Khalid Ibrahim Ahmed Hyacinth Alasiri
Encyclopedia
Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri (1981- ) is a citizen of Saudi Arabia
. He is suspected of being chief bomb-maker of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
, responsible for making the bombs in his brother's suicide bombing, the 2009 Christmas Day bomb plot, and the 2010 cargo plane bomb plot.
reported that Ibrahim had been imprisoned and released. He reportedly left Saudi Arabia for Yemen
together with his brother Abdullah Hassan Tali’ Asiri, who had recruited him to al-Qaeda, to join up with al-Qaeda members.
On February 3, 2009, Ibrahim and his brother Abdullah were named on a list of Saudi Arabia's most wanted terrorist suspects.
The list published by the Government of Saudi Arabia listed 85 individuals, 83 of whom were Saudis, and 2 were from Yemen.
On August 27, 2009, Ibrahim's brother Abdullah blew himself up in the Jeddah
office of security chief Saudi Prince Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, after posing as a repentant militant. Al-Asri had recruited his younger brother as a suicide bomber, using a PETN
bomb that al-Asri had hidden in his brother's rectum
. The brother died in the attempt as he blew himself up, but Nayef survived with minor injuries.
Ibrahim is suspected of being the main explosives expert for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
and the bombmaker responsible for building the bombs in the 2010 cargo plane bomb plot. He is a likely suspect due to his history of creating explosive devices using PETN
, including his involvement in the failed Christmas Day bomb plot
. Evidence suggested the same person constructed both the Yemen parcel bombs and the device worn by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab
, the Nigerian who attempted to ignite the Christmas Day bomb on a plane in 2009. One of the detonators was nearly precisely the same as the one used in the Christmas Day attack.
On 24 March 2011 he was added to the U.S. list of terrorists. He is wanted by the Government of Saudi Arabia and is the subject of an Interpol
Orange Notice.
Al-Asiri has been reported as possibly killed in a drone strike together with other AQAP suspects, amongst whom the American-Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaki
during the month of September 2011. However a Yemeni official denied that he was killed.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. He is suspected of being chief bomb-maker of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is a militant Islamist organization, primarily active in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. It was named for al-Qaeda, and says it is subordinate to that group and its now-deceased leader Osama bin Laden, a Saudi citizen whose father was born in Yemen...
, responsible for making the bombs in his brother's suicide bombing, the 2009 Christmas Day bomb plot, and the 2010 cargo plane bomb plot.
Biography
The Saudi GazetteSaudi Gazette
Saudi Gazette is the leading English language daily newspaper published in Saudi Arabia. and is currently available both in print and online.As of July 1, 2011, Dr Omar S. Elmershedi is the Saudi Gazette Editor-in-Chief.Managing Editor: Shams Ahsan...
reported that Ibrahim had been imprisoned and released. He reportedly left Saudi Arabia for Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
together with his brother Abdullah Hassan Tali’ Asiri, who had recruited him to al-Qaeda, to join up with al-Qaeda members.
On February 3, 2009, Ibrahim and his brother Abdullah were named on a list of Saudi Arabia's most wanted terrorist suspects.
The list published by the Government of Saudi Arabia listed 85 individuals, 83 of whom were Saudis, and 2 were from Yemen.
On August 27, 2009, Ibrahim's brother Abdullah blew himself up in the 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...
office of security chief Saudi Prince Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, after posing as a repentant militant. Al-Asri had recruited his younger brother as a suicide bomber, using a PETN
PETN
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate , also known as PENT, PENTA, TEN, corpent, penthrite , is the nitrate ester of pentaerythritol. Penta refers to the five carbon atoms of the neopentane skeleton.PETN is most well known as an explosive...
bomb that al-Asri had hidden in his brother's rectum
Rectum
The rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. The human rectum is about 12 cm long...
. The brother died in the attempt as he blew himself up, but Nayef survived with minor injuries.
Ibrahim is suspected of being the main explosives expert for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is a militant Islamist organization, primarily active in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. It was named for al-Qaeda, and says it is subordinate to that group and its now-deceased leader Osama bin Laden, a Saudi citizen whose father was born in Yemen...
and the bombmaker responsible for building the bombs in the 2010 cargo plane bomb plot. He is a likely suspect due to his history of creating explosive devices using PETN
PETN
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate , also known as PENT, PENTA, TEN, corpent, penthrite , is the nitrate ester of pentaerythritol. Penta refers to the five carbon atoms of the neopentane skeleton.PETN is most well known as an explosive...
, including his involvement in the failed Christmas Day bomb plot
Northwest Airlines Flight 253
Northwest Airlines Flight 253 was an international passenger flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands, to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan, United States...
. Evidence suggested the same person constructed both the Yemen parcel bombs and the device worn by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab , popularly referred to as the "Underwear Bomber", is a suspected terrorist who attempted to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear while on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253, en route from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan, on December 25,...
, the Nigerian who attempted to ignite the Christmas Day bomb on a plane in 2009. One of the detonators was nearly precisely the same as the one used in the Christmas Day attack.
On 24 March 2011 he was added to the U.S. list of terrorists. He is wanted by the Government of Saudi Arabia and is the subject of an Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
Orange Notice.
Al-Asiri has been reported as possibly killed in a drone strike together with other AQAP suspects, amongst whom the American-Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaki
Anwar al-Awlaki
Anwar al-Awlaki was an American and Yemeni imam who was an engineer and educator by training. According to U.S. government officials, he was a senior talent recruiter and motivator who was involved with planning operations for the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda...
during the month of September 2011. However a Yemeni official denied that he was killed.
Family
The brothers' father is a retired soldier. They have three sisters, and two surviving brothers.External links
- Department of State's Terrorist Designation of Ibrahim Hassan Tali Al-Asiri, U.S. Department of State, 24 March 2011