Planned suicide attack was going to target hotel in western Algeria: security sources

A man who was in charge of a planned suicide attack was going to target a hotel in Oran province (west of Algiers) on Saturday, according to security sources.A man who was in charge of a planned suicide attack was going to target a hotel in Oran province (west of Algiers) on Saturday, according to security sources.

Mohamed Mahjoub who was killed on Saturday was going to blow himself up at Royal or Sheraton hotel in Oran. He was carrying a bomb belt of 8 kg.

The intervention of security forces lasted for many hours when they started surrounding the area. The terrorist who entered a building there did not want to surrender and an armed clash took place with the security forces. Then, they stormed the building and killed him and the bomb was defused.

Security experts believe that that act is an attempt from Al-Qaeda to impose its existence in western Algeria. “Tactically speaking, it reflects its weakness within a stringent security strategy.

Mahjoub, 25, had been trained by terrorists for more a year and six months, according to security sources.

The planned suicide attack was found out on the basis of information given by a terrorist who had recently surrendered to security forces.

 Other sources said Mahjoub was accompanied with three other terrorists. Two of them had been arrested while the third one is on the run.