Summary: The Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at West Point published its “Sentinel” magazine for February 2025. This latest issue analyzes the Islamic State’s online propaganda ecosystem, as well as how the Los Angeles Police Department is preparing to secure upcoming international events in its city.
Analyst Note: The issue’s featured article examines 93 unofficial Islamic State groups and outlets operating across social media platforms and messaging applications to understand how the Islamic State’s digital ecosystem is promoting teenage radicalization and mobilization to violence. The author writes that an “ecosystem of unofficial Islamic State groups and their supporters are continuing to flaunt their ability to use social media platforms for recruitment and propaganda” with youngsters “interacting with and producing Islamic State content in new shapes and forms.” This growing phenomenon was highlighted in a recent report from the Five-Eyes intelligence partner network.
The issue’s interview is with Deputy Chief David Kowalski, the commanding officer of the Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau at the Los Angeles Police Department. His department is increasingly focused on keeping the upcoming Olympics in the city safe. He says: “We’ve been preparing for the 2028 Olympics for the past seven years. Each year, our preparation and development becomes more advanced. We work closely with all the agencies throughout the city… and it’s a whole regional approach to making sure these games are successful.” The attacks against critical infrastructure in France during the 2024 Olympics underscores the heightened threat to these international events.
Original Source: https://ctc.westpoint.edu/february-2025/
Additional Reading:
Related WaterISAC PIRs: 2 & 4
