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Qaeda in North Africa: Droukedel threatens France and Spain

2008-09-23

(AKI) - A leader of the Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb has threatened France and Spain in an audio message broadcast on jihadist Internet forums on Monday. "To those that are involved in the war against Islam and have betrayed the Islamic nation, we say to them: Repent before God punishes you with his hands and with ours," said Abdel Malik Droukedel, who uses the name Abu Musab Abdel Wudud. "This is because judgement day is close and punishment is imminent. And whoever among the treacherous apostates thinks that France is in a position to ensure its safety, we tell them they are wrong, because France will not be in a position to do it, and will be worried for its safety." In the audio message, entitled "Message to our nation in the Islamic Maghreb", Droukedel reminds his listeners about Spain and Morocco's territorial dispute over the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. "Dear nation, it is not conceivable for any Muslim that loves Islam to speak of the Maghreb without remembering Ceuta and Melilla, occupied by Spain without remembering the injustice suffered by our nation," said Droukedel. "The complicity between Spain and international organisations such as the Arab League, the Islamic Conference and the United Nations is clear." Melilla and Ceuta are autonomous cities administered by Spain and considered by neighbouring Morocco to be an integral part of its territory and of immense political and economic significance. Morocco claims both locations to be "despoiled" territories, calling them by their Arabic equivalents of Sebta and Melillia. The cities have been under Spanish control for over 400 years. In the message, Droukedel also speaks against new NATO military bases in North Africa and accuses Moroccan King Mohammed VI of having betrayed the prophet Mohammed by having a Danish embassy in his territory. Regarding Tunisia, Droukedel accuses the government of being anti-Islamic and of passing laws against the implementation of Islamic Sharia law. Speaking about Mauritania, he reminds his listeners about Nouakchott's diplomatic relations with Israel, while he claims that Algeria is suffering from political 'interference' by France. "I assure you all that we do not kill innocent people and we will prevent the spilling of Muslim blood," he said. The Al-Qaeda leader says he will continue his fight to drive "France and the US from our country" and asks Algerian citizens to stay away from foreign organisations or government buildings because they are targets for attacks. Droukedel's message was aimed at Muslims in North Africa, and was also translated into French. The Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb evolved from the Salafite Group for Preaching and Combat, initially formed to create an Islamic state in Algeria, but now believed to have more widespread goals.

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Terror Networks

Terrorism: Last days of suicide bomber revealed by ex-al-Qaeda members

2008-04-05

(AKI) - Former members of the Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb have revealed the details of the last days of a suicide bomber in a report published in the Algerian newspaper Ech-Chourouk. "Once chosen for the suicide attack, the suicide bomber is isolated by the other mujahadeen and is kept in the dark about the plans for the attack until a few minutes before its execution," said the report. The newspaper put together the testimonies of several ex-terrorists from the Algeria based al-Qaeda group and described in detail the way in which a suicide bomber is selected and how the bomber spends the last few days of his or her life. "About three weeks before they go into action, they call their families to say goodbye," it said. "They are then excluded from their original terror cell and join a new group composed only of aspiring suicide bombers who know that they will die soon for the cause of Jihad." The suicide bombers do not know anything about the attack until a few minutes before they have to carry it out. In this way, they do not have the chance to change their minds or to go to the police. Often it's the new recruits in the al-Qaeda Organisation of the Islamic Maghreb are chosen to be suicide bombers. The only exception was the suicide attacker involved in the attack on the United Nations office in Algiers on 11 December 2007. Rabbah Bishla, was reportedly part of the armed group for about 10 years. "Before chosing a new suicide bomber in a group, the head of the cell, the one responsible for training and the head of the cell with the aspiring suicide bombers all meet to agree on a candidate," said the report. "The group of aspiring suicide bombers never exceeds 15 people and those who enter only know that they will be carrying out an attack without any other explanations." "To ensure that the aspiring suicide bombers are strong in their convictions, the head of the group of 15 people tells them of the possibility of participating in a major operation, an attack on a large scale, and especially the use of the weapon of revenge. In fact every potential suicide bomber is told that his or her attack is necessary to avenge the death or arrested of other members of the group or members of al-Qaeda, in order to motivate them morally," said the Ech-Chourouk report. "Often the aspiring suicide bomber is forced to volunteer for the job because if he or she does not do so, it could raise doubts in their leaders who may see this as an element of insecurity, which makes betrayal always possible." On Friday another Algerian newspaper Ennahar, published a report on killings carried out within al-Qaeda by the leaders of a group which was against the militants who expressed doubts about the strategy of the Jihadi organisation or there were fears that they could hand them over to the Algerian authorities. Often the youngest are chosen to be suicide bombers and especially those who volunteer to do the job. The only exception yet again is Rabah Bishla, who was chosen because he was 60 years old and was the oldest suicide bomber in the history of al-Qaeda, according to the report. The leader of the group, Abu Musab Abdel Wudud, wanted him to carry out that operation as a response to accusations made in the Algerian press that the group only sent minors to carry out such attacks. "Before entering in action, the aspiring suicide bomber is brought to a safe place, far from his cell and possibly close to the target that he has strike," explained a former member of the group. "Within the first few days, the bomber can call his family, given that most of the suicide bombers are very young people who have abadoned their homes to join the terrorists without informing their parents." This is what was done by an attacker from Algerian that went by the name Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who carried out an attack last year on a barracks in the area of Dallas which is in the Algerian province of Boumerdes. He was believed to be the youngest suicide attacker in the history of the Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb. "After the phone call, the suicide attacker then only has contact with the head of his cell who trains the suicide bomber, giving the bomber a long speech on the importance of martyrdom in Islam and for some days the bomber will only watch videos and listed to audio recordings of the leaders of al-Qaeda which describe the rewards and compensation that the martrys will then be able to receive in paradise." The bomber is reportedly only informed about the target the night before the attack and in some cases is accompanied to the location a few hours before in order to get to know what the attack will take place and to monitor the situation. According to the former members of the terror group, this was the case for Abdullah al-Shiaani, the one who carried out the attack in the Lakhdariya. He was in the area with other terrorists before carrying out the attack. "The last act before carrying out the action is to record the video testament," said the report. "The aspiring suicide bomber must wear military attire, carry a kalashnikov rifle [perhaps the first time that the bomber will use one as often they are so young that many have not had the time to even have any military training], in order read out his last statement in front of a camera." "The morning of the attack, the bomber wakes at dawn for his last prayer in which he was to recite a special address dedicated to martyrs, meet the emir of the al-Qaeda cell who will be asked to inform his family after his death and then then he will head directly to his appointment with death." According to the Algerian newspaper, the aspiring suicide bombers usually drink water, known as the water or martrys, before they carry out their attack. The police in Algeria however have not excluded the possibility that the water is drugged in order to ensure that the suicide bomber does not change his mind before the attack.

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Africa North

Algeria: Surrender of al-Qaeda leader

2007-08-02

Al-Qaeda in the Mahgreb's purported second in command, Abdel Qader Bin Masud - known as Musab Abu Dawd - has surrendered to Algerian authorities. According to Algerian media reports on Wednesday, the former leader of the Algerian Salafite Group for Preaching Combat (ASGPC) in the southern Sahara, is until now the most important al-Qaeda representative in the hands of authorities. He is apparently taking advantage of the charter for national reconciliation that offers clemency for terrorists that renounce armed conflict. After he surrendered, Masud reportedly provided police with details of the internal operations of al-Qaeda which has been wracked by internal conflict over the decision to transform the Salafite group into a local cell of Osama Bin Laden's network. The greatest conflict occurred between the leader of the group Abu Masab Abdel Wudud and the emir of ASGPC in the region, Mukhtar Belmokhtar. Some observers believed he would have been the number one candidate to lead the group after the death of Nabil Sahrawi in 2004. Belmokhtar, who allegedly maintained contact with al-Qaeda's international network, had different ideas on how to advance Jihadi operations in Algeria. According to the revelations of Abu Dawd, the group's leader Abu Musab Abdel Wudud decided independently to shift the group closer to al-Qaeda, counting on the support of the three other leaders and violating the group's statutes that called for a direct vote. Belmokhtar, who helped found al-Qaeda cells in Mauritania, Nigeria and Mali, is in fear of his life. Among Algerian terrorists, Belmokhtar was deemed the most appropriate person to succeed Sahrawi with a Jihadi background more respected than the actual leader. Abdel Wudud has also been accused of using money from the terrorist organisation for personal ends. Speculation is rife in Algeria that Belmokhtar and other members of al-Qaeda may also abandon armed struggle.

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Africa North

Maghreb countries 'agree joint strategy' against al-Qaeda

2007-07-31

Algiers, 30 July (AKI) - The countries of the Maghreb - Algeria Tunisia, Morocco, Libya and Mauritania - appear to be overcoming the divisions between them that have hampered the development of a region-wide strategy to combat al-Qaeda . Algerian interior minister, Noureddin Zarhaouni, told Algerian state radio that a joint security initiative involving all the countries has been agreed to. The aim of the plan is to fight the newborn "al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb" - a formation which claims to unite groups across North Africa that are loyal to the terror network's agenda - and prevent new terrorist attacks in the region. The organisation claimed responsibility for the 11 April bomb attacks that killed 30 people in Algiers and of 19 other attacks in Algerian territory between April and June. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb was formed earlier this year from the ashes of the old Salafite Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) . The news was given by the interior minister on the sidelines of a weekend visit by the Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, to the province of Mustaghanim, 400 kilometres west of the capital Algiers. The accord, of which no details have been provided, follows the threats issued via the Internet by the self-proclaimed leader of al-Qaeda in the region Abu Musab Abdel Wudud, of a series of suicide bomb attacks in the region.

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Africa North

Head Of Al-Qaeda Linked Group Threatens Tourists In Maghreb

2007-05-10

Algiers, 10 May (AKI) - Western workers in North Africa and tourists are going to be the prime targets of suicide attacks, Abu Musab Abdel Wudud, the leader of the Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb said in a video released on Islamist websites Thursday - the first by the Algerian terrorist since the new group was formed in January from the Salafite Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). "We ask Muslims to avoid sites where there are foreigners, diplomats, businessmen or tourists," he says in the 19-minute-long video. Announcing the intensification of suicide bomb attacks, Abdel Wudud outlines his group's strategy to strike in particular touristic venues in North Africa. "Starting from now we have decided to increase suicide operations as a strategic choice in the fight between us and our enemy and we have therefore ordered all the leaders of our brigades to start recruiting martyrs," he also says. Wudud won't be 'ploding himself personally, you understand, he'll be training minions to do that. He's too important to put himself on the line. In the video, the terror leader gives Muslims indications on how to avoid terror attacks in a possible response to recent criticism from former GSPC leaders who have criticized the strategy of the new organization which targets civilian as well as military objectives. Violent attacks have been increasing in Algeria since the main Islamist rebel group, GSPC, changed its name to the al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb in January, after pledging allegiance to the international terror network last September. The Algiers 11 April bombings, the first in the capital's centre in over ten years, are believed to be the country's first suicide attacks and were claimed by the new terror group. Abdel Wudud's message is believed to have been filmed after the attack somewhere in the Algerian mountains, judging by the background. In it, the terror leader also accuses the Arab League and other regional organizations of being allied with the West against Arabs and Muslims and pays his respects to Osama bin Laden, his second in command Ayman al-Zawahiri, as well as terror leaders and militants in Afghanistan, Iraq, Chechnya and Somalia.

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Africa North

Al-Qaeda Leader Sentenced To 20 Years In Jail

2007-03-28

Batna, 28 March (AKI) - An Algerian court has handed down a 20-year prison sentence in absentia to Abel Malik Drukdal, leader of al-Qaeda in North Africa - formerly the al-Qaeda linked Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GPSC) - and to 10 other operatives from the terror network. The court in the southwestern town of Batna also offered a 5,000 dollar bounty for information leading to the arrest of Drukdal, 37, who is also known as Abu Musab Abdel Wudud. Now you just have top catch him. Or kill him. Or catch him and kill him The court convicted Drukdal and the other ten 'al-Qaeda in North Africa' operatives of "violating national security and forming an armed group responsible for carrying out terror attacks and killings," according to a report carried by satellite Arabic TV network al-Arabiya'. The GSPC's historic leader Hasan Hattab was earlier this month sentenced to death in absentia by an Algerian court, despite having in 2005 renounced the armed struggle following a government amnesty for Islamic militants.

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