Arson provides Islamic terror groups with a cost-effective, low-skill method to inflict casualties, economic damage, and widespread fear within communities.
A massive forest fire has swept through Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The flames, consuming thousands of trees, have dealt a severe blow to the region’s environment. This dire situation reflects the broader crisis unfolding in the state, where forest fires have spread to residential areas, exacerbating the already severe impact.
The severity of these fires is underscored by their visibility from space, indicative of the extensive environmental damage caused by the destruction of over a thousand hectares of forest land. Tragically, reports of fatalities add to the gravity of the situation. But amidst this catastrophe, the fires have left many wondering if they are being set by lone jihadis or those carrying out orders by Islamic terror groups’ calls for Fire Jihad.
A video has surfaced showing two individuals discussing the act of setting fires in the forest. In the video, one states, “Finally, guys, we’re setting fires. Playing with fire is what we do. We play with fire and burn down the mountains. We’ll burn the leaves that have fallen down as well.” These individuals claim to be from Bihar.
While the Indian state government or any governmental agency has yet to formally respond to the video, forest fires continue ravaging regions from Garhwal to Kumaon. These fires have not only destroyed trees and vegetation but have also resulted in the loss of wildlife. The flames have caused approximately ₹24 lakh ($32,876.71 USD) in damages. According to reports, over the past decade, forest fires have claimed the lives of 18 individuals and left 75 others injured.
The forest department has been vigilant, making arrests in connection with forest fires. Five Islamic laborers from Bihar, identified as Mosar Alam, Nazifar Alam, Noorul, Saleem, and Firoz Alam, were apprehended for setting fires in the forests near Nagdev Range Khirsu. Cases have been filed against them under forest laws and property damage. Furthermore, 11 individuals have been arrested by the Forest Department and Police Department in the district for setting fires in the forests. The police have promised more arrests are coming.
It is being reported that the “men were caught red-handed by the forest department while setting fire to the forest.” Furthermore, many videos were also found on these individuals’ mobile phones, in which they were seen setting fire to the forest and recording videos of it.
The incidents of forest fires have been on the rise in Uttarakhand, with a total of 828 such incidents reported in the state so far. In the past 24 hours alone, 66 forest fires have been recorded. Tragically, in Almora, while extinguishing a fire, one person lost their life, and three others sustained injuries. The devastating fires have wreaked havoc across an area of approximately a thousand hectares.
Many believe that the fires raging are part of an orchestrated Islamic attack. For many years, Islamic groups have urged their followers to carry out forest fire jihad.
On July 26, 2020, the Pro-ISIS Al-Hayat Media Center released a four-minute video titled “Incite the Believers” to its Telegram channel. The video encourages Muslims to carry out Jihad terrorist attacks, specifically pointing out forest fires as one of their most effective type of attacks against the Kuffar. The narrator promoted the benefits of setting forest fires, such as the large numbers of non-Muslims you can kill and the hundreds of millions of dollars of damage you can cause them. The narrator encouraged Muslims to be careful when starting fires not to draw attention to themselves and to dispose of all forms of evidence:
As Homeland Security Today reports, “ISIS has long promoted arson as a cheap and easy terror tactic and has put those threats into action in Iraq and Syria – taking advantage of warming temperatures in spring to set natural fuel alight with the intent of sowing fear, economic pain, and potential casualties. ISIS previously claimed in May 2019 that the terror group was behind a series of wildfires. In the ISIS newsletter al-Naba article, “Roll Up Your Sleeves and Begin the Harvest — May Allah Bless What You Reap,” ISIS reminded “soldiers of the caliphate” that they “have before you millions of acres… their plantations, fields, and homes, as well as their economic foundation” to burn.
A 49-minute video released in May 2020 by the terror group “Strike Their Necks” features ISIS-shot footage of guerrilla-style attacks on remote roads, terror training, and executions – along with structure arson and nighttime footage of a small group of terrorists setting brush fires. Some Iraqi farmers reported that these were complex attacks: If they tried to go out and extinguish the flames in their fields, they could be attacked by terrorists lying in wait.
Arson achieves what al-Qaeda and other Islamic terrorists have repeatedly stressed is a core objective of its jihad: hitting nations the pocketbook, with losses caused by wildfires to be in the billions, as we saw in 2018 in California when the cost was $400 billion.
During California wildfires in 2018, supporters of al-Qaeda — which has a lengthy history of promoting wildfire arson — circulated news photos from the blazes with the Quran verse, “They will question you about the mountains. Say: ‘My Lord will scatter them as ashes.’”
A tutorial in a 2012 issue of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s Inspire magazine highlighted the damage caused by various wildfires and instructed jihadists on picking optimum weather conditions for arson and where to set a blaze to inflict maximum devastation.”
With all the raging fires in India, the urgent question arises: are Indian authorities taking into account the numerous commands of Islamic terrorist groups urging Muslims to ignite wildfires to terrorize non-Muslim populations? Will they determine if these fires were started by lone jihadis or part of a larger organized Islamic terrorist attack?
As the flames ravage the land, leaving devastation in their wake, it becomes imperative for law enforcement and governmental agencies to assess the potential connection between these fires and Islamic terrorist organizations. The emergence of evidence linking Islamic terrorist groups to calls for arson attacks highlights the gravity of the threats. As the fires continue to rage, the need for a comprehensive response that tackles Islamic terror becomes increasingly pressing.
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