Online networks associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) have issued fresh calls urging attacks on Hindus in India and parts of South and Southeast Asia, a new report by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) has said.
The findings come at a time when ISIS supporters have also been actively reacting to recent violent incidents in the United States, using them to push propaganda and recruit sympathisers through digital platforms.
Threats extend to Indian states and neighbouring countries
According to the report, a message circulated on March 9 by a pro-ISIS account specifically urged violence against Hindus in regions including Bangladesh and Myanmar, along with Indian states such as Tripura, West Bengal, Assam, and Manipur. The post was later reshared across encrypted platforms like RocketChat, increasing its visibility within extremist circles.
The CEP noted that online groups linked to ISIS closely tracked recent attacks in the US. Supporters discussed the March 7 attempted incident near Gracie Mansion in New York and the March 12 shooting at Old Dominion University, using these events to encourage similar actions.
On messaging platforms such as Telegram and RocketChat, users also praised two individuals accused of hurling explosive devices at an anti-Muslim protest in New York. Both suspects have been charged with attempting to aid ISIS and using a weapon of mass destruction. Some posts described them as courageous, while others criticised the lack of casualties.
Photos of the accused, picked up from mainstream media reports, were widely shared online. Several users pointed to claims that one of them had earlier been exposed to ISIS propaganda.
The March 12 university shooting was also glorified by ISIS supporters. The attacker, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, opened fire on a classroom of ROTC students, killing Lt Col Brandon Shah and injuring two others before being shot dead. Online messages hailed him as a martyr and praised the act. The report noted that Jalloh had previously served eight years in prison after being convicted in 2016 for attempting to support ISIS.
Propaganda push and global attacks continue
The CEP said ISIS has stepped up its media activity, releasing four videos between March 8 and 11 as part of a religious messaging campaign. One of the videos called for fresh attacks, while another featured a speaker identified as a Spanish national criticising Western countries and accusing them of oppressing Muslims.
These videos were widely shared across platforms, including RocketChat, Telegram, and Element, as well as file-sharing websites. The report noted at least 42 such uploads, though many were later removed.
ISIS-linked accounts were also seen asking for funds online, sharing links and bot-based tools to collect money from supporters.
Beyond its digital outreach, the group claimed responsibility for 24 attacks worldwide between March 8 and 14. These incidents were reported from countries including Somalia, Nigeria, Syria, Niger, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Pakistan.
The report said 13 of these attacks took place in Nigeria, targeting, among others, military camps. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ISIS claimed it had killed 17 fighters described as Christians and taken around 100 people captive, in addition to carrying out an attack on a Chinese-operated mine.