Algeria: 200 elite policemen to repress crime and fight terror

The National Bureau of Crime Repression which was dissolved two years ago will be set up again in Algeria as part of the fight against terrorism, according to well-informed sources.

The General Department of National Security is going to establish a central service of judicial police which will be based in the National Bureau in Algiers, said sources close to the file.

Experienced policemen who used to work in the Bureau will be reintegrated. Their number is estimated at 200 officers who had participated in the most important military operations to eliminate the Armed Islamic Group (GIA).

 This service which will be set up in the end of April will be assigned to fight terrorism and terror support cells, Echorouk has learnt.

It will deal with intelligence work in coordination with intervention troops in Algeria.

The decision to create this central service of judicial police came after the two suicide attacks which had targeted the UN agency and the Constitutional Council in Algiers on December 11th, 2007, according to the same sources.

Experts believe that this department comes within the new security plan which was announced by the general director of national security, Ali Tounsi when commenting on the suicide attacks.

 Earlier, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika decided to create a central service of judicial police belonging to military security forces. Regional services of military judicial police will also be established soon in Algeria.