The Islamic State (and Al Qaeda) have long called for vehicular attacks on Western infidels.
On November 19, three French Islamic State fighters repeated the call for attacks in France on video. One of them stated:
“Terrorize them and do not allow them to sleep due to fear and horror. There are weapons and cars available and targets ready to be hit. Even poison is available, so poison the water and food of at least one of the enemies of Allah. Kill them and spit in their faces and run over them with your cars. Do whatever you are able to do in order to humiliate them, for they deserve only this.”
Broader calls to terrorize Western nations overall were delivered by Islamic State spokeman, Abu Muhammad al Adnani, who delivered a speech in 2014. It demonstrates the bloodthirsty hatred of Islamic jihadists in their war against the West.
“Mujahideen in Europe, Australia, and Canada…O mujahideen in Morocco and Algeria…O mujahideen in Khorasan, the Caucasus, and Iran…O mujahideen, we call you up to defend the Islamic State….So rise O mujahid. Rise and defend your state from your place wherever you may be….You must strike the soldiers, patrons, and troops of the tawāghīt. Strike their police, security, and intelligence members, as well as their treacherous agents. Destroy their beds. Embitter their lives for them and busy them with themselves. If you can kill a disbelieving American or European – especially the spiteful and filthy French – or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever from the disbelievers waging war, including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State, then rely upon Allah, and kill him in any manner or way however it may be. Do not ask for anyone’s advice and do not seek anyone’s verdict. Kill the disbeliever whether he is civilian or military, for they have the same ruling. Both of them are disbelievers. Both of them are considered to be waging war [the civilian by belonging to a state waging war against the Muslims].”
The Islamic State has reportedly been preparing for the collapse of the caliphate and is focusing more efforts on jihad abroad.
“ISIS and Al Qaeda have specifically called for the type of attack that just happened in France,” Business Insider, July 14, 2016:
It’s not clear yet who is responsible for the truck attack that killed dozens at a Bastille Day celebration in Nice, France. But terrorist groups have long been calling for supporters to attack “infidels” with cars.
At least 80 people were killed in the southern French city of Nice when a truck ran into a crowd celebrating the country’s national holiday on Thursday night.
The earliest information from the attack does point to terrorist involvement. US President Barack Obama said that it appears to be a “horrific terrorist attack.”
The truck was reportedly loaded with firearms and grenades, and US officials told The Daily Beast that the terrorist group ISIS — aka the Islamic State, ISIL, or Daesh — is a top suspect in the attacks.
ISIS and Al Qaeda have publicly called for supporters to use vehicles as weapons.
The Institute for the Study of War noted in a 2014 report that ISIS spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani instructed supporters in a speech in September of that year.
He said:
“If you are not able to find an IED or a bullet, then single out the disbelieving American, Frenchman, or any of their allies. Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison him.”
And a 2014 ISIS video aimed at French-speaking recruits encouraged supporters to attack people in France with cars and other easily accessible weapons.
“If you are unable to come to Syria or Iraq, then pledge allegiance in your place — pledge allegiance in France,” a French ISIS member says in the video. “Operate within France.”
The man then goes on to mention cars specifically: “There are weapons and cars available and targets ready to be hit. … Kill them and spit in their faces and run over them with your cars.”
Al Qaeda has also put out global calls to attack Westerners with cars.
In the second issue of its English-language magazine Inspire, the terrorist group referred to pickup trucks as “the ultimate mowing machine.”
“The idea is to use a pickup truck as a mowing machine, not to mow grass but mow down the enemies of Allah,” the magazine article states.
Pro-ISIS accounts on the messaging app Telegram, which the terrorist group uses as a platform to disseminate its message, have been celebrating the Nice attack. But the group has yet to make any claim of responsibility.
ISIS, in particular, has increasingly been relying on external attacks as it has been losing territory in the Middle East, where its self-declared “caliphate” lies…..