Isil used app to appeal to jihadis before attack

defence correspondent

AN ISIL propaganda group exhorted jihadists to carry out vehicle and knife attacks on civilians during Ramadan, hours before the London Bridge atrocity.

They used an encrypted messaging app urging followers to “gain benefit” from the holy month and “kill the civilians of the Crusaders. Run over them by vehicles”.

The message followed another attempt last month by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) to encourage jihadists. The latest message written in English and Arabic was posted on Saturday morning on the Telegram app by Nashir News Agency. It was then reposted after the attack.

This is the third consecutive year Isil has tried to hijack the 30-day period.

Kyle Orton, a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, said: “They see it as additional credit if you kill unbelievers in this month. They have been quite expressive about that.”