LYON, France – An international counter-terrorism operation in East Africa has led to the arrest of 37 suspects and the seizure of both small arms and heavy weapons. Those arrested include suspected members of ISIS, Al Shabaab and several foreign terrorist fighters.
Arrests were made across eight East African countries during a joint INTERPOL and AFRIPOL operation (November-December 2024) aimed at identifying and arresting suspects with links to terrorism and strengthening key border controls. In Kenya, police arrested 17 people including two suspected ISIS members, several foreign terrorist fighters and others involved in terrorism financing, radicalization and propaganda.
Read more…
Source: INTERPOL
Sign up for Counter-IED Report Newsletter
Related:
- Nigeria: Police detain suspect with 954 pieces of explosive materials in Zamfara
January 28, 2026
The Zamfara State Police Command has apprehended a suspect, known as Mustapha Mohammad, in connection with unlawful possession of suspected explosive materials. The State Police Command’s spokesman, DSP Yazeed Abubakar, said that the arrest was made on January 27, 2027, at about 4:15 pm by operatives of the Task Force on Illegal Mining, led by ASP ...
- Malaysia: Police foiled 26 terror plots, including IED attacks on embassies and public sites, since 2012
January 28, 2026
The Counter Terrorism Division (E8) of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Special Branch has succeeded in foiling 26 attempted terrorist and militant attacks in the country between 2012 to 2024, said Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay. Ayob Khan said among the violent attack plots successfully foiled by the E8 Division of ...
- New Mexico: Albuquerque Man Charged After FBI Finds Modified Hand Grenade in His Home
January 27, 2026
An Albuquerque man has been federally charged with unlawfully possessing an improvised explosive device following the discovery of a modified hand grenade in his home. According to court documents, on December 31, 2025, the Albuquerque Police Department responded to a residence in northwest Albuquerque after the resident, Jeff Bramlett, 46, requested medical assistance. While assisting at ...
- Montana: Pray man pleads guilty to possession of unregistered explosive devices
January 23, 2026
A Pray man has pleaded guilty to a federal charge after investigators say they found multiple homemade explosive devices inside a travel trailer in Park County, according to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme. Kadin Hawkeye Lewis, 24, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of possession of unregistered destructive devices. He faces up to 10 years in federal ...
- Greece: Two arrested over explosive device attack outside Athens nightclub in October last year
January 23, 2026
Police arrested two foreigners on Thursday over an improvised explosive device attack outside a nightclub in Athens last October that caused minor injuries and material damage, authorities said. The explosion took place on October 7 outside the Jacky O nightclub in the Ilisia area. Authorities arrested the two suspects, aged 41 and 32, during a coordinated ...
- Pennsylvania: 3 explosive devices removed from Altoona apartment
January 21, 2026
Three improvised explosive devices were removed from an Altoona apartment on Tuesday. According to the Altoona Police Department, they, along with the Altoona Fire Department, responded to a vacant apartment at the City Hall Commons, on 13th Avenue, for a report of suspicious devices. The Pennsylvania State Police Bomb Squad was then called to 13th Avenue. ...
- UK: Investigation continues following arrest in Bristol
January 21, 2026
Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) are continuing an investigation after a man was arrested in Bristol yesterday (20/1) in connection with a terrorism offence. A property in the Horfield area of the city was searched and a suspicious item was located. Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) attended the scene to assess the item, which ...
- Nigeria: Troops Dismantle Terrorist Networks in Timbuktu Triangle, Foil Vehicle-Borne IED Attacks
January 21, 2026
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have recorded significant operational gains in the ongoing military campaign across the Timbuktu Triangle, as sustained offensives continue to weaken and disrupt terrorist networks in the North East. The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, ...
- Oklahoma: Authorities safely dispose of military ordnance found in rural Wilburton
January 20, 2026
The Latimer County Sheriff’s Office said two military-grade artillery shells were detonated and disposed of on Monday. According to LCSO, deputies were contacted about two artillery shells by a resident. He said that he’s been in possession of these shells for years and was unsure if he was legally able to own them. The resident told ...
- Burkina Faso: ICITAP Counter-IED Advisors Train Burkinabe National Police in First Demolition Course
January 19, 2026
On January 19, ICITAP Counter-IED Advisors delivered Burkina Faso’s Groupe Spéciale d’Intervention de la Police Nationale (GSIPN) its first-ever explosives safety and demolition range instruction, marking a historic milestone in ICITAP’s engagement with the Burkinabe National Police. This session was part of the ICITAP-sponsored “Improvised Explosives Device Awareness & Operations” Course, held at Camp Badnogo from ...
- Ukrainian authorities investigate budget abuse in humanitarian demining program
January 19, 2026
The law enforcement investigation concerns possible misuse of budget funds during humanitarian demining of agricultural lands as part of the state expense-reimbursement program. The information was confirmed by the National Police and the Office of the Prosecutor General on January 19. According to police data, the state entity responsible for humanitarian demining signed a contract with ...
- Canberra: Belconnen man charged in relation to 15 pipe bombs found along the shore of Lake Ginninderra
January 18, 2026
A 41-year-old man has been charged over the alleged manufacturing of pipe bombs found along footpaths in Canberra’s north this week. Fifteen explosive devices were found along the shore of Lake Ginninderra in Belconnen between Joynton Smith Drive and Ginninderra Drive. Some of the devices had detonated prior to being found, while others were detonated by ...
- Nigeria: Police intercept vehicle loaded with explosives in Katsina
January 17, 2026
Operatives of the Katsina State Police Command have intercepted a vehicle conveying a large cache of explosive materials at a checkpoint in Koza, Daura Local Government Area. In a statement on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, said the interception occurred on January 7 during an intelligence-led stop-and-search operation. He explained that a ...
- UK: Chief Constable and Commissioner thank agencies involved in Exmouth and Plymouth operations
January 16, 2026
Devon and Cornwall Chief Constable James Vaughan, QPM MSt (Cantab), and Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez have thanked all the agencies involved in dealing with two Second World War unexploded device operations this week. This week two separate unexploded devices were found in Plymouth and Exmouth resulting in two simultaneous major incidents. The munitions were ...
- UK: Exmouth bomb safely removed as workers praised
January 16, 2026
The bomb dredged out of Exmouth Marina on Wednesday, January 14, has been safely removed. A 100-metre cordon was initially set up around the area, with properties in the area evacuated. This cordon was later extended to 400m. In an update on Thursday night, the cordon has been expanded to 600 metres, as a further 500 ...
- UNODC Organizes Expert Group Meeting to Standardize Procedures on Evidence Collection in Terrorism-related Incidents in Remote Border Areas in Bénin
January 13, 2026
Northern Benin faces growing security challenges as terrorist groups exploit remote border areas to carry out attacks against civilians and security forces, including incidents involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs). While military operations have strengthened security in these regions, significant gaps remain in ensuring that evidence collected during counter-terrorism interventions is admissible before national courts. Limited access ...
- U.S. DOJ: Former U.S. Navy SEAL Convicted of Transporting Explosives to Throw at Law Enforcement at California Protests
January 12, 2026
ALBUQUERQUE – After a five-day jury trial and approximately three hours of deliberation, a federal jury convicted Gregory Vandenberg, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, of intending to use explosives against law enforcement officers at the June 14, 2025, “No Kings Day” protests in California. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Thursday, June ...
- Iran says over 100 officers killed as protesters defy government crackdown
January 11, 2026
Iran’s state media say dozens of members of the security forces have been killed during protests against an economic crisis, as the parliament speaker warns the United States and Israel of retaliatory strikes if Washington attacks the country. State television said on Sunday that 30 members of the police and security forces were killed in Isfahan ...
- Ohio man charged with possessing explosives
January 10, 2026
Loud explosions in Guernsey County prompted multiple law enforcement agencies to descend upon a home just south of Cambridge this week. According to the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office, multiple agencies were called to the area of Campbell Street, in Cambridge Township outside of city limits, just before 11 p.m. Monday. Authorities were responding to reports of explosions ...
- Ukraine: $70M in Taxpayer Money Stolen by Land Mine Company
January 9, 2026
A Ukrainian company contracted to manufacture critically needed land- and anti-personnel mines for the front pocketed nearly Hr.3 billion ($69.8 million) in taxpayer money and instead sent small volumes of munitions that frequently failed to function and sometimes blew up as troops handled them, a senior Kyiv law enforcement official announced Friday. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan ...
- Oregon: St.Helens man arrested, faces charges related to Sunset Beach explosive
January 9, 2026
Police have arrested a man in connection with an explosive device discovered at a public restroom on Oregon’s North Coast last September. Oregon State Police arrested James Mason Liggett, 52, of St. Helens in Grants Pass on Sunday. Liggett was wanted on charges of attempted murder, attempted assault in the first and second degree, first degree ...
- Somalia’s fight against extremist militants shows signs of success on the streets of Mogadishu
January 8, 2026
Mogadishu’s first line of defense against the next militant attack on Somalia ’s capital ranges from machine gunners in pick-up trucks to young men in plainclothes manning checkpoints. One of the leaders is Abdikani Ali Mohamed, a teenage-faced colonel whose authority has grown in the city as Somalia’s government tries to dismantle al-Shabab networks. Mohamed’s operatives ...