Algerian interior minister: terrorists try to mislead security forces

Algerian interior minister Nourredine Yazid Zerhouni said Thursday the latest terrorist attacks in eastern Algiers were carried out in « calm areas to mislead security forces. »

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• “The latest terrorist attacks were carried in places where there is a total absence of such acts,” Zehouni told reporters.
• Terrorists killed at least 18 gendarmes in the town of Mansoura (east of Algiers) when they ambushed a military convoy.
• The town is considered as a “safe place” as it has not witnessed any terrorist attack since 1995 when the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) set up a false roadblock.
• Zerhouni said terrorist acts went down in the traditional strongholds in the provinces of Boumerdes, Tizi Ouzou, Tebessa and Jijel in eastern Algiers.
• “Pressure is getting higher on terrorists who are still operating. Their number has become very low following the blows they received as part of the fight against terrorism.”
• Asked about security measures on the 2nd Pan-African Festival due to be held in July, the minister urged people to be “more vigilant so that the event would take place in the best conditions.”
• A worker at the base of a Chinese company in Bordj Bouerreridj (east of Algiers) was arrested for giving information to terrorists about gendarmes, Echorouk has learnt.
• “He was involved in the attack before he had joined his house,” said the same sources.
• Investigators found a hunting gun in his house while a woman was arrested for sheltering and feeding the terrorists shortly before carrying out the attack.
• Investigators are questioning 17 suspicious people. Preliminary investigations show that one of the involved terrorists is a repentant activists and he carried out the attack. Most of the terrorists belong to terror support networks. They provided some terrorists in mountains with arms and medicines.