Abu Doha
Encyclopedia
Amar Makhlulif alias Abu Doha is an Algeria
n alleged to be member of the al-Qaeda
and GSPC terrorist networks. He was arrested at London Heathrow Airport
in February 2001 while attempting to travel to Jeddah
, Saudi Arabia on a forged passport. On 3 July 2008 the British bench released him from prison, under several security measures including a 22-hour-per-day curfew. Although the British press was forced to identified him only as "U", the other data about "U" identifies him clearly as Abu Doha.
Makhlulif is wanted in France
for being one of the masterminds of the Strasbourg cathedral bombing plot
in Strasbourg, France. Another plotter, Slimane Khalfaoui, was picked up in the UK and extradicted to France, where he was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Four more of Abu Doha's affiliates have been sentenced in Frankfurt, Germany
to terms of from 10 to 12 years for that plot. In reading the sentence, the judge said that Abu Doha had exhorted them to commit that attack.
Makhlulif is wanted in the United States
, having been identified by Ahmed Ressam
as the leader of the plot to bomb the Los Angeles airport during Christmas and millennium celebrations.
Makhlulif is wanted in Italy
over a plot to bomb the American embassy in Rome
, in collaboration with al-Qaeda's cell in Milan, Italy.
Makhlulif is alleged to have been an Al-Qaeda recruiter, and a trainer at, or even the founder of, al-Qaeda's Khalden training camp
in Afghanistan
, and at least a cell leader in GSPC
. Makhlulif is described in some reports as the "paymaster" of al-Qaeda's London
component.
"Makhlulif" is the name by which this person identifies himself to British immigration authorities. It could be a false name or an erroneous transliteration
of مخلوف, which is pronounced more like "Makhlouf". Two press reports (here at BBC Arabic News and here at Asharq Alawsat) do refer to Abu Doha as Amar Makhlouf.
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n alleged to be member of the al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
and GSPC terrorist networks. He was arrested at London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
in February 2001 while attempting to travel to Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
, Saudi Arabia on a forged passport. On 3 July 2008 the British bench released him from prison, under several security measures including a 22-hour-per-day curfew. Although the British press was forced to identified him only as "U", the other data about "U" identifies him clearly as Abu Doha.
Makhlulif is wanted in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for being one of the masterminds of the Strasbourg cathedral bombing plot
Strasbourg cathedral bombing plot
The Strasbourg Cathedral bombing plot was an al-Qaeda plan to bomb the Strasbourg Christmas market at the feet of Strasbourg Cathedral during the Christmas celebrations of 2000...
in Strasbourg, France. Another plotter, Slimane Khalfaoui, was picked up in the UK and extradicted to France, where he was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Four more of Abu Doha's affiliates have been sentenced in Frankfurt, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to terms of from 10 to 12 years for that plot. In reading the sentence, the judge said that Abu Doha had exhorted them to commit that attack.
Makhlulif is wanted in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, having been identified by Ahmed Ressam
Ahmed Ressam
Ahmed Ressam is an Algerian al-Qaeda member who lived in Montreal, Canada.He was convicted of attempting to bomb the Los Angeles International Airport on New Year's Eve 1999, as part of the foiled 2000 millennium attack plots...
as the leader of the plot to bomb the Los Angeles airport during Christmas and millennium celebrations.
Makhlulif is wanted in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
over a plot to bomb the American embassy in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, in collaboration with al-Qaeda's cell in Milan, Italy.
Makhlulif is alleged to have been an Al-Qaeda recruiter, and a trainer at, or even the founder of, al-Qaeda's Khalden training camp
Khalden training camp
The Khalden training camp was a military training camp in Afghanistan. According to the documentary Son of al Qaeda there were hundreds of military training camps in Afghanistan which were tied to al Qaeda...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and at least a cell leader in GSPC
GSPC
The acronym GSPC may stand for:* Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat* Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation* Glasgow Solicitors Property Centre* Global Strategy for Plant Conservation* a symbol for the S&P 500...
. Makhlulif is described in some reports as the "paymaster" of al-Qaeda's London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
component.
"Makhlulif" is the name by which this person identifies himself to British immigration authorities. It could be a false name or an erroneous transliteration
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
of مخلوف, which is pronounced more like "Makhlouf". Two press reports (here at BBC Arabic News and here at Asharq Alawsat) do refer to Abu Doha as Amar Makhlouf.