jährige starb sofort, der 15-Jährige kam mit schweren Verletzungen in ein Krankenhaus.
Knoxville News Sentinel Show Caption Federal prosecutors charged a Tullahoma man suspected of starting the fire that destroyed part of the historic Highlander Center six years ago. An FBI agent says in court documents Regan Prater extensively participated in neo-Nazi online group chats and shared a symbol that was found spraypainted at the fire scene. Some of these connections led to his arrest after a tipster alerted authorities. Prosecutors say Prater, who was imprisoned for starting a separate fire in Tennessee, started the blaze that burned the center’s administrative building on March 29, 2019. The Highlander Center has a long history of training civil rights activists at its two locations, and hosted visits by Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. The tipster described details Prater shared in a chat, and investigators said those details were not made public.
