Algerian officials said dozens of Algerians who fought the U.S. military
in Iraq were recruited by Al Qaida for attacks in the North African state.
They said these Algerians were trained in bomb assembly, combat skills and
intelligence.
The effort has been led by Abdul Malek Droudkel, the commander of the
new Al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb. Droudkel, who escaped a
massive security operation, was said to have recruited nearly 100 Algerians
who returned from Iraq, Middle East Newsline reported.
"Abdul Malek Droudkel, the leader of Al Qaida Organization in the
Islamic Maghreb, is
pushing hard to hire them and take advantage of their experience in
explosives and suicide attacks," an Algerian security source told the
Algerian daily Echorouk.
So far, authorities have arrested 80 people who recently returned from
Iraq. The detainees were interrogated on the multiple suicide bombings in
Algiers on April 11 that killed 33 people.
The security sources said Algeria has increased efforts to monitor and
prevent the flow of Al Qaida recruits to Iraq. The sources said such an
operation was difficult given the huge size of the country.
"We believe that most of the Algerians who fought in Iraq have now
returned with orders on how to bring terrorism to this country," the
security source said.
