ISIS uses California earthquake hashtags on Twitter to threaten America
ISIS supporters hijacked Napa, California earthquake hashtags on Twitter to reach a larger audience for threatening posts. Popular earthquakes hashtags such as #napaearthquake or #sfearthquake were filled with graphic images and terrorism threats against America.
The 6.0 earthquake rocked the Napa Valley, so Twitter was busy with communications surrounding the natural disaster. The Sunni Muslim group accused Americans of being guilty of war crimes and torture. “WE WILL KILL YOU WHEREVER WE FIND YOU.”
One of the images posted with the hashtag shows an image of a man purported to be Sotloff kneeling beside a man who is gripping the collar of his shirt. President Obama’s head has been superimposed onto the other man’s body. The text reads: “WHY WOULD I CARE ABOUT HIM?”
ISIS has also proven adept at generating its own hashtags. As IntelWire editor and terrorism analyst J.M. Berger told CBS News in June, the group has used specialized apps to amplify its messages on social media, and get its pre-approved hashtags trending in various areas. Earlier in ISIS’ campaign, those messages were directed at Iraqi soldiers and civilians in places like Baghdad. Now, many of those messages are directed at the United States.
The newest of those hashtags is #StevensHeadInObamasHands, a threat against American journalist Steven Sotloff who is believed to be held captive by ISIS in Syria. As Vocative reports, the hashtag was released in an online forum where the group “tends to post publications and instructions.”
In Syria, the Islamic terrorist group is spreading their campaign, seizing an air base and creating well across the country and into Iraq. While the U.S. is active in air strikes against IS members in Iraq, the Syrian government has warned against unilateral attacls. More on that story HERE
