Terrorists and extremists are creating growing numbers of safe havens on the “dark net” to plot future attacks, raise funds and recruit new followers, new research reveals.

Terrorist organisations and individuals are evading security services and intelligence agencies by “hiding in the shadows” of the darknet, using encrypted messaging services, to communicate and anonymous cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin to generate funds.

Researchers for the Henry Jackson Society, a foreign policy thinktank, say that groups have also been able to create a reservoir of extremist propaganda, saving it from deletion by the security services or tech companies.

Following the five terror attacks on British soil in 2017, the UK government has dedicated more time and funds to tackling online extremism, yet the report argues that more attention should be paid to the dark net because extremists are still able to operate unchallenged on the anarchic platform.

Researchers said that the current encrypted communication app of choice is Telegram, which Islamic State has encouraged members to use, with messages including explanations on how to access new dark net sites linked to the group. In November 2017, an al-Qaida-linked organisation called al-Sadaqah used a public channel on Telegram to campaign for bitcoin funding.

The report’s author, Nikita Malik, director of the centre for the response to radicalisation and terrorism at the Henry Jackson Society, said: “We have denied Islamic State territory in the real world, but it has a whole new safe haven in cyberspace which we need first to understand and then to close down.

“The authorities must move urgently to increase their knowledge of terrorists’ activities in cyberspace and their use of technologies such as bitcoin. Regulation in this area has to move carefully if we are to balance liberties with guarding against threats to our security – but the time has come to deny extremists the space they need online to plan fresh atrocities.”

Malik identified numerous sites on the dark net that explain how to make TATP – triacetone triperoxide – which can be made from household chemicals and was used in the jihadist attacks in Paris in November 2015, Brussels in March 2016, Manchester in May 2017 and Parsons Green, London, in September 2017.

One study last year found that of 811 arms-related listings on 24 darknet cryptomarkets, 208 were ebooks with instructions for the manufacture of explosives or firearms at home.

A preliminary search on the dark net on 18 January by Malik found 1,101 results for instructional material related to “security”, including guides on drugs, fraud, hacking, and firearms. The Anarchist Cookbook, which contains bomb-making instructions, was available for sale for 0.0003 bitcoin – around £1.45.

Other focal points for discussion on darknet forums included “how to make bombs, plan lone-actor terrorist attacks … how to use vehicles as weapons, where to stab people for maximum effect, and how to create a fake suicide vest or mask their activity, with the aim of convincing potential recruits to undertake their own attacks.”

Lord Trimble, a current member of Parliament’s joint committee on the national security strategy and former first minister of Northern Ireland, said: “While the first decade of the century was defined by the battle against jihadist ‘safe havens’ – physically located in Afghanistan, north-west Pakistan, Yemen and so on – this report draws attention to the possible rise of ‘virtual safe havens’: encrypted communication channels, hidden portions of the internet, cryptocurrency accounts that are not registered with any banks and more.”

Labour’s shadow spokesperson for digital, culture, media and sport, Lord Griffiths of Burry Port, said: “This is a deeply disturbing report, illustrating how extremist content and instructional terrorist material, as well as funding campaigns to raise money for terrorist groups, can be found on the internet – with varying degrees of accessibility.”

The report’s recommendations include a new internet regulatory body with the role of scrutinising tech companies’ efforts to remove extremist content, along with extra resources for the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre to accrue darknet intelligence.

It also advocates that social media firms should ensure extremist material is not lost when it is deleted, but is archived to help develop a better understanding of extremists’ online behaviour. </s> London, April 8 (IANS) Terrorists and extremists are creating growing numbers of safe havens on the “dark net” to plot future attacks, raise funds and recruit new followers, according to new research published on Sunday.

Researchers for the Henry Jackson Society, a foreign policy thinktank, have said that terrorist organisations and individuals are evading security services and intelligence agencies by “hiding in the shadows” of the dark net, using encrypted messaging services, to communicate and anonymous cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin to generate funds, reports the Guardian.

The groups have also been able to create a reservoir of extremist propaganda, saving it from deletion by the security services or tech companies.

The researchers said that the current encrypted communication app of choice is Telegram, which the Islamic State has encouraged members to use, with messages including explanations on how to access new dark net sites linked to the group.

In November 2017, an Al Qaeda-linked organisation called al-Sadaqah used a public channel on Telegram to campaign for bitcoin funding.

The report’s author, Nikita Malik, said: “We have denied Islamic State territory in the real world, but it has a whole new safe haven in cyberspace which we need first to understand and then to close down.”

Malik identified numerous sites on the dark net that explain how to make TATP – triacetone triperoxide – which can be made from household chemicals and was used in the jihadi attacks in Paris in November 2015, Brussels in March 2016, Manchester in May 2017 and London in September 2017, the Guardian reported.

A preliminary search by Malik in January on the dark net found 1,101 results for instructional material related to “security”, including guides on drugs, fraud, hacking and firearms.

“The Anarchist Cookbook”, which contains bomb-making instructions, was available for sale for 0.0003 bitcoin – around 1.45 pounds. </s> AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Spanish police have arrested the suspected leader of a gang of cyber criminals who stole up 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) from banks by altering account balances and instructing automatic teller machines to issue cash, Europol said on Monday.

The person suspected of being behind malware attacks known as “Carbanak” and “Cobalt” was arrested in Alicante, a port city on the south east coast of Spain, after cooperation between police forces in the United States, Asia and Europe, Europol said.

The Interior Ministry said ‘Denis K.’, who had directed the criminal organization from Spain since 2013, was arrested with three members of his organization, who originally came from Russia and Ukraine, it said.

The Ukrainian police did not provide further details.

Europol said the group had operated since 2013, with members in 40 countries, carrying out attacks on 100 financial institutions. They targeted bank employees with emails infecting their computers and then using them as a base to gain control of bank network and servers.

“With that level of access, the nefarious individuals authorize fraudulent bank transfers, raise the balances of mule accounts or command affected ATMs to spit out the money for them,” Europol said.

Europol, said the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Romanian, Belarussian and Taiwanese authorities, and private cyber security companies were assisting in the case.

The Interior Ministry said that during the raid in Alicante police seized jewels worth 500,000 euros and two luxury cars. It also blocked bank accounts and two homes valued at about 1 million euros.

The organization needed the support of other criminal groups to coordinate the work of the ‘mules’ they used to extract money from cash points that they attacked, it said. Until 2015 they used the Russian mafia for this, and after 2016 the Moldovan mafia.

Their earnings were converted into bitcoins at exchange houses in Russia and Ukraine. These were later transferred to their accounts and they accumulated about 15,000 bitcoin, Interior Ministry said.

Denis K used financial platforms in Gibraltar and the United Kingdom to load prepaid cards with bitcoin and spend them in Spain on cars, homes, and other goods.

He also set up an “enormous network” to mine bitcoins which he used as a means of laundering money. </s> An Isis fanatic who plotted to bomb Downing Street and behead Theresa May has been convicted of terror offences.

Naa’imur Zakariyah Rahman was walking down a London road with what he believed was a pressure cooker bomb and a suicide vest when he was arrested.

Spies imitating fellow terrorists had provided the 20-year-old with the fake explosives after a covert operation involving MI5, the FBI and the Metropolitan Police.

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Rahman’s plan was to bomb the gates of Downing Street, kill guards, attack the prime minister with a knife or gun and then “martyr” himself with a suicide vest.

The Old Bailey heard Rahman became “determined” to attack the UK after his uncle, an Isis member, was killed by a drone strike in Syria.

Two of Rahman’s other uncles had been convicted for terrorist fundraising, and police said that as a teenager he was referred to the government’s Prevent counter-extremism scheme, but “disengaged” from the process.

Counter terror police did not start investigating Rahman until he was arrested and had his phone seized in August 2017, on suspicion of sending indecent images to underage girls.

Deputy assistant commissioner Dean Haydon, the senior national coordinator for counter terrorism policing, said: “It was apparent from the content of that phone that Rahman had received attack planning instructions from his uncle in Syria, so as a result we commenced a counter terrorism investigation.

“In the absence of his uncle, Rahman sought the assistance and advice of people online, and in doing so unwittingly made contact with an FBI roleplayer in early September 2017, who in turn introduced him to an MI5 roleplayer.”

The British agent introduced Rahman to two men, codenamed Abu Waleed and Shaq – covert officers who pretended to support Rahman’s plot while feeding intelligence on his movements and activities to police.

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In one meeting with Shaq, Rahman was recorded saying he would get past Downing Street’s gates and make a “10-second sprint” for the door of Number 10, with his main objective to “take her head off”.

He later carried out reconnaissance around Whitehall, prosecutors said, walking past the entrance to Downing Street and the site of the Westminster attack, at the gate of the Houses of Parliament in March 2017.

Mr Rahman also bought a rucksack in Argos which he gave to a spy to be fitted with explosives.

On 28 November, Shaq handed the defendant back his bag and jacket claiming they were both fitted with powerful explosives, as well as a replica pepper spray device, a set of plastic gloves and a blue holdall bag.

Asked if he was ready, Rahman replied: “Yeah. Do you know? Now I’ve seen everything it feels good.”

Armed police were stationed down the same road in Kensington and swarmed Rahman minutes later, when he told an officer: “I’m glad it’s over. I’m glad I’m arrested.”

Deputy assistant commissioner Haydon said Rahman had been developing shifting terror attack plans for two years, considering using a gun before settling on a “multifaceted attack” using a bomb, suicide vest, pepper spray and knife.

“As Rahman left Shaq’s car, I have no doubt he was thinking about his very real plans to kill the prime minister in support of Daesh,” he added.

“We have successfully stopped a terrorist attack in the UK… if he’d got hold of a genuine bomb, gun and knife, we would have been talking about an attack that would have killed, injured and maimed a number of people in Whitehall, including police officers and members of the public.”

Rahman had consumed propaganda from Isis, al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood and jihadi ideologues.

He admitted helping friend and fellow extremist Mohammad Aqib Imran in his attempt to join Isis in Libya, by recording a video intended to be used after Rahman’s “martyrdom” to gain the group’s trust.

Imran, a 22-year-old from Birmingham, was found guilty of having a terrorist handbook called How to Survive in the West after the jury deliberated for 13 hours.

The jury is still deliberating on a charge against Imran of preparing terrorist acts abroad.

Shape Created with Sketch. UK news in pictures Show all 50 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. UK news in pictures 1/50 10 September 2019 The peloton rides past the Angel of the North during stage four of the Tour of Britain from Gateshead to Kendal. PA 2/50 9 September 2019 A penny farthing cyclist rides past St. John's, Smith Square, Westminster, London. PA 3/50 8 September 2019 Australia celebrate the wicket of England's Craig Overton, which meant they won the fourth test and retained the Ashes. Action Images via Reuters 4/50 7 September 2019 Manchester City celebrate after Caroline Weir scored during their Women's Super League match against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. The WSL attendance record was smashed with 31,213 people watching the first Manchester derby of Women’s Super League era – nearly six times the previous WSL record. Getty 5/50 6 September 2019 A bull bumps into a plain clothes police officer (left) while being walked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his visit to Darnford Farm in Banchory near Aberdeen. It coincided with the publication of Lord Bew's review and an announcement of extra funding for Scottish farmers PA 6/50 5 September 2019 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon cuts the hair of David Torrance MSP raising £1000 for the charity Maggie's Centre in Kirkcaldy at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh PA 7/50 4 September 2019 Australia's David Warner looks dejected after being dismissed by England's Stuart Broad during day one of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford in Manchester. Getty 8/50 3 September 2019 Anti Brexit demonstrators attend a protest at Parliament Square. 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AP 13/50 29 August 2019 The sun rises over the sculpture "The Couple" by artist Sean Henry, at Newbiggin-by-the-sea in Northumberland. PA 14/50 28 August 2019 A person wearing a Boris Johnson 'head' digs a grave at the foot of a tombstone during a protest organised by Avaaz and Best for Britain, outside Downing Street in London. PA 15/50 27 August 2019 Nat Lofthouse statue is covered in flags at the University of Bolton Stadium, Bolton. Action Images via Reuters 16/50 26 August 2019 Performers take part in Notting Hill Carnival. Nearly one million people were expected to attend Sunday and Monday's carnival to celebrate Caribbean culture. AFP/Getty 17/50 25 August 2019 A competitor swims in the World Bog Snorkelling Championships in Llanwryd Wells, Powys. Reuters 18/50 24 August 2019 People flock to Bournemouth beach as a heatwave spells potentially record high temperatures for the bank holiday weekend. 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PA 27/50 15 August 2019 A flock of sheep are herded past government buildings in London by members of Farmers for a People's Vote, a campaign group. PA 28/50 14 August 2019 Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg speaks during a press conference at the Mayflower Marina in Plymouth, southwest England, on August 14, 2019, ahead of her journey across the Atlantic to New York, aboard the Malizia II IMOCA class sailing yacht, where she will attend the UN Climate Action Summit next month. - A year after her school strike made her a figurehead for climate activists, Greta Thunberg believes her uncompromising message about global warming is getting through -- even if action remains thin on the ground. The 16-year-old Swede, who sets sail for New York this week to take her message to the United States, has been a target for abuse but sees that as proof she is having an effect. AFP/Getty 29/50 12 August 2019 A hare runs on a moor near Ripon, North Yorkshire. PA 30/50 11 August 2019 Britain’s Jamie Chadwick wins first-ever W Series title. She pocketed a prize of £410,000 and, having been signed as a development driver for Williams, she keeps up her hopes of making it into Formula One. Getty 31/50 10 August 2019 People gather on the beach as a raft carrying people dressed as clowns heads to shore during the annual Whitby Regatta in Whitby, England. At over 170 years old, the Whitby Regatta is thought to be the oldest sea regatta on the northeast coast of England and draws thousands of visitors each year. Getty 32/50 9 August 2019 Burryman Andrew Taylor, gets a nip of whisky using a straw, from resident Mary Hamblin, 82, as he parades through the town of South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, encased in burrs. The parade takes place on the second Friday of August each year and although the exact meaning of this tradition has been lost through the years it is thought to have begun in the 17th Century. The tradition is believed to bring good luck to the towns people if they give him whisky offered through a straw or a donation of money. PA 33/50 8 August 2019 A mosque is seen amongst residential housing from the air during a mass take off at the annual Bristol hot air balloon festival in Bristol. Reuters 34/50 7 August 2019 An Asiatic lioness eats meat during feeding time ahead of World Lion Day at London Zoo. Reuters 35/50 6 August 2019 Beer enthusiasts taste beer and ale during The Great British Beer Festival at Kensington Olympia in west London. The Great British Beer Festival, organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), brings hundreds of real ales, international beers and real ciders and perries under one roof. AFP/Getty 36/50 5 August 2019 Australia's Nathan Lyon celebrates after taking the wicket of England's Joe Root during day five of the first Ashes test at Edgbaston. The hosts were on the end of a thumping, as Australia won the first test by 251 runs. Getty 37/50 4 August 2019 Franky Zapata stands on his jet-powered "flyboard" prior to landing on St. Margaret's Bay in Dover, during his attempt to fly across the 35-kilometre (22-mile) Channel crossing. The Frenchman achieved his aim today, on his second attempt, after having spent years developing the jet-powered hoverboard. AFP/Getty 38/50 3 August 2019 A Cricket fan wears a Donald Trump inflatable, during day three of the first Ashes test cricket match between England and Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham. AP 39/50 2 August 2019 An RAF Chinook helicopter flies in sandbags to help repair the dam at Toddbrook Reservoir which was damaged in heavy rainfall. PA 40/50 1 August 2019 Stuart Broad celebrates after taking the wicket of David Warner during day one of the first Ashes test between England and Australia at Edgbaston. England fans celebrated the loss of David Warner and Cameron Bancroft dismissals by waving sandpaper after they both faced bans for their roles in the Sandpaper scandal last year. Australia were all out for 284 after Steve Smith frustrated the hosts with a total of 144. He helped drag his side from 122-8. Getty 41/50 31 July 2019 A collapsed bridge near Grinton, North Yorkshire, after parts of the region had up to 82.2mm of rain in 24 hours on Tuesday. PA 42/50 30 July 2019 Acrobats Beren d'Amico, Louis Gift and Charlie Wheeller, from Barely Methodical Troupe perform a routine on Calton Hill in Edinburgh as they bring their debut show Bromance to the Edinburgh Fringe. PA 43/50 29 July 2019 Theresa the robotic waitress at The Tea Terrace's Cobham branch in Surrey. Theresa represents the 6th Generation of robotic waitresses which were first launched in Japan a few years ago. 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Getty 1/50 10 September 2019 The peloton rides past the Angel of the North during stage four of the Tour of Britain from Gateshead to Kendal. PA 2/50 9 September 2019 A penny farthing cyclist rides past St. John's, Smith Square, Westminster, London. PA 3/50 8 September 2019 Australia celebrate the wicket of England's Craig Overton, which meant they won the fourth test and retained the Ashes. Action Images via Reuters 4/50 7 September 2019 Manchester City celebrate after Caroline Weir scored during their Women's Super League match against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. The WSL attendance record was smashed with 31,213 people watching the first Manchester derby of Women’s Super League era – nearly six times the previous WSL record. Getty 5/50 6 September 2019 A bull bumps into a plain clothes police officer (left) while being walked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his visit to Darnford Farm in Banchory near Aberdeen. It coincided with the publication of Lord Bew's review and an announcement of extra funding for Scottish farmers PA 6/50 5 September 2019 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon cuts the hair of David Torrance MSP raising £1000 for the charity Maggie's Centre in Kirkcaldy at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh PA 7/50 4 September 2019 Australia's David Warner looks dejected after being dismissed by England's Stuart Broad during day one of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford in Manchester. Getty 8/50 3 September 2019 Anti Brexit demonstrators attend a protest at Parliament Square. Lawmakers returned from their summer recess Tuesday for a pivotal day in British politics as they challenged Prime Minister Boris Johnson's insistence that the UK leave the European Union on 31 October, even without a withdrawal agreement to cushion the economic blow. AP 9/50 2 September 2019 Set building begins on Waterloo Place in Edinburgh ahead of filming for Fast and Furious 9. PA 10/50 1 September 2019 Members of the Royal Southern Yacht Club and the Island Sailing Club take part during the annual cricket match between the clubs, which takes place on the Bramble Bank sandbank in the middle of the Solent at low tide. PA 11/50 31 August 2019 Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate at Whitehall in London. SWNS 12/50 30 August 2019 One of the iconic 'Girl with Balloon' artworks by anonymous street artist Banksy is carried near one of the original locations the artwork appeared at on the Southbank in London. AP 13/50 29 August 2019 The sun rises over the sculpture "The Couple" by artist Sean Henry, at Newbiggin-by-the-sea in Northumberland. PA 14/50 28 August 2019 A person wearing a Boris Johnson 'head' digs a grave at the foot of a tombstone during a protest organised by Avaaz and Best for Britain, outside Downing Street in London. PA 15/50 27 August 2019 Nat Lofthouse statue is covered in flags at the University of Bolton Stadium, Bolton. Action Images via Reuters 16/50 26 August 2019 Performers take part in Notting Hill Carnival. Nearly one million people were expected to attend Sunday and Monday's carnival to celebrate Caribbean culture. AFP/Getty 17/50 25 August 2019 A competitor swims in the World Bog Snorkelling Championships in Llanwryd Wells, Powys. Reuters 18/50 24 August 2019 People flock to Bournemouth beach as a heatwave spells potentially record high temperatures for the bank holiday weekend. PA 19/50 23 August 2019 Fans of Bury FC deliver a symbolic coffin to the club's home at Gigg Lane as the continuation of their membership to the football league lies in doubt. The club will lose their membership at midnight if they don't find a buyer or prove that they have the means to pay off their debts. 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Getty 25/50 17 August 2019 Glew (centre) and Monroe Adams (right) pose for a selfie with a member of the public outside DragWorld London 2019, Europe's largest drag convention, featuring drag stars from the US and UK during a two-day event at Olympia, London. PA 26/50 16 August 2019 A grey seal with fishing net tangled around its neck amongst the colony on the beach at Horsey in Norfolk, as RSPCA data show the number of animals affected by plastic litter is at an all-time high, with incidents increasing by 22% in just four years. PA 27/50 15 August 2019 A flock of sheep are herded past government buildings in London by members of Farmers for a People's Vote, a campaign group. PA 28/50 14 August 2019 Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg speaks during a press conference at the Mayflower Marina in Plymouth, southwest England, on August 14, 2019, ahead of her journey across the Atlantic to New York, aboard the Malizia II IMOCA class sailing yacht, where she will attend the UN Climate Action Summit next month. - A year after her school strike made her a figurehead for climate activists, Greta Thunberg believes her uncompromising message about global warming is getting through -- even if action remains thin on the ground. The 16-year-old Swede, who sets sail for New York this week to take her message to the United States, has been a target for abuse but sees that as proof she is having an effect. AFP/Getty 29/50 12 August 2019 A hare runs on a moor near Ripon, North Yorkshire. PA 30/50 11 August 2019 Britain’s Jamie Chadwick wins first-ever W Series title. She pocketed a prize of £410,000 and, having been signed as a development driver for Williams, she keeps up her hopes of making it into Formula One. Getty 31/50 10 August 2019 People gather on the beach as a raft carrying people dressed as clowns heads to shore during the annual Whitby Regatta in Whitby, England. At over 170 years old, the Whitby Regatta is thought to be the oldest sea regatta on the northeast coast of England and draws thousands of visitors each year. Getty 32/50 9 August 2019 Burryman Andrew Taylor, gets a nip of whisky using a straw, from resident Mary Hamblin, 82, as he parades through the town of South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, encased in burrs. The parade takes place on the second Friday of August each year and although the exact meaning of this tradition has been lost through the years it is thought to have begun in the 17th Century. The tradition is believed to bring good luck to the towns people if they give him whisky offered through a straw or a donation of money. PA 33/50 8 August 2019 A mosque is seen amongst residential housing from the air during a mass take off at the annual Bristol hot air balloon festival in Bristol. Reuters 34/50 7 August 2019 An Asiatic lioness eats meat during feeding time ahead of World Lion Day at London Zoo. Reuters 35/50 6 August 2019 Beer enthusiasts taste beer and ale during The Great British Beer Festival at Kensington Olympia in west London. The Great British Beer Festival, organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), brings hundreds of real ales, international beers and real ciders and perries under one roof. AFP/Getty 36/50 5 August 2019 Australia's Nathan Lyon celebrates after taking the wicket of England's Joe Root during day five of the first Ashes test at Edgbaston. The hosts were on the end of a thumping, as Australia won the first test by 251 runs. Getty 37/50 4 August 2019 Franky Zapata stands on his jet-powered "flyboard" prior to landing on St. Margaret's Bay in Dover, during his attempt to fly across the 35-kilometre (22-mile) Channel crossing. The Frenchman achieved his aim today, on his second attempt, after having spent years developing the jet-powered hoverboard. AFP/Getty 38/50 3 August 2019 A Cricket fan wears a Donald Trump inflatable, during day three of the first Ashes test cricket match between England and Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham. AP 39/50 2 August 2019 An RAF Chinook helicopter flies in sandbags to help repair the dam at Toddbrook Reservoir which was damaged in heavy rainfall. PA 40/50 1 August 2019 Stuart Broad celebrates after taking the wicket of David Warner during day one of the first Ashes test between England and Australia at Edgbaston. England fans celebrated the loss of David Warner and Cameron Bancroft dismissals by waving sandpaper after they both faced bans for their roles in the Sandpaper scandal last year. Australia were all out for 284 after Steve Smith frustrated the hosts with a total of 144. He helped drag his side from 122-8. Getty 41/50 31 July 2019 A collapsed bridge near Grinton, North Yorkshire, after parts of the region had up to 82.2mm of rain in 24 hours on Tuesday. PA 42/50 30 July 2019 Acrobats Beren d'Amico, Louis Gift and Charlie Wheeller, from Barely Methodical Troupe perform a routine on Calton Hill in Edinburgh as they bring their debut show Bromance to the Edinburgh Fringe. PA 43/50 29 July 2019 Theresa the robotic waitress at The Tea Terrace's Cobham branch in Surrey. Theresa represents the 6th Generation of robotic waitresses which were first launched in Japan a few years ago. The robot comes with autonomous navigation; automatic obstacle avoidance, voice conversation, and automatic dish delivery. It integrates core technologies in automatic control, multi-sensor perceptual collision avoidance and route planning. PA 44/50 28 July 2019 Competitors during the World Stinging Nettle Eating Championship at The Bottle Inn in Marshwood. Competitors are served 2-foot long stalks of stinging nettles from which they pluck and eat as many leaves as possible. Getty 45/50 27 July 2019 A woman in character as La Muerte from film The Book of Life, during the MCM Manchester Comic Con which see thousands of sci-fi fans, gamers, comic collectors, movie buffs and anime enthusiasts visit Manchester Central. PA 46/50 26 July 2019 England's Jonny Bairstow takes the catch to dismiss Ireland's William Porterfield during their test march at Lord's. Ireland were bowled out for 38 in their second innings in just 15.4 overs - the second lowest total in Test match history. Action Images via Reuters 47/50 25 July 2019 Hamza and Haris splash in the water feature beside the National Football Museum in central Manchester, as the UK braces itself to encounter the hottest July day on record. PA 48/50 24 July 2019 Boris Johnson waves as he enters 10 Downing Street following his appointment as Prime Minster by the Queen. The former London mayor and foreign secretary won his leadership bid by beating Jeremy Hunt in the Tory race the day before. Theresa May stepped down following her resignation as Conservative Party leader on 7 June. EPA 49/50 23 July 2019 Swimmers have fun in the sea on a giant inflatable Flamingo, South Beach,Tenby, Pembrokeshire. Reuters 50/50 22 July 2019 New Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson addresses the audience onstage after she was named as Sir Vince Cable's successor. Swinson beat fellow candidate Ed Davey by 47,997 votes to 28,021 votes. Getty

The pair, both British nationals, had discussed their fear of “spies” and not being able to trust anyone, the court heard.

Imran, who was arrested on the same day as Rahman, had allegedly set about gathering money and acquiring a fake passport for his trip from another MI5 role-player via encrypted instant messaging service Telegram.

Asked why police launched a covert operation rather than arresting Rahman when they found evidence of attack planning on his phone, Mr Haydon said the suspect was detained at the “appropriate time”.

“We maintained a covert operation to fully understand his aspirations, his intentions, and capability, which enabled us to control that risk,” he added.

Rahman’s defence barrister told the Old Bailey his client was vulnerable and had been “sofa surfing” after his mum kicked him out of her home.

The family had lived in the West Midlands until she moved them to London in what police said was an effort to lessen the influence of Rahman’s extremist uncles.

Rahman was said to have lived a “solitary life”, where he focused almost entirely on his plot and communicating with other extremists.

It was unclear whether he had been subjected to monitoring by another police force after he dropped out of the voluntary Channel counter-extremism process, which also attempted to deradicalise the Parsons Green bomber.

Police said Rahman “gave a story” to officials who visited his family home in late 2016.

“When Rahman was 18 years old he was referred to the voluntary Channel programme, following concerns that he was vulnerable to radicalisation by three of his uncles,” Mr Haydon said.

“Numerous attempts were made to engage Rahman through Channel but he was unwilling, and by the time he came to the attention of the counter terrorism network for his terrorist plans, he had disengaged from the process completely.”

Rahman will be sentenced at a later date. </s> The Cincinnati Police Department is monitoring multiple bomb threats that have been sent electronically to various locations throughout the city.

These threats are also being reported to other locations nationwide.

According to the AP, businesses and schools across the U.S. were evacuated.

Many of the threats came in the form of an email, demanding $20,000 in bitcoin, a digital currency.

“You must pay me by the end of the working day, if you are late with the transaction the bomb will explode,” the email read. “We arent (sic) terrorists and do not assume any responsibility for acts of terrorism in other places."

Authorities said they are not considered credible at this time.

“Bomb threats are most commonly received via phone, but are also made in person, via email, written note, or other means. Every bomb threat is unique and should be handled in the context of the facility or environment in which it occurs. Facility supervisors and law enforcement will be in the best position to determine the credibility of the threat,” police said.

Police say to follow these procedures: </s> iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Europe and Russia were left reeling Saturday by a malicious global cyberattack that used leaked NSA tools to exploit a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows and spread ransomware across networks around the world.

Tens of thousands of users from London to St. Petersburg logged on yesterday to find ominous threats to delete their suddenly encrypted computer files, unless they cough up $300 or more in Bitcoin payments to the unknown perpetrators, security experts and intelligence officials told ABC News Saturday.

A message saying “Oops, your important files are encrypted” flashed across screens all over the world. According to The New York Times, experts estimated that before the last affected computers are unlocked, victims could collectively pay more than $1 billion to the attackers.

The attack appears to have been thwarted by private cybersecurity researchers who identified and triggered the malware’s “kill switch,” which halted the attacks before it spread throughout U.S. networks, a senior U.S. intelligence official confirmed, but it is unclear whether, the official said, a modified attack will soon be launched.

“That is a huge concern right now,” said Darien Huss, a senior security research engineer at Proofpoint who was among the researchers who helped disable the virus, called “WannaCry,” told ABC News Saturday. “It would not be very difficult at all to re-release this ransomware attack without a kill switch or without an approved kill switch that only they can activate.”

Huss is also worried about copycats, who could “take the exploit code that was used in this attack and implement it into their own virus.”

The tally of victims so far includes FedEx in the United States, railroads in Germany and Russia, factories and phone companies across Europe. Among the worst impacted by the historic attack unprecedented in its breadth was Britain’s Public Health Service, where more than 45 facilities had to suspend operations and divert patients and surgeries.

“The impact on the U.S. seems to be negligible — very tiny impact, very few victims,” the senior intelligence official told ABC News Saturday, adding that there is “no attribution yet” to any individuals, groups or nation-states behind the attacks reported in more than 100 countries.

“It’s impacting overseas among those who have outdated software or pirated software,” the senior intelligence official said. “The U.S. government is better suited to react and respond to something like this than some other countries because of years of work between the private sector and the government.”

Cybersecurity experts believe the attack was carried out with the help of tools first developed by the U.S. National Security Agency for targeting terrorists and foreign adversaries, which was leaked to the public by a hacker group called The Shadow Brokers in April.

“They lost it, somebody stole the information published it on the internet, and now it’s being used against victims in the United States and elsewhere,” said John Bambenek of Fidelis Cybersecurity.

While Microsoft broadened access to a security patch on Saturday to thousands of users whose old Windows support agreements have expired, law enforcement and intelligence authorities around the world, led by Britain’s new cybersecurity agency, are working to track down whoever was responsible — with Russian organized crime considered a leading suspect, some experts said.

“The reason this is hitting so many computers at once is that they discovered a vulnerability in the most popular operating system in the world, in Microsoft windows,” said John Carlin, former assistant attorney general for national security and an ABC News contributor. “And they’re taking advantage of it. It’s one that Microsoft delivered a solution for, but a lot of people haven’t used it.”

As the attack spread to five continents, the damage was contained, for the moment, when a computer programmer in Great Britain says he stumbled upon the kill switch after Huss shared some of his work on social media. The researcher, who uses the pseudonym “MalwareTech” for personal security, registered a domain name buried in the code of the attack and was surprised to discover that it was the kill switch that sent a signal to stop the attacks.

“In this case, when we registered it, it turned out to be a kill switch,” Salim Neino, CEO of Kryptos Logic, which employs MalwareTech as a cybersecurity researcher, told ABC News. “We verified it and turned the information over to the FBI.”

The researcher behind “Malware Tech” sent the virus down a “sinkhole,” preventing it from spreading more widely.

“If malware tech had not sinkhole that domain as quickly as he had, we definitely could have seen many, many more infection that occurred,” Huss said. “Potentially hundreds of thousands and into the millions.”

While this attack has slowed, experts warn that networks remain vulnerable.

“This was a combination attack, obviously coordinated. We need to take the act of keeping our systems and devices up to date seriously,” said Tyler Cohen Wood, a former senior intelligence official involved in cyber operations. “Unfortunately, until this is taken more seriously, this massive wide scale type of attack is only the beginning.” </s> The individual, a Ukrainian national identified only as Denis K., was detained in the coastal city of Alicante with three accomplices, Spain's Interior Ministry said Monday.

According to Europol, the syndicate stole more than €1 billion ($1.24 billion) in a five-year spree by attacking over 100 financial institutions with malicious software. Authorities said almost all of Russia's banks were targeted.

Denis K. had allegedly directed the international cybercriminal gang from Spain since 2013.

Read more: Greece says hackers hit banks with bitcoin ransom demand

How they stole the money

The syndicate sent phishing emails to bank employees with attachments containing software known as "Carbanak" and "Cobalt." Once an email was opened, the software installed itself on the bank's server, allowing the hackers to gain control of bank accounts and automatic teller machines.

"With that level of access, the nefarious individuals authorize fraudulent bank transfers, raise the balances of mule accounts or command affected ATMs to spit out the money for them," Europol said.

"The Cobalt malware alone allowed criminals to steal up to €10 million per heist," the pan-European police body added.

Read more: Cybercrime laws as a weapon against expression

The syndicate's earnings were converted into bitcoins at exchange houses in Ukraine and Russia before being transferred to their accounts, Spain's Interior Ministry said.

Denis K. reportedly used financial platforms in Gibraltar and the UK to load prepaid cards with bitcoin and spend them in Spain on cars, homes and other goods.

Read more: Cybercrime just tip of iceberg in organized criminality, study finds

The criminal investigation was led by Spanish police, with assistance from various software companies, as well as law enforcement authorities in the United States, Romania, Belarus and Taiwan.

Every evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here. </s> Dozens of bomb threats were emailed to news organizations, government institutions, schools and private businesses from coast to coast on Thursday, sparking evacuations, in what is now believed to be a nationwide hoax.

The NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau said in a tweet that the agency is monitoring the bombs threats, but they are not considered credible.

The NYPD later tweeted that there was an email 'being circulated containing a bomb threat asking for bitcoin payment.'

The awkwardly phrased letter, obtained by ABC Eyewitness News, appears to have been written by a non-native English speaker, possibly with the aid of a translation app.

It reads in part: 'there is an explosive device (Tetryl) in the building where your company is conducted. My requited person constructed the bomb according to my guide. It is small and it is hidden very carefully, it is not able to destroy the structure of the building, but if it detonates there will be many wounded people.

The unidentified author of the letter, who stresses that he or she is not part of a terrorist organization, goes on to say that the device will be detonated if police presence or panic is detected.

'I want to propose your a bargain,' the letter continues. 'You pay me $20'000 in Bitcoin and explosive will not detonate... You must pay me by the end of the working day. If you are late with the payment explosive will detonate.'

The thug then reassures the targeted business that the threat is 'nothing personal, if you don't send me the money and the bomb detonates, next time other commercial enterprises will transfer me a lot more, because it not not a one-time action.'

According to the law enforcement agency, the purpose of the threat was to cause a disruption and possibly obtain money,

Police said they have conducted searches at locations targeted by the treat but no devices have been found.

The FBI stated that federal agents are also aware of the unfolding situation in cities across the US, including New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago and Detroit.

'As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities which could represent a threat to public safety.,' a tweet from the federal agency read.

One of the numerous locations in New York targeted by the threat was the prestigious Bronx Science High School, which was evacuated at 11am after receiving a bomb threat over the phone.

The caller claimed that a pipe bomb hidden on campus would explode in 20 minutes. The Emergency Service Unit later determined that there was no bomb at the school.

At least five locations in Manhattan were targeted and no fewer than 11 threats were made in Suffolk County on Long Island.

Columbine High School in Colorado was placed on lockdown this morning after someone called in claim that multiple bombs had been planted inside the school, which was the site of the infamous 1999 shooting that claimed 13 lives.

Penn State University in Pennsylvania notified students of a threat via a campus alert. Near Atlanta, people were ushered out of a courthouse.

A spokesman for the Oklahoma City Police Department revealed that around a dozen specific email bomb threats with addresses in and around Oklahoma City were sent out Thursday.

Some of the emails had the subject line: 'Think Twice.' Others opened with 'Better listen to me.'

The Palm Beach County, Florida sheriff's office and the Boise, Idaho police said they had no reason to believe that threats made to locations in those areas were credible.

Boston police said in a statement they had confirmed that the Boston Opera House had received an email threatening to bomb the celebrated cultural institution.

On the West Coast, two dozen threats were reported in Los Angeles, and in San Francisco a bank and a Jewish community center were evacuated as a precaution. </s> Police in Spain have captured a cybercrime gang made up of Ukrainians and Russians that allegedly stole more than 1 billion euros ($1.24 billion) from financial institutions worldwide in a five-year spree, authorities said Monday.

The gang's alleged mastermind, identified as a Ukrainian and named only as "Denis K.," was arrested in the coastal city of Alicante, 350 kilometers (220 miles) southeast of Madrid, according to statements issued by Spanish police and European Union law enforcement agency Europol.

Three suspected accomplices, said to be Russian and Ukrainian, were also arrested. Authorities didn't say when the arrests took place.

The gang used malware to target more than 100 financial institutions worldwide, sometimes stealing up to 10 million euros in each heist. Almost all of Russia's banks were targeted, and about 50 of them lost money in the attacks, authorities said.

The gang sent phishing emails with a malicious attachment to bank workers, Europol said. The software gave the gang remote control of infected machines, providing them with access to the internal banking network and infecting servers controlling ATMs.

ATMs were instructed to dispense cash at a pre-determined time, and the money was collected by organized crime groups supporting the main gang.

The gang converted its illicit gains into bitcoins and used the cryptocurrency to purchase assets, including houses and vehicles, in Spain.
A report commissioned by the UK states terrorists and extremists are increasingly turning to Bitcoin, the dark net, and encrypted communications apps in a bid to evade detection.