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Africa North

Algeria: an AQIM network dismantled

2011-02-07

[Ennahar] Algerian security services managed to dismantle, network of Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in the south-east, who was preparing attacks in Europe including La Belle France, newspapers reported on Sunday in Algiers. Fourteen Islamist Death Eaters, including two Mauritanians suspected of links with AQIM and preparing attacks in Europe, were nabbed in late December by security forces in the region of Batna, in the Aures (450 km southeast of Algiers), according to the daily El Watan. Among them the Salafist leader Ibrahim Ould Mohamed Mauritanian Ouldna presented as the "mufti" (exegesis) of AQIM, who had joined the ranks of AQIM in Algeria in 2008, the newspaper said, citing the Algerian security services. The Islamist then stayed in the thicket of Tebessa (Far East) and Batna where he organized and trained gangs in Algeria and Mauritania to carry out suicide kabooms and kidnappings of Westerners, the paper added. The group would hit in European countries including La Belle France, according to the Arabic daily El-Khabar. Ibrahim Ould Mohamed Ouldna was nabbed in late December as he was about to reach the refuge of AQIM leader Abdelmalek Droudkel, said El Watan. His confession led to the first arrest of another Islamist, Abu Mustapha Debchi, alias Mohamed Al Othman, an electronics engineer at the port of Annaba (east) while preparing to embark to Europe to put in place AQIM cells, the source said. The confessions of the engineer then led to the arrest of all members of the network in Algeria. In addition, an Islamist presented as a senior al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) was killed Friday night in the region of Bouira (120 km south-east of Algiers), according to several Algerian newspapers. Bourihane Kamel, aka Abu Hafs, was also considered the right arm of AQIM leader Abdelmalek Droukdel.

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Africa North

Notorious Algerian terrorist El Para renounces al-Qaeda

2009-05-11

[Maghrebia] The Algerian terrorist leader known as "El Para" rejected al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and voiced his support for national reconciliation efforts, local press reported widely on Saturday (May 9th). In a document titled "Repentance and Denunciation", Ammari Saifi stated that he rejected armed action, adding that "jihad was no longer legitimate" in Algeria. The former paratrooper and one-time top militant in the Sahara region said that by indiscriminately killing civilians, al-Qaeda had chosen a path far removed from religion. He also denounced suicide attacks and kidnappings performed under the leadership of Abdelmalek Droudkel. "Droudkel called on his followers to disobey Allah," Echorouk quoted Saifi as saying. El Para was sentenced to life in prison for the 2003 kidnapping of 32 German tourists in the Algerian desert. He is the second major terrorist to repent this year. In January, GSPC founder Hassan Hattab issued a statement calling on al-Qaeda fighters to lay down arms and benefit from Algeria's Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation. In related news, former GSPC leaders Abu Omar Abdelbari, Abu Zakaria and Moussaab Abu Daoud called on terrorists to surrender. Those willing to repent could "trust" the Algerian authorities, APS quoted Abdelber as saying in the statement aired Friday (May 8th) on Algerian national radio. Elsewhere, Algerian security forces dismantled a 30-member terrorist support cell in the provinces of Medea and Ain Defla, following information provided by repentant terrorist Mohammed Debar, Echorouk reported on Saturday.

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Africa North

Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for latest Algeria terrorist attacks

2009-03-30

In a statement appearing on Islamist websites on Saturday (March 28th), al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks this month in Algeria, Tout sur l'Algerie reported. The terrorist organisation led by Abdelmalek Droudkel said it perpetrated the roadside bomb blast last week that killed an Algerian army lieutenant colonel in charge of an anti-terrorist operation in Tizi Ouzou, attacks against the police station in Tizi Ouzou and the communal guard station in Tadmait and the execution of a shepherd accused of collaboration with security forces in Houidjbet, Tébessa province. In related news, six terrorists were killed during an army operation in Oued Boulben, Blida province, Echorouk reported on Saturday. Information obtained from 12 people charged with providing support to terrorist groups led to the operation on Thursday. One suspected terrorist allegedly supplied ammunition and about 45 tons of food monthly. The same suspect is accused of inciting young people to join the terrorist group in order to make of Blida a "rear-base" for launching attacks on the capital of Algiers and other strategic points.

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Africa North

Al-Qaeda in North Africa claims responsibility for recent attacks killing dozens in Algeria

2008-08-23

Al-Qaeda organization in North Africa has indicated in an audio statement posted on a website, that for the first time the recent suicide attack has been conducted last Wednesday by a Mauritanian terrorist, while a security source indicated that the suicide boomer, who committed an attack against the centre of Coats Guards at Zemouri in Boumeedes central province, is originating from Lamontagne locality southern Algiers. In this regard, Al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the recent 4 attacks, adding that the attacks occuring at Zemouri, Issers, and Bouira, are in retaliation to the killing of 12 of its elements in an ambush at Beni Douala region in Tizi Ouzou, last August, 6th. Al-Qaeda has qualified these attacks, which have been masterminded by Al-Qaeda leader namely Abdelmalek Droudkel, as "retaliation." The audio statement added that the campaign revenged the 12 terrorists killed by Army troops, and ended last Wednesday, following the twin suicide bombings in which 12 have been killed, and 42 injured. The same statement added that the car of the 12 terrorists killed in Beni Douala in Tizi Ouzou, has been bobby-trapped, while official sources have indicated that they have been boomed by a helicopter. Meanwhile, Al-Qaeda has justified the attack against the bus transporting the workers of the Canadian company, SNC-Lavalin, by the presence of the Canadian troops in Afghanistan. No Canadian has been killed in this attack, which has been conducted by a terrorist nicknamed Abderahmane Abou Zaineb Al-Mauritani. It is noteworthy that Al-Qaeda in North Africa, resorts to foreigners to commit its odious attacks, this is to confirm the declaration of Droudkel, in an interview with the U.S newspaper, the New York Times. In which Droudkel said that his terrorist organization includes terrorists hailing from different nationalities, including Mauritanians. According to the same audio statement, the attack carried out against the headquarters of the Army operational sector in Bouira, has been perpetuated by a terrorist nicknamed Abou Baker El Assimi, while the suicide boomer hitting the Coasts Guards at Zemouri, nicknamed Mohamed Abou Sadjeda El Assimi. The suicide boomer behind the attack rocking the National Gendarmerie academy at Issers near Boumerdes, has not been mentioned in this statement.

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Africa North

Al Qaeda says it killed 20 Algeria troops in N Africa

2008-03-10

Al Qaeda’s wing in North Africa says it has killed 20 Algerian soldiers and wounded 30 in clashes in its eastern stronghold, where the army has launched a campaign against the rebels. In an Internet statement posted on Saturday, the group denied a newspaper report that 25 of its fighters had been killed and played down reports its leader had been surrounded. Liberte and El Watan reported last month that Abdelmalek Droudkel, also known as Abu Mus’ab Abd el-Wadoud may be among rebels that 9,000-10,000 troops had besieged in a mountainous area between the two eastern provinces of Tizi Ouzou and Bejaia. “After the apostates trumpeted their major campaign to comb the Bejaia area, for which they gathered more than 10,000 troops and claimed to surround the emir of the organisation. The enemy told lies about the killing of 25 mujahideenm,” said the group.

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Africa North

Algerian Army Surrounds Maghreb Al-Qaeda Chief

2008-03-01

Algerian soldiers surrounded several Islamic militants, possibly including the leader of al-Qaeda's North African wing, in a mountainous region east of the country's capital, Reuters reported, citing local media. Is that 'surrounded' Saoodi style? Abdelmalek Droudkel, leader of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, may be among the rebels besieged by troops for more than a week in the Kabylie region, the news agency said. As many as 10,000 soldiers, backed by helicopters, are taking part in the operation, according to the report. The Kabylie region is the main base for the organization, which changed its name from the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat in January last year, Reuters said. The group has claimed responsibility for several attacks, including twin suicide bombings that targeted United Nations offices and a court building in Algiers in December, killing 41 people, 17 of them UN workers, according to the report. The Maghreb is the Arabic name for the North African countries of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

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Africa North

Senior Algerian Islamist militant killed in clashes

2007-04-27

A leader of an Algerian Islamist group affiliated with Al-Qaeda was killed on Thursday in clashes with the army, a media report said. Samir Saioud alias Samir Moussaab was believed to be the second-ranking leader in the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, recently renamed as Al-Qaeda’s branch in northern Africa. He was killed in fighting in the Si Mustapha region east of Algiers, the APS agency reported, citing an unnamed security source. Saioud’s body was identified by former members of his group, it said. He was killed in fighting in the Si Mustapha region east of Algiers, the APS agency reported, citing an unnamed security source. Saioud’s body was identified by former members of his group, it said. The group claimed responsibility for a series of car bomb attacks earlier this month at the government’s headquarters and another location that killed 30 people and injured more than 200. It is also blamed for various other attacks, including those in the mountainous area of Kabylie and against workers from the US and Russian companies in Algeria. Between the beginning of March and early April, attacks against police resulted in at least 34 deaths, including a Russian national. Authorities describe the organisation as the last armed Islamist group operating in Algeria. Dozens of young militants have reportedly joined the group since the beginning of the year. The Algerian army often conducts operations in the Kabylie area, where militants have holed up, using heavy artillery and helicopters. The group’s former leader was killed by the army in 2004. The current leader is believed to be Abdelmalek Droudkel alias Abu Mossaab Abdelouadoud. Since this month’s car bomb attacks, authorities have stepped up security in Algiers and other cities.

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Africa North

GSPC massacres 7, amnesty offer flops

2006-04-24

Suspected Algerian Islamist militants killed seven people and wounded eight on Sunday at a fake road block near the eastern town of Skikda, 700 km (430 miles) east of Algiers, a local resident said. The resident, who asked not to be identified, said the 1000 GMT attack was carried out by members of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), an Islamist guerrilla group on a U.S. list of terrorist organisations. The attackers set up a fake police road block and opened fire at an approaching truck as it slowed down. The truck was carrying mostly communal guards -- security forces recruited from the local community who work under the authority of the interior ministry. Five communal guards and two civilians were killed. The GSPC has said it endorses the aims of al Qaeda and Western and Algerian officials believe it has links to senior members of the global al Qaeda network. This attack happened two weeks after Islamic rebels shouting "God is Greatest" killed 13 customs agents in the north African oil producer's southern desert. The government said army troops killed some of those attackers in subsequent reprisals. The GSPC's head, Abdelmalek Droudkel, also known as Abou Mossab Abdelouadoud, has rejected President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's amnesty offer for rebels aimed at ending more than a decade of conflict in the OPEC member North African country. Algeria has freed 2,200 jailed Islamist fighters under the amnesty since February, officials said. Some 800 rebels are still active, the authorities said. Fewer than 100 militants have surrendered in the past few weeks, according to officials.

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