Islamic State leaders put out a call online to their supporters for creative ways to carry out terror attacks and received some out-of-the-box replies.
More than a dozen Islamic State sympathizers responded and discussed ideas with suggestions ranging from booby-trapped hot air balloons to explosive-laden remote control cars.
“Here, we will collect suggestions and initiatives… for the development of our military production, with innovation and invention,” the prominent user wrote in the first message, Vocativ reported. The poster added that since there are “traitors and hidden users” inside the forum, the followers should “send the most genius and excellent ideas in private messages.”
Hot air balloons were used in several of the outlandish terror plots, with one supporter suggesting dozens of balloons rigged with explosives being launched into the sky to take down enemy warplanes.
Another supporter suggested saddling hot air balloons with remote control machine guns. The posted noted that enacting this plot will require the development of software and multiple engineers, according to Vocativ.
A third poster suggested building a “suicide air battalion” using hang gliders or hot air balloons to carry suicide bomber over enemy territory where they would jump out and land on enemy targets.
Another seemingly silly idea was the use of booby-trapped remote controlled cars, which one poster suggested could be used to attack cars and people stopped at checkpoints.
Some of the ideas, while outlandish, proved more chilling.
One supported suggested using drones to drop toxic, chemical or biological substances on enemy targets.
Another poster proposed hacking the personal cellphones of enemy soldiers and their family members to conduct psychological warfare against them via prank phone calls.
The user said militants could call a soldier’s family member and “you son was killed today,” Vocativ reported.
Strange ideas for terror attacks have appeared on Islamic State operated internet forums before. Jihadists have proposed strapping explosives to birds and poisoning Russian vodka factories.
“Everything starts from a fantasy. Even the idea of flying looked like a dream until it became reality,” wrote one of the users after a hot air balloon was suggested, Vocativ reported.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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