Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) officials said that Ansar al Islam is aiming to strengthen its female wing with at least 25 female members directly involved in its organisational activities, reports The Daily Star on September 3. The outfit also has around 300 female supporters connected with its online social media accounts, counterterrorism officials said. The female operatives of Ansar al Islam are using fake social media accounts, pretending to be males to avoid law enforcers' vigilance, they said. They do this because a female user hosting or spreading militant content raises more suspicion than if a male member does so.