Isis issues menacing Christmas message threatening 'Season of Terror' against Christians

The publication gloats that Western cities now experience heightened fear during festive periods, with the terror organisation claiming governments have been forced into a state of permanent vigilance.

Isis mocked the security measures now commonplace at Christmas celebrations, including armed officers, concrete barriers and intelligence operations.

The newsletter taunts Western authorities, declaring there is no prospect of this state of alert ending.

The newsletter explicitly instructs followers to target crowds during religious holidays.

It stated: "Engage in the crowds of Christians and Jews in the heart of Europe, America, and the Jewish state, running them over with buses, beating them, and smashing them with heavy hammers."

Isis also described such attacks as "the highest form of separation" from non-believers.

The publication glorifies previous atrocities, specifically praising the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack that saw a Jihadist deliberately drive a lorry into shoppers.

Isis attempted to justify bloodshed through extremist interpretations of Islamic scripture, urging followers to confront religious holidays "with both word and sword."

The newsletter framed violence during Christian and Jewish celebrations as a sacred duty, calling on "knights of Da'wah and Jihad" to act.

The terror group, established in 2004, proclaimed its caliphate a decade later but has since lost its territorial stronghold across Iraq and Syria.

At the height of its power, Isis commanded approximately 80,000 fighters according to the International Centre for Counter-terrorism, with foreign terrorists numbering more than 42,000.

Current estimates suggest the organisation now has between 1,500 and 3,000 operatives remaining in the region by mid-2025.

Despite this dramatic decline in the Middle East, the group expanded its reach worldwide and remained the deadliest terrorist organisation globally through the end of 2024.

Following the collapse of its physical caliphate in 2019, Isis reorganised into a decentralised structure of semi-independent affiliates operating across multiple continents.

Is-Khorasan has emerged as the organisation's most lethal branch, with connections to significant attacks in Afghanistan, Iran and Russia.

Security services across Britain and Europe have heightened their vigilance throughout the festive season, deploying additional police patrols to Christmas markets, transport hubs and religious sites.

Counter-terrorism specialists assess that publications like this newsletter are primarily intended to inspire lone individuals to carry out attacks and generate widespread fear, rather than indicating the group's actual operational capacity.

The messaging strategy aims to radicalise isolated actors who may attempt copycat violence without direct coordination from the organisation.

Authorities have urged members of the public who come across extremist content online to report it to the relevant agencies without delay.

The increased security presence reflects ongoing concerns about the threat posed by Isis-inspired attacks during periods of religious celebration.

Turkey has announced it has foiled a New Year's Eve terror plot after arresting 115 suspects.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that authorities received information that the extremist organisation had issued a call to action, particularly against non-Muslims during Christmas and New Year's celebrations.