Algerian students and teachers recruited to join Al-Qaeda in Iraq

A criminal court in Algiers will decide Tuesday in the case of Abu Elmothana’s associates, the most well-known recruiter of North Africans to join armed groups in Algeria and Al-Qaeda in Iraq for suicide attacks.

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• Eight men are accused of belonging to a terrorist group working in Algeria and abroad. One of them, Abu Hadjer is a craftsman, another one is a teacher at college and another suspect is a student at university. Haroune is a student in Islamic sciences and two others Ramzi and Ilyes are shopkeepers.
• When questioned, the suspects told security forces that they were convinced about jihad in Iraq after watching Al Jazeera channel and checking jihadi websites.
• They also said Abu Elmothana was assigned by Al-Qaeda to recruit people convinced about armed acts to join Al-Qaeda in Iraq provided that they are ready to carry out suicide belt attacks.
• On the hand, the suspects denied all what they had previously said when they appeared before examining judge. They said they had nothing to do with terrorism and Abu Elmothana.