Video tape shows senior repentant terrorist in Algeria

A video tape posted on the Internet has shown a leading member of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) who has recently surrendered to security forces.

• The video tape includes images of an attack on a police station in Algeria last summer and Ali Ben Touati nicknamed Abu Tamam is seen as the field commander.
• The 36-year-old repentant terrorist was unarmed wearing a green turban and Afghani clothes. He was talking to his followers about the attack and assigning 7 individuals to carry it out.
• The video tape shows the attack phases starting by making bombs in a forest in a very traditional way until the attack. Few minutes later, the terrorists withdrew after two of them had been wounded.
• Ali Ben Touati joined the GSPC in 1997 when it was led by Hassan Hattab. He held many positions before he had been appointed at the head of Al Ansar brigade in 2006.
• He told security forces he surrendered as he was convinced in the credibility of the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation.