Terror group Al-Qaeda has issued a call for copycat attacks against American and Israeli civilians and aircraft, openly and directly referencing the recent attempted attack on a Fly Dubai flight. The alarming propaganda call, published in a bulletin associated with supporters of the terror network and accompanied by graphic images of past attacks, underscores extremist elements’ attempts to exploit current aviation and security tensions to spark a new wave of terror against civilian and Western targets worldwide.
In a detailed incitement article recently published and distributed across social media and various messaging platforms, al-Qaeda operatives wove together memories of the September 11 attacks alongside blatant praise for the actions of the co-pilot involved in the Fly Dubai flight incident.
The article contains explicit threats stating that “the war is not over—planes carrying Zionists, Americans and all other infidels fighting against Islam are still flying in the skies and can be struck, as happened on September 11 and September 30.” Terror experts and intelligence officials noted that the distribution style, use of symbols and these messages indicate a deliberate effort by remnants of the infrastructure to recruit supporters for independent operations and encourage “lone wolf” attacks.
Regarding the terror flight, international authorities’ investigation is now focused on examining digital materials and social media accounts of those involved, after it emerged that content of an extremist nature was linked to the activity of the suspected crew member. Following the open incitement, security systems in the United States, Israel and regional countries are raising alert levels and maintaining close monitoring of potential threats to international civilian aviation routes.