On 21 and 22 May 2019, thousands of supporters of opposition leader Prabowo Subianto rioted in central Jakarta after he rejected the results of the recent general election. With the current tensions in mind, Rob Attwell explains how a combination of deep societal divisions and political polarisation is contributing to a worsening security environment…
Rakhine State in Myanmar saw two kidnappings in two months targeting Christian pastors. Rising religious nationalism in multiple Asian countries exacerbates the threats to individuals engaged in missionary and religious charity work in Asia, writes Rob Attwell.
The March 2019 mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, highlight concerns regarding an apparent shift of the far-right terrorist threat from local to global. Tim Geschwindt and Rob Attwell examine this growing threat, particularly the role of online forums for extremist networking.
Following the effective collapse of the Islamic State caliphate across Syria and Iraq in February 2019, the terrorist group appears to have extended its reach to new territories including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sri Lanka. In the space of one week, Islamic State took credit for terror attacks in both countries. Markus Korhonen places these…
Spurred by false rumours on social media, lynch mobs in India have assaulted or killed dozens of people in a number of recent incidents across the country. Markus Korhonen explores concerns over the potential for misinformation and fake news to spark communal violence in the run-up to this year’s parliamentary elections.
On 27 January 2019, two explosive devices were detonated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu Province. The attack occurred just one week after a plebiscite confirming the creation of an autonomous Moro-Muslim homeland in Mindanao, raising doubts regarding the prospects for peace in the southern Philippines, writes Rob Attwell.…
Shortly after announcing her candidacy for prime minister, Princess Ubolratana was disqualified and the opposition party which nominated her faces dissolution, raising concerns about Thailand’s future political stability. Rob Attwell unpacks some of the key players and developments driving Thai politics ahead of the 24 March election.
Rob Attwell discusses some of the key takeaways from the recent bombing in Pulwama, Kashmir, the deadliest attack against Indian forces in 30 years.
In 2018, the frequency and impact of cyberextortion and other types of cybercrime increased notably. Not only have the attacks become more frequent, but incidents of cyber-crime have also become more sophisticated, and have impacted a range of important industries, including healthcare, government, financial services and manufacturing.
There were numerous active assailant incidents in several European Countries and the US in 2018. In the US, the trend of mass shootings and other active assailant attacks continued, with over 300 shooting incidents recorded as of November 2018. However, active assailant attacks have taken place in less expected locations, such as Canada and the Commonwealth…
As key players debate the impact of climate change on the international stage, domestically, governments across the globe are being put to the test in their responses to natural hazards.
The emergence of several high-profile cases in 2018 has raised concerns that abduction by state actors is becoming an increasingly common practice. In this article, we highlight some of the most notable instances of state-sanctioned disappearances in the past year, and provide an insight into what we can expect 2019.