Moving forward: Terror unit investigates Toyota link with Islamic State
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Moving forward: Terror unit investigates Toyota link with Islamic State
U.S. counterterrorism officials have asked Toyota, the world’s second-largest automaker, to help them determine how the Islamic State has managed to acquire the large number of Toyota pickup trucks and SUVs featured prominently in the terror group’s propaganda videos in Iraq, Syria and Libya. The videos show gunmen patrolling Syrian streets in what appear to be older and newer model white Hilux pickups bearing the black caliphate seal and crossing Libya in long caravans of gleaming, tan Toyota Land Cruisers. When IS soldiers paraded through the center of Raqqa, Syria, more than two-thirds of the vehicles were the familiar white Toyotas with the black emblems.
Regrettably, the Toyota Land Cruiser and Hilux have effectively become almost part of the ISIS brand.
Mark Wallace, CEO of the Counter Extremism Project
Toyota says it does not know how IS obtained the vehicles and is “supporting” the inquiry led by the Terror Financing unit of the Treasury Department — part of a broad U.S. effort to prevent Western-made goods from ending up in the hands of the Islamic State. In a statement to ABC News, Toyota said it is not aware of any dealership selling to the terrorist group but “would immediately” take action if it did, including termination of the distribution agreement.
