Police around Europe and North America seized servers and data from Islamic State propaganda outlets in a multi-country operation aimed at tracking down radicals and crimping the group’s ability to spread its violent message.
Police notably targeted the ISIS-branded Aamaq news agency, as well as al-Bayan radio, and Halumu and Nasher news sites. The sites are said to broadcast in at least nine languages and have been used to propagate and claim the role played by ISIS in major attacks across Europe and America.
The head of Europol Rob Wainwright said, “With this ground-breaking operation we have punched a big hole in the capability of ISIS to spread propaganda online and radicalize young people in Europe.”
The operation came as more than 70 countries vowed to bolster efforts to stop financing for ISIS and al-Qaida. Participants at an international conference in Paris on April 26 promised to improve international coordination and transparency of money flows.
The takedown of the servers and propaganda outlets used by ISIS is believed to play an important role in crippling the terror organization’s avenues of recruitment and spreading fear and radical ideologies.
