On Twitter, French And British ISIS Fighters Praise Paris Attack, Threaten Further Attacks

The following report is a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.

French- and English-speaking jihad fighters and their wives, mostly Islamic State (ISIS) members based in Syria and Iraq, were ecstatic at the January 7, 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris. Following is a review of notable reactions.  

The French-speaking Jihadi fighters reacted joyously at the news of the attack and its revenge for the blasphemous acts of the cartoonists, and called for more attacks against the West. They also criticized and leveled accusations against Muslims in the West for their reactions of support for the victims of the attack. Few tweets mentioned the doubt about whether Al-Qaeda or ISIS was behind the attack; the focus was on praising the attack as revenge for Islam in general.

K&K Almouhadjir(a), (@kalmouhadjir2), an ISIS fighter and his wife residing in Islamic State controlled territory in Syria, tweeted: "Who said mujahidin had no sense of humor," with a photo of a Kalashnikov and a note stating, "From Syria with love, bye bye Charlie!"

@kalmouhadjir2, January 8, 2015

Several supporters and fighters tweeted and retweeted a photo that had been widely disseminated in the summer of 2014 by French ISIS fighters in Syria in reaction to French involvement in the coalition against ISIS: "Oh France, the soldiers of the Islamic state are among you: ready and armed."

@kalmouhadjir2, January 8, 2015

AbZeyd l'Andaloussy (@jsaispastrop_), a young French jihadi fighter in Syria who had immigrated there with his parents and siblings, tweeted: "Just as they kill us with their soldiers in our home, we kill them in theirs";  "May Allah break the backs of the hypocrites who support those who insult the messenger!" "The French brothers have finally answered the call. May Allah reward our brothers that have avenged the insults on the prophet! Amin." Upon first learning of the attack, Abu Zeyd tweeted, "Allah Akbar! Make them tremble!"

@jsaispastrop_, January 8, 2015.

French ISIS fighter Abu Mikail Al Faransy (@aak94500) tweeted four photos under the title: "What causes joy to real Muslims: the 'Carbon Hebdo party' and terror in the hearts of the infidels." The photos are of himself holding a Kalashnikov, and each one is inscribed with a different message: "Happy new year and……. best wishes to Charlie Hebdo for this marvelous year without them"; "Hey Charb [murdered Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier]! We promise you not freedom of speech but the freedom to burn with your girlfriends in hell"; "As for the Muslims who do not rejoice at this wonderful event on this wonderful Wednesday, just wait for Allah to resurrect you with our famous journalists of Carbon Hebdo"; "Oh I almost forgot, our best smiles for your passage to the world beyond."

@aak94500, January 8, 2015.

Abu Taha (@aboutahadesign), ISIS fighter and media operative, designed and published an image of murdered Charlie Hebdo editor Charbonnier next to a Koran verse justifying the killing, tweeting it along with the message, "A great day for freedom of expression. So I decided to express myself!"

@aboutahadesign, January 8, 2015.

Plume Emigrée (@m_igree), a woman residing in the Islamic State, tweets primarily about questions of religious doctrine. She tweeted about the Paris attack: "In light of the comments of the so-called Muslims claiming to love Allah's messenger, a complete translation of Sarim A Maslul [the drawn sword] is much needed!"

@m_imgree, January 8, 2015.

Parigi (@parigi6), an ISIS fighter from Paris, tweeted: "Allah never forgets! Since the cartoons, millions of prayers have been made against that filth! The ISIS did it! #yesinmyname." He adds, attacking the Muslims denouncing the attacks: "You are Charlie? I am Muhammad! You are an infidel/apostate? I am a Muslim! You defend your 'freedom of speech'? I defend the honor of my prophet!

@parigi6, January 8, 2015.

French ISIS fighter Abou Ayaat aka Salahudin Shabbaz (@abou_ayaat), who is also an active online recruiter and media operative, tweeted: "OH French people, know that we will fight until death for the honor of our prophet. You are paying for the faults of your leaders"; "Those who still live among the polytheists are risking retaliation, but it will only be the result your hands have acquired through your disobedience and your dismissal of jihad in the path of Allah. Oh France, the message of our Sheikh Al-Adnani was delivered, and our brothers have heard it and answered it."

@abou_ayaat, January 8, 2015.

On the main jihadi French-speaking online forum Ansar Al Haqq, members, some of whom are known to be fighters, reacted with statements including: "Rejoice oh Muslims! The honor of our saintly Prophet has been avenged"; "The brothers showed a lot of courage. They make me laugh when they speak of 'freedom of speech' when many of our imams are in jail for what they say"; "To comment, I will simply add a quote from one of our lions that takes on its full meaning today: 'If your freedom of speech has no limits, you will have to accept our freedom to act' – Osama bin Laden."

Ansar Al-Haqq, January 8, 2015.

British Fighters Praise Paris Attacks, Threaten More

British ISIS fighter "Hudlitz" (@PaladinOfJihad) tweeted: "I hope that the Eiffel Tower falls down soon. Then we coming after the Statue of Liberty."

@PaladinOfJihad, January 8, 2015.

User @Islamicshield3, who calls himself Abu Al-Bara Al-Masri, tweeted: "Soon we will slaughter ur people's on ur street. #Paris Shooting."

@Islamicshield3, January 8, 2015.

An American fighting with Al-Shabab in Somalia, "Mujahid Miski" (@Muhajir_Miski)[i] tweeted in praise of the attack. He also hijacked the hashtag KillAllMuslims, in order to attract attention from others using that hashtag: "You believe in #FreedomofSpeech & we believe in #FreedomtoBehead. What makes your beliefs better than mine? #CharlieHebdo #Killallmuslims"

@Muhajir_Miski, January 8, 2015.

"The two Muslim Mujahids who killed 12 in #France are terrorists to u, but they are heroes in my eyes. #Charlie Hebdo #KillAllMuslims"

@Muhajir_Miski, January 8, 2015.

Mujahid Miski also tweeted a photo of the two suspects with the caption, "May Allah swt protect these 2 Mujahids in this world & in the afterlife" #JeSuisCharlie #CharlieHebdo #KillAllMuslims"

@Muhajir_Miski, January 8, 2015.

ISIS fighter Abu Mujahid AlSudani (@Abumujahid1397)tweeted, "Im proud of the muslims who defended the prophet's honor. #Noapologies for my #religious #Islam #Charliehebdo #parisshooting #Parisattack."

@Abumujahid1397, January 8, 2015.

He also tweeted, "The attack in france was freedom of religion because in Islam it is necessary to kill the one who insults the prophet. #CharlieHebdo #islam."

@Abumujahid1397, January 8, 2015.

The Islamic State Dawah account (@ISnews222), which disseminates ISIS propaganda, tweeted: "We will cut every lying rotten tongue and kill every liar that dares to insult our Prophet PBUH [peace be upon him] #ParisShooting."

@ISnews222, January 8, 2015.

An ISIS supporter going by "Jihadi John" (@jihadi0john), the nickname of the notorious British ISIS executioner, tweeted a screenshot from the November 2014 ISIS video of fighters beheading Syrian soldiers, with the caption "We begin to slaughter your ppl in your streets."

@jihadi0john, January 8, 2015.

 A female ISIS member in Syria tweeted, "#CharlieHebdo attack was announced over ISIS radio, celebratory gunfire &Takbiraat followed. Mujahideen in Raqqah are proud & in high spirits."

@Bint_Mujahid, January 8, 2015.

ISIS fighter Abu Junaid As Somaal (@IbnuTalha)tweeted, "New: Policewoman shot by gunman near Paris dies. THE WAR HAS JUST BEGUN."

@IbnuTalha, January 8, 2015.

ISIS supporter Khaled IbnAmghar (@IbnAmghar5) tweeted, "#KillAllKuffars [infidels] #KillAllChristians #Killall #Die_in_your_rage #soon with our #planes."

@IbnAmghar5, January 8, 2015.