//The Wire//2200Z February 1, 2024//

//ROUTINE//

//BLUF: PROTESTS CONTINUE IN EUROPE, DESPITE LACK OF MEDIA COVERAGE//

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-International Events-

United Kingdom: An acid attack wounds 12 people in southwest London. The attacker has been identified as 35 year old Abdul Shokoor Ezedi. The attacker remains a fugitive as a woman and her two children remain hospitalized from the attack.

Belgium: Protests intensify at the headquarters of the European Union in Brussels. Farmers protesting against the climate agenda have sought to disrupt EU summit meetings, which have been convened to provide more financial support to Ukraine.

Middle East: U.S. defense officials have confirmed that airstrikes will be conducted against Iranian groups in Iraq and Syria. AC: Letting an adversary know where military actions are going to take place is likely to result in a continuation in the decline of both the combat effectiveness and the prestige of the U.S. military. Iranian groups and “proxies” are ready for retaliation and have had many days to prepare and move forces away from where the U.S. has already confirmed strikes will take place.

-HomeFront-

IN: This afternoon the BP refinery in Whiting experienced an emergency power failure, prompting evacuations of the facility. It is unclear as to what caused the power failure, but large flares are expected  to be observed at the facility as technicians vent and burn off gasses to prevent an explosion. AC: This is not particularly out of the ordinary for most industrial facilities of this size. However with increased scrutiny following the years of deliberate sabotage of critical infrastructure, suspicions come easily as to the causes of incidents like this.

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Analyst Comments: Throughout Europe, food shortages have been noted at many grocery stores as products are not making it to store shelves due to demonstrations (both the demonstrations of truck drivers, and the constriction of the flow of traffic).

Analyst: S2A1

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