Al-Hesbah
Al-Hesbah is an Arabic message board and has been called "one of the most widely used jihadist Internet forums".[1]
In March 2006, the site was accused by rival[who?] Jihadist forum of aiding in the arrest of the well-known cyber-persona of Irhabi 007, a representative of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. This led to the site administrators shutting down the site on March 26, stating that they had discovered the identities of two members of the site who were actual security officers, Muhammad al-Zuhayri and Muhammad Tamallat.[2]
In April 2006, the site was accused of aiding the arrests of 40 mujahideen in Saudi Arabia, drawing claims that it was either "heavily monitored", or working in actual connection with, Saudi security forces.[2]
On August 4, 2006, the site again caught attention when it released a communique entitled How to Kill a Crusader in the Arabian Peninsula.[3]
On June 29, 2007, the site was found to have a warning possibly related to the failed 2007 London car bombs in London, England.[1]
With four similar sites knocked down, Al-Hesbah became the sole outlet for Al Qaeda supporters after several similar sites such as al-Ekhlaas were shutdown.[4]
The site was shut down for a single day on September 10, 2008 along with four other similar sites. Unlike the other four sites shutdown, the site reappeared on September 11, 2008 and was used to post an Al-Qaeda video marking the anniversary of September 11 attacks.[5]
References
- ^ a b Reals, Tucker (2007-06-29). "Was London Bomb Plot Heralded On Web?". CBS. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
- ^ a b Ulph, Stephen (2006-04-11). "Intelligence War Breaks out on the Jihadi Forums". The Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
- ^ "Special Dispatch Series - No. 1263". Middle East Media Research Institute. 2006-08-25. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
- ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/17/AR2008101703367.html
- ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/17/AR2008101703367.html