IS claims deadly attack on Shiite mosque in Kabul

Beirut - Emirates Voice

The Islamic State group said it carried out a gun and bomb attack on a Shiite mosque in Kabul on Friday that killed at least 39 people, including children. "The martyrdom-seeking brother Abu Ammar al-Turkmani ... succeeded in immersing himself with an explosive vest in a temple of the polytheists," IS said in a message on Telegram. "He detonated hisRead more

IS group carried out Damascus suicide attack

Beirut - Emirates Voice

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility on Wednesday for a triple suicide attack on the main police headquarters in Syria's capital Damascus that killed at least two people. Two attackers "entered the headquarters building and fought with those inside... then detonated their explosive vests" before a third also blew himself up, it said in a statement released via the TelegramRead more

Message service Telegram to shut 'terror-related' channels

Abu Dhabi - Emirates Voice

Encrypted messaging service Telegram will shut down "terrorist-related" public channels, its founder said on Sunday, after Indonesia's government blocked access to the platform citing security concerns. Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim population, has seen a resurgence in home-grown radicalism, and has stepped up cooperation with its neighbours to stem a growing presence in Southeast Asia of extremist groupRead more

Security flaw found in WhatsApp

San Francisco - Arab Today

A computer security firm on Wednesday revealed a flaw that could let hackers break into WhatsApp or Telegram messaging accounts using the very encryption intended to protect messages. Check Point Software Technologies said that it alerted Telegram and Facebook-owned WhatsApp last week, waiting until the vulnerability was patched before making it public. Check Point did not specify how many messagingRead more

Opposition 'minister' among 12 dead in Syria bombing

Beirut - Arab Today

A "minister" in Syria's opposition government was among at least 12 people killed in a car bomb attack in the south of the country on Thursday, the body's spokesman said. The Islamic State group (IS) claimed the attack in a statement on Telegram, saying one of its jihadists had detonated an explosive vest at an opposition meeting. According to theRead more

France, Germany want encrypted app makers to help stop Daesh

Paris - Arab Today

France and Germany pushed Tuesday for Europe-wide rules requiring the makers of encrypted messaging apps such as Telegram to help governments monitor communications among suspected extremists. Privacy advocates argue that encryption is essential to online security, notably for banking transactions. But security experts say encrypted apps are increasingly used by extremists to hide their location, coordinate operations and trade weaponsRead more

Police in French priest murder case investigate messaging app link

London - Arab Today

French police investigating the murder of a priest in Normandy are trying to identify members of a closed channel on the messaging app Telegram where one of the attackers outlined his murder plan. As Muslim worshippers joined Christians in services across France on Sunday in a show of homage to Father Jacques Hamel, 85, murdered on Tuesday in a NormandyRead more