ISIS
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, alternatively translated as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, is a Salafi jihadist militant group that follows an Islamic fundamentalist, Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam. The group is also known as Daesh, which is an acronym derived from its Arabic name. Founder: : Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, 1999. ISIS proclaimed a worldwide caliphate in June 2014[36][37] and named Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as its caliph. As of December 2015, the group has control over vast landlocked territory in Iraq and Syria, with a population estimate ranging between 2.8 million[41] and 8 million people[42] and where it enforces its interpretation of sharia law. ISIL affiliates control small areas of Libya, Nigeria and Afghanistan and operate in other parts of the world, including North Africa and South Asia.

Sri Lanka Bombings Put Focus on Islamist Preacher Long on the Radar

4/26/19
from The Wall Street Journal,
4/26/19:

Warnings before Easter bombings and investigation of attacks spotlight founder of radical group

On April 9, Sri Lanka’s intelligence services warned the island nation’s police about Zahran Hashim, a local Muslim who preached hard-line Islamist views, saying he and his associates were planning to carry out a terrorist attack. The alert said the group was targeting churches and had already scouted locations. Then, Sunday, suicide bombers struck three Christian houses of worship and three luxury hotels, leaving more than 250 people dead. Mr. Hashim, who had gained notoriety for fiery online sermons, promoted the idea of a Muslim caliphate and questioned democracy as a form of government, two intelligence officials said.

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