Algeria: Another Al Qaeda Offensive Flops

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July 17, 2007: Apparently, al Qaeda attempted to plan and carry out spectacular terror attacks in the capital, during the current All Africa Games. But tight security prevented the terrorists from even getting close to the city. Police still believe that there are only a few hundred Islamic terrorists, most of them openly proclaiming allegiance to al Qaeda, and hiding out in rural areas east of the capital. Most of the population is hostile to the terrorists, providing the police with lots of tips about terrorist activities. The terrorists have not found a way to get around this, other than trying hard to keep their activities secret from everyone. This is a major handicap.

July 16, 2007: Police arrested six men who were found to have master keys to hotel rooms used for participants in the current All Africa athletic competitions. The men are believed to be thieves, not terrorists, and are cooperating with police.

July 14, 2007: Police cornered four Islamic terrorists 170 kilometers east of the capital. The terrorists resisted arrest and were killed in a gun battle. One policeman was wounded. In a village 100 kilometers, about fifty Islamic terrorists tried to attack two police stations, but fled without causing any injuries. They left several roadside bombs behind, which were found and disposed of.

July 11, 2007: A suicide truck bomb went off in an army base 100 kilometers southeast of the capital. Ten were killed and 36 wounded. Security is particularly tight in the capital, because today the All Africa Games, an athletic competition, began there. The last terrorist attacks were three months ago, when 33 were killed.

July 10, 2007: Israeli and European intelligence agencies warned Morocco that Islamic terrorists were planning an imminent attack on Western targets in the kingdom. In response, the police arrested fifteen suspects. But most of them were Syrians, apparently in Morocco for an attempt to illegally enter Spain as economic migrants. Four of the suspects were Algerian, who may be Islamic terrorists.

 

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