The chief spokesman of the Islamic State has made a comprehensive call for a new wave of ‘Lee Rigby’ style attacks against civilians and soldiers of Western nations, and supporters of the Caliphate already appear to be mobilising to follow his orders.
Abu Mohammed al Adnani, a Syrian ISIS official released the recording on Sunday evening in response to the commencement of airstrikes by the United States and France against Iraq on Friday, reports the Daily Mail. In the recording Adnani called on his followers to not distinguish between soldiers and civilians, and to strike against a number of nations. He said: “Strike their police, security, and intelligence members, as well as their treacherous agents.
“Embitter their lives… If you can kill a disbelieving American or European – especially the spiteful and filthy French – or an Australian, or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever waging war, including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State.”
Canada and Australia have not yet engaged in air strikes against ISIS, however the Prime Ministers of both Commonwealth nations are deeply conservative and publicly hawkish on Islamic Militants. Australian PM Tony Abbott was amongst the first world leaders to announce strict rules against nationals who had gone abroad to fight from returning. A spokesman for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) confirmed today that RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets had not arrived in the Middle East “yet”, indicating their strikes would commence soon.
Adnani’s specific choice of language when referring to his preferred methods of violence apparently alludes to the brutal murder of British Army Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich, London last year: “If you are not able to find an IED or a bullet, then single out the disbelieving American, Frenchman, or any of their allies. Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison him.
“Do not lack. Do not be contemptible. Let your slogan be, ‘May I not be saved if the cross worshipper and idoliser survives’. If you are unable to do so, then burn his home, car, or business”.
Rigby murderers Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale drove a car into their victim at nearly 40 miles per hour, before jumping on him with knives and attempting to behead him. Only last Thursday Australian intelligence sources reported they had thwarted a significant “beheading plot” on home soil, arresting 15 people in an enormous counter-terrorism sting that involved 900 officers.