It’s far too early to say this attacker was a ‘lone wolf’

NY Post ^ | November 1, 2017 | Frederick W. Kagan

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Within hours of the terror attack in Manhattan, Gov. Cuomo said “we have no evidence that today’s attack is part of a wider plot involving more than one individual.” He called the attacker a “lone wolf.” This kind of statement has become the obligatory instant response to almost any terrorist attack.

It is profoundly misleading, however. It perpetuates an inaccurate understanding of how attackers in the United States and Europe operate and how counterterrorism investigations work.

Proving a terrorist was part of a network or cell can be easy. Among other possibilities, first responders can find messages, as in the most recent attack, and sloppy attackers can leave traces on social media or personal devices that allow for swift confirmation.

Proving a negative is much harder and takes much longer. If the attacker better conceals his connections, investigators initially find nothing. That’s when officials often erroneously say there were no connections.

The investigation continues in the background, however, as officials search for many things including electronic devices, interview friends and families of the attackers when possible, explore social-media outlets for accounts not obviously traceable to the terrorist and obtain warrants to examine cellphone metadata.

That takes weeks and frequently turns up connections to terrorist groups — as Cuomo found last year after he initially said the Chelsea bomber had no international connections and had to retract that statement the next day. He may have to do so again, as investigators are already reporting that this attacker appears to have been in contact with others connected with terrorism investigations.

So, why do officials leap publicly to these conclusions? Some likely seek to allay fears of imminent follow-up attacks. That’s understandable, but it’s a dangerous response. One simply cannot know that quickly that more attacks aren’t planned.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

I can think of at least 23 people the Feds should be looking at right away.

[llevrok]

The concept of “lone wolf” is horse pucky. The whole religion is involved, in my opinion. There is no “lone”.

[Bob434]

these murderers are NOT lone wolves- they are soldiers of radical islam- they belong to a large, violent, murderous ideology- there is nothing ‘lone’ about them- they may commit the acts of violence alone, or in pairs or whatever- but they belong to the enemy and aRE acting on the enemy’s orders of wishes- The term ‘lone wolf’ needs to be eradicated once and for all- Those people are traitors to this country- and all belong to a large organized violent ideology

[zeestephen]

I saw a headline scroll by on Fox News a few hours ago.

It said NYC Police were seeking a second “person of interest.”

[exnavy]

It is a religon of pieces, for infidels.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Cuomo never misses a chance to use somebody’s tragedy to advance his own political career.

Hope the HUD investigations on him put him in jail.

Next, see if there were any Mafia connections by his old man, the fool Governor Mario Cuomo and “Mob-Denier” in Chief.

Andrew is politically insane, just like Mayor DeCommieo, and Chris Cuomo makes Tokyo Rose seem like an Einstein.

It must run in the family - Stupidity, crookness, and insanity.

[Oldexpat]

More like a known wolf.

[HotKat]

The wolf duet.

[Architect of Avalon]

“Lone wolf” is the Fake News Media’s way of saying “nothing to do with Islam”.

[kearnyirish2]

Yesterday they were showing a close-up of another otherized swarthy they were seeking, and neighbors described him spending much of the last few weeks with a couple of them. There is a cell here (probably one of many in Paterson NJ); no lone wolf.

[mazda77]

And we see Whoraldo Rivera remains stuck on stupid in defending the political elite idiots. He must have had a drawer full of parking tickets.

The best part is early yesterday the FBI announced their interest in other people after witnesses from around the Patterson area came forward with information of maybe additional people in a truck like the one used with the same basturd that did the deed weeks before apparently involved with the planning. I see this morning the feds have this guy so I would suspect more will be sought.

Then the pias and smug leaders of NY politics can suffer in the boil they ceated for their 15 minutes of camera time. SOB’s!

[politicianslie]

It must run in the family - Stupidity, crookness, and insanity.

These are Democrats. That is what Democrats are.

Cuomo never misses a chance to use somebody’s tragedy to advance his own political career.

Liberals called progressives or whatever label they are using now want to flood the west with peaceful Muslims. These Muslims are here to overthrow the western government in a social jihad. Some are here to kill infidels.

Psychopaths like Cumo and other progressives operate on hiding their true intentions. By letting in large numbers of potential terrorists, they disrupt our society. Disrupting our society is what liberals see as the path to their next world order where there are no borders, just social programs and government control.

What liberals like Cumo, Obama, Hillary, Podesta, Merkell,.... do not want to let you know is that ALL Muslims are commanded to kill infidels. It is what they are taught, it is what is in their HOLY KORAN.

Liberals MUST hide the truth about murderous Muslims. Otherwise, westerners would throw the liberals AND the Muslims OUT SO THAT WE CAN LIVE IN PEACE!

The west will not be as safe as it can be until Islam is declared a terrorist cult and banned. If you want to practice Islam, you will have to go to one of their $hitholes where Islam is in control. We do not want Islamic barbarians killing innocent people as a consequence of the liberal's agenda.

[politicianslie]

I see this morning the feds have this guy so I would suspect more will be sought. Then the pias and smug leaders of NY politics can suffer in the boil they ceated for their 15 minutes of camera time. SOB’s!

The progressive nut cases will circle the wagons and come to the defense of the 23 Muslims who are here to kill infidels. It is what liberals do, they lie and deceive. Wait, don't Muslims lie and deceive too?

[trebb]

Yeah - “lone wolf” just give cover to the story that he may have been interviewed a few years ago because he might have had contact with some folks but was never considered any sort of risk so we really have no idea how he slipped through -— like all the other terrorists who have killed people on our land.....

[odawg]

The lone wolf theory is designed to make us believe that ten people planning one event is somehow worse than ten people planning ten events.