Alleged Durban bombers: Extortion link 'unusual'
A counter-terrorism expert says extortion is not something international terror group, the IS, overtly promotes.
This as 12 men arrested in connection with a series of bomb scares around Durban and a deadly knife attack at a local mosque, in May, make their fifth appearance before the Verulam Magistrate's Court today.
The Hawks say they believe their motives were - at least in part - to extort, and the accused have been charged accordingly.
But the court has heard of the group's links to the IS and the Africa Director for the Terrorism, Research and Analysis Consortium, Jasmine Opperman, says this is not typical.
“The IS has been calling for financial support in propaganda material - Bitcoins, theft. That is nothing new, anything in the name of support for their extremist ideology. But what is very interesting is that extortion has never been mentioned as a very specific tactic,” she says.
Opperman says those actually executing these crimes might be acting independently of those who - the State alleges at least - have legitimate links to the IS.
“The Durban cases speak to extortion clearly. I think one must make a clear distinction between the individuals executing the attacks and the individuals - some of them - allegedly linked to the IS. Is there a connection between the two? I doubt seriously”.