ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - March 31, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - March 31, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• ZeroFox Intelligence Flash Report: Terror Threat Ahead of European Summer Events
• Police Detain Protesters in Delhi Seeking to Surround Prime Minister’s Residence -Houthis Strike Chinese Ship in Red Sea

ZeroFox Intelligence Flash Report: Terror Threat Ahead of European Summer Events

A number of European countries have stepped up security following the attack carried out by Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) operatives in Moscow on March 22, 2024. On March 25, 2024, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced that authorities had increased the country’s official security threat designation to its highest level. This measure was implemented following a deadly terrorist attack by IS-K on a concert hall outside Moscow, Russia. Authorities in France and Germany in particular are in a heightened state of alert in the run-up to the Euro 2024 soccer tournament held across Germany and the Paris Olympics due to take place between June and August 2024. European authorities are warning that the Islamic State (IS) threat to Europe is at its highest level in years. This is likely a reflection of the increased threats since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war and the large upcoming spectator events rather than of the group's capabilities, which remain diminished.

Police Detain Protesters in Delhi Seeking to Surround Prime Minister’s Residence

Indian police arrested dozens of protesters assembled to surround the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid national controversy over the arrest of a key opposition figure. Leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), part of India’s opposition bloc, called for the protest after police arrested Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi’s chief minister and founder of the AAP, on March 21 on charges of corruption. AAP supporters have since staged several actions including rallying in New Delhi and burning effigies of Prime Minister Modi, whom they accused of falsifying the charges to eliminate a major political rival.

Houthis Strike Chinese Ship in Red Sea

On March 24, United States military sources reported that Yemen-based Houthi rebels had struck a Chinese-owned oil tanker in the Red Sea despite past promises by the group to not target Chinese assets. The US Central Command stated that the Houthis fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles at the MV Huang Pu, which started a fire onboard and forced the crew to issue a distress signal. No casualties were reported. It is unclear if the ship was targeted in error; earlier this year, the Houthis struck an Iranian cargo ship despite receiving much of their financing and weaponry from Iran. The Houthis launched a wave of drones alongside the missile attack, most of which were intercepted by the American warship USS Carney.