David Ibsen, who is executive ­director of the Counter Extremism ­Project, a New York think tank which combats online extremism, warned that the battle against jihadi groups would increasingly be fought on the ­internet. He told The Sunday Telegraph: "Online channels are key to jihadi ­movements. The growth of Isil was ­accompanied by directing attacks through modern communications channels, or inspiring attacks by ­modern communications channels." He said extremist groups used ­programs like Wordpress to build sites to publicise their cause and ­achievements, while using encrypted communications channels like ­Telegram either to plan attacks, or to coordinate publicity for attacks after the fact.