Terrorists Take To Social Media To Urge Violence At The Tournament

As soccer fans across the globe tune into the 2018 World Cup, threats of impending attacks from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are dampening the usual excitement and camaraderie.  As recently reported by The Guardian, there is a heightened police and military presence surrounding the festivities.  But online, it’s a different story.  According to The Times, ISIS propaganda encouraging attacks on the tournament have been prevalent on Facebook, Instagram, Google Plus and other popular social media sites for weeks with seemingly no action from the platforms themselves to remove the content.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise.  Social media giants have struggled to combat the proliferation of extremist content on their platforms.  And despite boasts from some companies about making great strides to tackle the issue, the hateful content remains – sometimes for months or even years at a time.

The latest wave of propaganda related to the World Cup urges pro-ISIS groups to carry out attacks near stadiums and other commercial or residential areas around Russia.

One group, Muharir al-Ansar, posted a graphic on Telegram calling for attacks during the tournament and depicts a map of the stadiums used during this year’s World Cup.  Shahada published a graphic depicting an armed terrorist inside a stadium with the phrase, “It will be a slaughter not seen before in history.”  Al Taqwa created an image encouraging knife, firearms and truck attacks at the tournament.  Propaganda released by another pro-ISIS group threatens, “Russia!  We will take part in the World Championship, but with bombs and belts with explosives.”  And an image released by Abd al Faqir Media Group depicts a terrorist holding down Argentinian soccer player Lionel Messi suggesting he is about to be beheaded.

To view examples of extremist content found online, please see the background below.  To view additional examples, please contact CEP at [email protected]. 

EXTREMIST WORLD CUP CONTENT

1. June 3, 2018

Pro-ISIS online group Muharir al-Ansar calling for attacks during World Cup. Please note the background image includes stadiums used during the competition. Located on Telegram June 13.

2. June 4, 2018

Pro-ISIS propaganda by the online Russian language media group Shahada.  Located on Telegram on May 22. Rough translation: “It will be a slaughter not seen before in history.”

3. May 15,2018

Image encouraging knife, firearm and truck attacks on the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Image made by the pro-ISIS media group Al Taqwa, located on Telegram on May 15.

4. April 12, 2018

“Russia! We will take part in the World Championship, but with bombs and belts with explosives,” located on Telegram on April 12. “Just Terror” could either refer to the ISIS slogan or to a pro-ISIS online group.

5. March 12, 2018

Image located on pro-ISIS Telegram channels on March 12, 2018. The graphic was made by the pro-ISIS Abd al Faqir Media group.  The player is Lionel Messi.

BACKGROUND

ISIS Propaganda Has Been Popping Up All Over Social Media Leading Up To The Tournament. “Isis propaganda urging attacks on the World Cup in Russia has been allowed to stay online on Facebook, Instagram and Google Plus and other social media platforms for weeks in the run-up to the tournament.” (Rhys Blakely, “World Cup: Social Media Fail To Remove Isis Threats,” The Times, 6/18/18)

• “The Volume Of Terrorist Content Targeting The Tournament Underscores How Isis And Its Sympathisers Remain A Potent Force On Social Media, Despite The Downfall Of Its So-Called Physical ‘Caliphate.’” (Rhys Blakely, “World Cup: Social Media Fail To Remove Isis Threats,” The Times, 6/18/18)
• “It Also Signals How Facebook, Instagram, Google Plus And Other Platforms Are Struggling To Silence Terrorist Agitators, Despite Claiming Large Improvements In Proactive Policing Of Extremist Material.” (Rhys Blakely, “World Cup: Social Media Fail To Remove Isis Threats,” The Times, 6/18/18)

Russian Authorities Have Heightened Security For The World Cup As Pro-ISIS Groups Threaten Terror Attacks. “Security is tight in Volgograd as England arrived in the city on Sunday afternoon, ahead of their opening World Cup game against Tunisia on Monday.  There is a heightened police presence and military officers were seen scouring the area around the team hotel for improvised explosive devices.” (Martha Kelner, Shaun Walker And Andrew Roth, “England Camp On High Terror Alert Before Volgograd Opener,” The Guardian, 6/17/18)

Volgograd Is Especially At Risk. “Volgograd has been a target for terrorism as one of the largest cities near Russia’s North Caucasus region, where Russia has fought two bloody wars and an insurgency since the 1990s.  In 2013, twin suicide bombings at the Volgograd train station and on a local trolleybus killed 34.  Russia later claimed to have killed the mastermind behind the bombing in Dagestan, a republic in Russia adjacent to Chechnya which has been a hotbed for Islamist fundamentalism.” (Martha Kelner, Shaun Walker And Andrew Roth, “England Camp On High Terror Alert Before Volgograd Opener,” The Guardian, 6/17/18)