In Amenas attack: truth about Abu Talha Tounsi

Rouhia is located more than 350 km from Tunisia’s capital. Derbali Laaroussi who was arrested in the terrorist attack on a gas field in In Amenas (south of Algeria) in mid-January was born and grew up there.

Laaroussi’s nickname was Abu Talha Tounsi. He worked for a terrorist sleeper cell in Tunisia. He was among the attackers of the gas site and hostage takers.

His 7-member-family lives in a shanty house. The father is a worker who earns 1.8 Tunisian dinars per day and the brothers are jobless and unmarried. The elder son is 4.

Abu Talha had been jailed twice because of selling illegally on the street

Laaroussi used to sell clothes illegally on the street before the police seized his goods. He had been taken in prison twice accused of selling clothes without authorization.

“My son kept in touch with family while he was in Libya. There has been no news about him for six months. We learnt through Echorouk that he was arrested with other terrorists following In Amenas attack,” Laaroussi’s mother said.

According to his cousin Rachid, Abu Talha was an “ordinary man” who is not very sociable. “We worked together and I was the closest person to him between 1994 and 2006,” he told Echorouk.

He added that Laaroussi did not have any political orientation. “He was a simple citizen who worked for a living.”

“He promised to help me to join him in Libya to work there but there was no news about him. I was close to him and I did not notice that he changed. If I felt some change, I would have burnt his documents and prevented him from traveling.”

His cousin Rym studied with him in primary and junior high school. She studied fine arts while he left school as he could not afford academic fees. He performed the national military service before starting working.

She said she met him by chance in parties and ceremonies.

His father Belkacem said he heard about the attack from news reports. He was surprised by his son’s involvement as he did not notice any change in his behavior.

“If I knew that he would do such a thing, I would have never let him to go to Libya. I did not need his money. I was able to care for my family by myself. Even though, I can’t believe he could kill people.”

The family called on Algerian authorities to deport him to Tunisia to continue his trial.

Laaroussi trained for body building

Abu Talha joined a sports club for body building but his family did not know that. His trainer told Echorouk Laaroussi changed in his last meeting with him late in October 2011.

“His behavior had changed since he went to Libya. He insisted on going there to gain more money and got a diploma in coaching.”

“I am sorry that I could not teach him as I did to other trainees. He was a shy child,” he said.