ISIS supporters are being urged to start wildfires and "exhaust" emergency services workers in an online forum, according to a report by LBC. The guide, posted to a digital messaging space, is reportedly titled: "Burn down your first forest and exhaust the workers of the tyrant."
Guide includes arson instructions
The document is said to include instructions on how to commit arson and thwart investigators' efforts to determine culprits who start such blazes. The forum hosts a mix of extreme content, including Islamic State propaganda, LBC reported.
LBC said it had infiltrated the forum and exposed details from it. Users reportedly debate possible targets, with one suggesting setting fire to homes and a court building as there would be police and members of the public inside.
Exchanges and targets
Exchanges on the forum include pages translated by LBC as "Arson Forensics/Fire Investigation", "Monitoring and Ways to Break It", and "Covert - Fool the Enemies of Allah".
The report comes after the Government issued an emergency alert to millions of Brits about the risk of wildfires.
Recent wildfires and response
Record heatwaves over the summer saw fires break out across the UK, including in the New Forest, the Cairngorms, Beacon Heath in Devon, and Dunwich Heath in Suffolk. A devastating fire tore through Stourbridge, Worcestershire, destroying 19 homes. West Midlands Fire Service said it was started accidentally in fields where agricultural machinery was being used.
Counter-terror expert Moustafa Ayad, from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, said calls for arson attacks can be traced back to 2017. Material encouraging arson attacks was published in Islamic State's Rumiyah magazine, according to LBC reporting of Mr Ayad's comments.
A Government source said there is no evidence linking the wildfires to posts on the forum, but £97 million is being pumped into the UK's national resilience capability.
Threats taken seriously
Mr Ayad said: "These threats should be taken seriously. This is a global terrorist group with a history of inspiring supporters globally to conduct attacks."
A Home Office spokesperson said the Government takes all threats to British interests and lives seriously. They said the UK's police and security services are supported by some of the strongest counter-terrorism powers in the world and they work tirelessly to defend Britain. The spokesperson said online platforms are required by law to tackle illegal material, which includes content that encourages violence and terrorism.
