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Category: Crime
February 5, 2026
Crime
World

FBI Recaptures Alex Saab, Maduro’s Top Money Launderer Released by Biden.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Colombian businessman Alex Saab, considered a top money launderer for Nicolás Maduro, was reportedly arrested in Caracas during a joint U.S.-Venezuela operation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Alex Saab, Nicolás Maduro, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Venezuelan authorities, and businessman Raúl Gorrín.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Saab was captured on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in Caracas, Venezuela.

🎯IMPACT: Saab had initially been captured by the U.S. in 2020, but was subsequently released by former President Joe Biden as part of a prisoner exchange with the Maduro regime.

IN FULL

Former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro’s top money launderer, Alex Saab, was captured in a joint operation by the United States and Venezuelan authorities on Wednesday in the country’s capital of Caracas. Saab—a Colombian businessman with extensive ties to Maduro and the illicit narcotics trade—was apprehended in an operation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), along with Venezuelan businessman Raúl Gorrín, the head of Globovision TV network and another close Maduro ally.

The United States placed sanctions on Saab and Gorrín during President Donald J. Trump‘s first term in office. In June 2020, U.S. law enforcement arrested Saab in Cape Verde during a stopover on a flight from Venezuela to Iran and charged him with laundering $350 million taken from Venezuela’s treasury through the U.S. financial system.

However, in 2023, as part of a prison swap with the Maduro regime, former President Joe Biden signed an order for Saab’s release and return to Venezuela. Officials in the former Biden government argued that Maduro would be more inclined to help reduce the number of Venezuelan illegal immigrants attempting to enter the U.S. as a result of the release. Upon his return, Saab was appointed by Maduro as Venezuela’s Minister of Industry and National Production, a role he held until he was stripped of it by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former deputy, in January.

Despite U.S. officials confirming Saab’s arrest, his lawyer Luigi Giuliano claimed late Wednesday that Saab was still in Caracas and called reports of his capture “fake news.” Giuliano claimed that Saab may make a public appearance to refute the reports of his capture, but thus far, that has not materialized.

Venezuelan businessman Raúl Gorrín was also apprehended during the operation. A close associate of Maduro, Gorrín was indicted in 2024 by a U.S. federal grand jury in Florida for a scheme to launder $1.2 billion. Like Saab, Gorrín was sanctioned by the Trump administration for corruption.

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February 4, 2026
Crime
News

Vance Will Lead Anti-Fraud Task Force Against Newsom’s California.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The White House is finalizing plans for a new anti-fraud task force targeting welfare abuse in California and other states.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Vice President J.D. Vance, Andrew Ferguson of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The task force is expected to be announced later this month via executive order from President Donald J. Trump.

🎯IMPACT: The task force aims to tackle billions of dollars in fraud.

IN FULL

The White House is in the final stages of organizing a new federal anti-fraud task force aimed at combating the abuse of welfare and other taxpayer-funded programs, particularly in California, according to multiple sources. President Donald J. Trump is expected to sign an executive order establishing the task force and appointing Vice President J.D. Vance as its chairman, signaling an increased emphasis on fraud enforcement across federal programs.

Andrew Ferguson, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is slated to serve as vice chairman and manage the task force’s day-to-day operations. Ferguson has led several high-profile consumer protection efforts, including a multibillion-dollar settlement with Amazon and antitrust actions against major technology companies.

The task force will also include Colin McDonald, a nominee for a newly created fraud investigator position at the Department of Justice. McDonald would report to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche while coordinating closely with Vance and Ferguson. Sources say the initiative was partly driven by internal frustration within the administration over what it views as resistance from career Justice Department officials to advancing certain enforcement priorities.

California has been a focal point in recent fraud investigations. State auditors previously identified billions of dollars in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims and improper pandemic relief payments. Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has defended his state, claiming his administration has made efforts to recover funds and strengthen oversight.

Fraud concerns extend well beyond California, however. Federal investigators have estimated that welfare-related fraud tied to Somali networks operating in Minnesota could ultimately exceed $9 billion, following years of alleged abuse of housing and food assistance programs.

In another recent case, federal prosecutors in Chicago, Illinois, charged foreign nationals in a massive Medicare fraud scheme involving more than $1 billion in false claims submitted using stolen identities and fraudulent medical orders.

Separately, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently launched a broad investigation into H-1B visa fraud, alleging companies may have manipulated the federal program to use migrants to undercut American workers.

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February 4, 2026
Crime

Man Faces Charges for Doxing, Threatening FBI Agent and Family.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A man in Illinois has been charged with doxing and threatening a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent using information stolen from federal vehicles in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jose Alberto Ramirez, the FBI agent (Victim A), and anti-ICE agitators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The threats originated from stolen documents in January; Ramirez is set to appear in federal court on Wednesday afternoon.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I know where your mom lives bro. And your dad. And your kids buddy. Get home safe and fast.” – Text message sent to the FBI agent.

🎯IMPACT: Ramirez faces federal charges for threatening an FBI agent and will appear for arraignment on Wednesday.

IN FULL

Jose Alberto Ramirez, an Illinois resident, has been charged with doxing and threatening a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent and his children after anti-ICE agitators stole documents from federal vehicles in Minneapolis last month. The documents contained personal information, including residential addresses, phone numbers, and emails, which were later posted on social media.

According to an affidavit filed with the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Ramirez allegedly sent a series of profanity-laced text messages to the FBI agent’s work phone. One message read, “I know where your mom lives bro. And your dad. And your kids buddy. Get home safe and fast.” Another message threatened to firebomb an address associated with the agent.

The affidavit also linked Ramirez to an incident at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois, where he was reported to police by his manager for threatening to shoot another employee. The phone number provided in that incident matched the one used to send the threatening messages to the FBI agent.

Ramirez, who will appear in court for arraignment late Wednesday afternoon, has a criminal history involving multiple felonies and misdemeanors, including domestic battery, burglary, and mob action.

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February 4, 2026
Crime

Trump’s D.C. Crackdown Has Slashed Crime, 80% Drop in Homicides.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Crime in Washington, D.C. has seen a dramatic decrease in early 2026, with homicides dropping 80 percent, robberies down 58 percent, and overall crime down by 26 percent compared to the same period in 2025.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and federal law enforcement agencies have contributed to these results through targeted interventions.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The data reflects crime statistics in Washington, D.C. for the early weeks of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025.

🎯IMPACT: The significant decline in crime demonstrates the effectiveness of the President’s law and order policies, offering a model for other cities to follow.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., as part of an effort to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital, is bearing significant fruit. Data from the city’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) show that, year-to-date, homicides are down 80 percent, robberies are down 58 percent, burglaries are down 58 percent, car thefts are down 57 percent, and crime across the board is down 26 percent when compared to the same time last year.

In the first month of 2026, Washington, D.C. saw only two homicides—over the same period in 2025, the city had already racked up ten murders. Meanwhile, robberies fell from 158 in the first month of 2025 to just 67 in the first month of 2026. Motor vehicle thefts, one of the most common crimes in the capital city, sat at 381 in January of last year but fell to 162 in the first month of 2026. Overall, the total crime count for D.C. slid from 1,880 incidents in the first month of last year to 1,385 this past month.

The National Pulse reported last month that crime on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Metro and bus system hit an over two-decade low last year as the National Guard presence has bolstered the city’s police department. Overall, crime on Metrobuses fell 37 percent, while Metrorail saw a 34 percent decline, and crime in Metro parking facilities fell 40 percent.

Notably, the success of the crackdown has resulted in an extension of the National Guard deployment as the city continues to refocus its police force on neighborhoods that have long needed a more substantial law enforcement presence. The plummeting crime rate has also all but ended resistance to the Guard deployment, which city officials initially opposed.

The Trump administration’s public safety efforts in D.C. come in direct response to a surge in lawlessness under former President Joe Biden.

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February 4, 2026
Crime
Immigration

ICE Catches Illegal Who Was Recruited by Police and Issued a Firearm.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a New Orleans Police Department recruit from Cameroon who was issued a firearm despite an being subject to an active deportation order.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Larry Temah, a 46-year-old recruit, ICE, and the New Orleans Police Department.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Temah was arrested on January 28, just one week before his scheduled graduation from the New Orleans Police Academy.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This illegal alien from Cameroon, Larry Temah, is not only breaking the law with every step he takes in this country illegally, but the New Orleans Police Department hired him and issued him a firearm — what kind of law enforcement department gives criminal illegal aliens guns and badges?” – Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary.

🎯IMPACT: The case highlights ongoing concerns over sanctuary city policies and enforcement of immigration laws.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Larry Temah, a 46-year-old recruit with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) from Cameroon, on January 28, 2026—just one week before his scheduled graduation from the police academy. Temah had been issued a firearm despite being subject to an active deportation order.

Temah entered the U.S. legally in 2015 on a visitor visa and received conditional residency in 2016 after marrying a U.S. citizen. However, his application for permanent residency was denied in 2022 due to fraud, per ICE. He failed to appear in immigration court three times, leading an immigration judge to order his removal in absentia. ICE also stated that he lacked valid work authorization.

Federal law prohibits illegal aliens from possessing firearms, yet the NOPD recruited Temah and provided him with a gun. “This illegal alien from Cameroon, Larry Temah, is not only breaking the law with every step he takes in this country illegally, but the New Orleans Police Department hired him and issued him a firearm—what kind of law enforcement department gives criminal illegal aliens guns and badges?” said Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary. She added that it is a felony for illegal aliens to possess firearms.

An NOPD spokesman disputed ICE’s claims, claiming the department verified Temah’s employment eligibility through ICE’s E-Verify system before hiring him. The spokesman stated: “New Orleans is not a sanctuary city, and NOPD does not control jail operations or detainer decisions, which fall under the Sheriff’s Office.” They denied that the department knowingly violated any laws.

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February 3, 2026
Crime
Immigration

Migrants Charged in Billion-Dollar Medicare Fraud Scheme.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal prosecutors in Chicago, Illinois, uncovered schemes involving foreign nationals exploiting U.S. Medicare and supplemental insurance systems, filing over $1 billion in fraudulent claims.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nationals of Kazakhstan and Pakistan are accused, including Anuar Abdrakhmanov and Tair Smagul, as well as two unnamed Pakistani nationals.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Fraudulent activities spanned multiple states, with cases tied to Kentucky, Connecticut, and other locations. Key events occurred between 2023 and 2024.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Medicare received tens of thousands of beneficiary complaints tied to the fraudulent billing.” – Federal prosecutors

🎯IMPACT: The schemes resulted in hundreds of millions in false claims, with supplemental insurers paying at least $450,000, and exposed vulnerabilities in Medicare’s billing systems.

IN FULL

Federal prosecutors in Chicago have exposed massive Medicare fraud schemes involving foreign nationals, with more than $1 billion in fraudulent claims filed for medical equipment and diagnostic tests. Investigators say many of the items were never delivered, authorized, or requested by patients or doctors. Court filings show that nationals from Kazakhstan and Pakistan took control of seemingly legitimate medical supply companies and used stolen patient information to submit fake prescriptions and bills. Authorities say the perpetrators tried to funnel the proceeds overseas before being stopped.

One of the largest operations involved Kazakh national Anuar Abdrakhmanov, who allegedly submitted $666 million in Medicare claims in just five months through Priority One Medical Equipment. Investigators found that the company’s listed office in Kentucky was mostly empty, with employees forwarding mail to a supervisor they had never met.

Another case centers on Kazakh national Tair Smagul, accused of laundering proceeds from roughly $953 million in fraudulent claims. Medicare received more than 27,000 complaints from beneficiaries tied to Smagul’s operation in Connecticut, with doctors and patients denying any involvement in the billed services.

Two Pakistani nationals are also accused of running schemes using stolen Medicare data to submit false claims through shell companies with names such as Snazzy Sprocket and Peculiar Penguin.

Officials say these cases highlight the growing scope of Medicare fraud, which federal authorities believe may involve billions more in undiscovered false claims.

These prosecutions come amid a broader wave of fraud cases involving migrants. In Minnesota, investigators uncovered what federal authorities describe as one of the largest welfare fraud scandals in U.S. history, involving false claims for child nutrition, housing stabilization, and autism services. More than 78 people have been indicted, and hundreds of millions of dollars were reportedly stolen.

In Washington, D.C., Ruby Corado, a transgender migrant activist and founder of the now‑defunct nonprofit Casa Ruby, was recently sentenced to 33 months in prison for diverting federal COVID‑19 relief funds. Court filings show Corado stole more than $950,000, transferred at least $150,000 overseas, and was ordered to repay $956,215 in restitution.

Other reported migrant-linked fraud includes a $7 million SNAP scheme allegedly run by a Haitian immigrant duo, who submitted false claims using fabricated identities to obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

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February 3, 2026
Crime
News

Jill Biden’s First Husband Charged with First-Degree Murder.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former First Lady Jill Biden’s first husband, William Stevenson, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his late wife, Linda Stevenson.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: William Stevenson, 77, and his late wife, Linda Stevenson, 64. Jill Biden was previously married to William Stevenson from 1970 to 1974.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Linda Stevenson was found unresponsive in their Wilmington, Delaware home on December 28, 2025. William Stevenson was taken into custody at the same location on February 2, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Police were responding late at night on December 28, 2025, to a ‘reported domestic dispute’ at the Stevensons’ residence,” according to a New Castle County Police Department press release.

🎯IMPACT: The case has drawn attention due to William Stevenson’s past marriage to Jill Biden, now the wife of former President Joe Biden.

IN FULL

William Stevenson, the ex-husband of former First Lady Jill Biden, has been charged with first-degree murder following the death of his current wife, Linda Stevenson. Linda, 64, was found unresponsive in their Wilmington, Delaware, residence on December 28, 2025, after police responded to a reported domestic dispute late that evening.

According to the New Castle County Police Department (NCCPD), Linda Stevenson was found unresponsive and was later pronounced dead. The circumstances surrounding her death prompted a police investigation, with William Stevenson being arrested and charged with murder on Monday, February 2, 2026.

“Following an extensive weeks-long investigation into the death of 64-year-old Linda Stevenson, Detectives from the Division’s Criminal Investigations Unit, in coordination with the Delaware Department of Justice, presented the case to a grand jury,” the NCCPD stated, adding: “As a result, an indictment was returned by the New Castle County Superior Court charging 77-year-old William Stevenson with Murder in the First Degree.”

Previously, Stevenson and Jill Biden were married from 1970 to 1974; Jill Stevenson would later marry Joe Biden in 1977.  William Stevenson would later claim the separation was a result of an affair between his then-wife and her future husband. According to Stevenson, he kicked Jill out of his home after uncovering the relationship.

“One of her best friends told me she thought Joe and Jill were getting a little too close. I was surprised that she came to me,” Stevenson claimed in 2020. He went on to state that the affair was confirmed to him when a friend informed him that Joe Biden had been driving his then-wife’s car when she was involved in an accident, “I asked Jill to leave the house, which she did.”

The NCCPD has not yet released a cause of death for Linda Stevenson nor a motive for her murder.

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February 3, 2026
Crime
Immigration
News

DOJ Says ‘Massive Underground Fraud Network’ is Funding Anti-ICE Movement in Minneapolis.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal investigators have reportedly uncovered a “massive underground fraud network” in Minneapolis linked to the anti-ICE movement.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and federal investigators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Reported on February 3, 2026, concerning Minneapolis, Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “[I]t’s not just coincidence that these massive numbers of protesters and rioters and agitators show up at the same time, and they’re pushing back on what has been a profit center for fraudsters.” – Todd Blanche

🎯IMPACT: The investigation is ongoing, with an emphasis on tracing financial connections to the alleged fraud network.

IN FULL

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has stated that federal investigators suspect a “massive underground fraud network” is orchestrating efforts to expel U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from Minneapolis, Minnesota. “We had a massive fraud [scandal] going on all through Minneapolis, all through Minnesota, and suddenly it turned,” he said in an interview. “It turned almost on a dime, and it became suddenly all about ICE, all about getting ICE out, and how horrible ICE was doing.”

Blanche said the Department of Justice (DOJ) was making progress on tracing the funding linked to the network, although he cautioned this was “not something we’re going to do overnight.” He emphasized that “it’s not just coincidence that these massive numbers of protesters and rioters and agitators show up at the same time, and they’re pushing back on what has been a profit center for fraudsters.”

This all comes against a backdrop of heightened friction between ICE, state Democrats, and local agitators, worsened by recent deadly encounters involving federal immigration officers and anti-ICE activists in Minneapolis that intensified the demonstrations.

Federal officials are pressing forward with their examination of the purported fraud operation and what it might mean for immigration enforcement in the area, keeping the atmosphere charged despite efforts by Border Czar Tom Homan to cool the situation.

Image by Steve Fernie.

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February 3, 2026
Crime
Politics

Mamdani Names Former Rikers Island Inmate as NYC Corrections Chief.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) has appointed Stanley Richards, a former inmate at Rikers Island, as the city’s new Department of Correction commissioner.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Stanley Richards, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain, and the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association (COBA).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Richards’ appointment was announced in New York City during a recent news conference.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Stanley will make history in this role as the first ever formerly incarcerated person to serve as commissioner. That achievement is not merely symbolic.” – Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

🎯IMPACT: Richards is the latest controversial appointment by Mamdani, who, as mayor, has sought to elevate a number of radical and far-left ideologues to key posts in New York City.

IN FULL

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) announced he is appointing former Rikers Island inmate Stanley Richards as the city’s new  Department of Correction commissioner. Stanley served two and a half years on Rikers in the 1980s for robbery before finishing four and a half years of a nine-year prison sentence elsewhere. The appointment marks the first instance in New York City history of a former prisoner holding the position of commissioner, with Richards becoming the latest far-left ideological ally of Mamdani to be elevated to a key city.

“Stanley will make history in this role as the first ever formerly incarcerated person to serve as commissioner,” Mayor Mamdani said during a news conference announcing the appointment. He added, “That achievement is not merely symbolic. It is a testament to the thought and leadership he will bring to every member of correction staff and incarcerated New Yorkers underneath his purview.”

Following his release from the New York prison system in 1991, Richards began working as a counselor with the Fortune Society, a nonprofit organization that provides housing and re-entry assistance for ex-convicts, eventually rising to become the group’s president and CEO. A staunch far-left “prison reform” activist, Richards advocates against incarceration policies he claims are punishment-oriented. “Under Mayor Mamdani’s leadership, we will chart a path of hope, healing, and transformation,” Richards stated at the press conference announcing his appointment, adding: “[Mamdani’s] administration made clear that the future of Rikers is not endless confinement, scapegoating or demonizing.”

Previously, Richards served a stint as the first deputy commissioner of programs and operations at the Department of Correction under former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, as well as the vice chairman of the Board of Correction’s Task Force to Close Rikers. However, the choice of Richards is already being viewed with caution by those whose jobs it is to ensure public safety and security at Rikers and other city prison facilities.

“Despite the many false narratives that have portrayed COBA as an ‘obstacle to reform,’ we have been ready, willing and able to meet and work with anyone, as long as they respect the rights of our Correction Officers and understand that their safety and security matter,” Benny Boscio, president of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association (COBA), said in response to Mamdani’s decision tap Richards for Department of Correction commissioner, adding: “The jails cannot and will not operate as safely as possible if the concerns of our members are brushed aside. It is our hope that Mr. Richards understands that dynamic as he takes on this new role and demonstrates a commitment to putting safety and security before any political ideology.”

Notably, Richards will have only limited authority over Rikers Island, as the prison has been under federal oversight for the past 10 years. Last spring, U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain appointed Nicholas Deml, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer and Vermont Corrections Department chief, as a federal monitor to oversee Rikers, granting him much of the authority and duties previously held by the city-appointed commissioner.

Image via NYC Mayor’s Office.

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January 31, 2026
Bonkers Britain
Crime

Muslim Terrorist Stands for Election in Muslim Enclave.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Shahid Butt, a convicted terrorist, is running for a seat on Birmingham City Council in England.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Shahid Butt, a 60-year-old Muslim activist and convicted terrorist, and residents of Birmingham’s Sparkhill ward, which is around 84 percent Muslim and 92 percent non-white.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Sparkhill ward in Birmingham, United Kingdom, with local elections set for May 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Do not take the Jews or Christians as your friends and protectors… Stick with the Muslims, and for good or for worse, hold your ground.” – Shahid Butt

🎯IMPACT: The candidacy has sparked outrage, highlighting concerns over extremism in UK politics and the legal loopholes enabling such figures to stand for election.

IN FULL

A convicted radical Islamic terrorist who planned attacks on a British consulate and an Anglican church is standing for election in one of England’s ethnic enclaves. Shahid Butt, a 60-year-old Muslim activist, is seeking election in Birmingham City Council’s Sparkhill ward.

Butt was arrested in 1999 and later sentenced to five years in prison by a Yemeni court after being found guilty of helping form an armed group that planned attacks on the consulate, a church, and a Swiss-owned hotel. Reporting at the time linked him to an Islamist jihadi group accused of kidnapping 16 Western tourists in 1998. During the 1990s, Butt also joined an Islamic foreign fighters brigade aligned with the Bosnian army, and he was linked to a notorious Birmingham gang in the 1980s.

Now running as a pro-Gaza independent candidate in the Sparkhill ward, where an estimated 92 percent of residents are non-white and 84 percent are Muslim, Butt has urged Muslim youth to “work out at the gym and learn to fight” in preparation for potential attacks, and said on a recent podcast appearance, “Do not take the Jews or Christians as your friends and protectors… Stick with the Muslims, and for good or for worse, hold your ground.”

Councillor Russell Quirk, of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, said Butt’s past should “disqualify [him] from standing for election.” Representatives of victims of Islamist violence have also condemned the move, with one source, who did not wish to be named, saying, “Allowing someone with this history to run for office undermines everything we stand for in fighting extremism.”

The Butt controversy comes amid heightened communal tensions across Britain, with recent anti-Israel protests occasionally turning violent and Jewish groups warning of increased insecurity. In October, a synagogue was attacked by a Syrian terrorist, leaving multiple dead.

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