Posted on 12/25/2007 11:56:17 AM PST by DeaconBenjamin
NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) - Mauritanian police detained several suspects and scoured the south of the Saharan country on Tuesday in a hunt for three gunmen who killed four picnicking French tourists in a Christmas Eve attack, officials said.
Authorities initially said robbery appeared to be the motive behind Monday's shooting at Aleg, 250 km (160 miles) southeast of the capital Nouakchott, in which turbanned gunmen armed with automatic rifles killed three members of a family and a friend.
A fifth member of the French group was injured and survived,
Police had not ruled out the possibility the attack was the work of Islamic militants seeking to carry out a high-profile strike on Europeans at Christmas, 12 days before the January start of the Lisbon-Dakar rally that will cross Mauritania.
The head of the French family attacked, a man in his seventies, was shot in the leg and was taken to neighboring Senegal for treatment. His two adult sons, his brother and a family friend were killed.
"I think this was an attack by bandits because it seems they were following the French when they went to a bank (in Aleg) to change 50 euros," the local prefect of the Brakna region, Sidi Mouloud Ould Brahim....
When the French later stopped their vehicles for a picnic lunch under trees by the roadside 10 km (6 miles) from Aleg, the assailants approached in a black Mercedes. Three turbanned men got out and demanded money. "The French replied they had none ... and the men used their weapons," Ould Brahim said.
But one security source, who asked not to be named, said the vehicles of the attacked group had not been touched, which suggested robbery may not have been the motive. But no group had so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
There is none so blind as he who WILL NOT SEE.
Obviously not a robbery.
Anyone want to guess about the religous affliation of these murderers?
Who in the world goes to Mauritania (or Mali or Niger, for that matter)? Oh, yeah. The French. I mean, what is the attraction? It’s like crystal meth — I’ll never figure it out...
I’ll wager a quid this is another good-will gesture from proponents of the “religion of peace”.
Quakers?
Sarcasm laid on with a block layers trowel!!
I feel bad for these people but you know, this situation is something of a Darwin Award: what kind of dolt vacations in an Islamic Republic?
It's big with Austrians.
The way this was handled in the past is the criminals simply disappeared.
Mainly, 1) Who goes to backwaters of poverty and crime? and 2) The French language is at least spoken there, so maybe a French tourist might want to see how the other half lives (while touring a mild climate). But I don't think they are major American destinations.
“There is none so blind as he who WILL NOT SEE.”
The ones who did the shooting could see just fine. :-)
Are you possibly confusing the impoverished West African Coast nation of Mauritania with the Indian ocean resorts in the Mauritius?
Nope.
UPDATE:
Note: Photo included.
PHOTO CAPTION - quote:
This photo taken on an unspecified date shows Sidi Ould Sidna (C, seated), 22, attending a religious meeting at the civil prison in Nouakchott. A Mauritanian court sentenced three Al-Qaeda members to death for the 2007 murder of four French tourists, who responded with threats against France and its president. Mohamed Ould Chabarnou, 29, Maarouf Ould Haiba, 28, and Sidi Ould Sidna, 22, had pleaded not guilty to the murders - which shocked the visitor-friendly nation - but presented themselves as “soldiers of Al-Qaeda”. The court is trying a total of 12 Mauritanian men in connection with the murders, two in their absence because they are on the run. - AFP Photo
#
“Mauritania gives three death for French tourist murder”
Wednesday, 26 May, 2010
SNIPPET: “NOUAKCHOTT: A court in Mauritania sentenced three young men who claim to be members of an Al-Qaeda offshoot to death on Tuesday for the 2007 murder of four picnicking French tourists in this West African country.
The men - Sidi Ould Sidna, Maarouf Ould Haiba and Mohamed Ould Chabarneau - pleaded not guilty and have said their confessions were extracted under torture, but they also claimed to be waging a holy war.
Judge Khayi Ould Mohamed read out the sentence - for charges that included terrorism, premeditated murder and rebellion against the state - at the criminal court in the capital of Nouakchott. The men, who say they are members of Al-Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb, a North Africa offshoot of the terror network, can appeal.
“God is great! You’ll see, dog, we’ll go to paradise,” Haiba, 28, shouted at the judge as he read the verdict. Haiba is considered the leader of the cell.
“Between us and the France of (President Nicolas) Sarkozy is the sword,” shouted Sidna, 26.
Family members present at the sentencing reacted strongly. Mariam Ould Chabarneau, Mohamed’s sister, called the punishment “exaggerated and disproportionate.”
Five French tourists were picnicking on the side of a highway in eastern Mauritania on Christmas Eve in 2007, when three men carrying automatic weapons attacked and robbed them. The men then opened fire, killing four of the tourists.”
NOTE The following text is a quote:
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_4600.html
Travel Warning
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Mauritania
December 02, 2009
The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of traveling to Mauritania, and urges extreme caution when traveling there due to increased activities by the terrorist group Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). AQIM continues to demonstrate its intent and ability to conduct attacks against U.S. citizens or other foreign nationals. Most recently in a presumed terrorist action, three Spanish NGO workers were kidnapped from their vehicle while driving from Nouadhibou to Nouakchott on November 29, 2009. The U.S. Department of State also recommends against all non-essential travel to the Hodh El Charghi region, the eastern half of the Tagant region, as well as the Zemmour region of Mauritania, and strongly discourages travel to unpopulated areas of eastern Mauritania. Faith-based organizations operating in Mauritania, regardless of location, may also be particularly targeted. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Alert for Mauritania, which was issued on September 1, 2009, to remind travelers of security concerns.
As noted in the Department of State’s Worldwide Caution dated July 29, 2009, AQIM has been designated as a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union. AQIM has declared its intention to attack Western targets.
On August 8, 2009, a suicide bombing near the French Embassy in Nouakchott injured two French guards and one Mauritanian citizen. The bomber is believed to have acted on orders from AQIM. On June 23, 2009, a private U.S. citizen was shot and killed in Nouakchott in an apparent kidnapping attempt by individuals associated with AQIM. Terrorists also killed 11 Mauritanian soldiers out on patrol approximately 40 miles from the northern town of Zouerate in September 2008. The Israeli Embassy and an adjoining nightclub frequented by Westerners were attacked in Nouakchott in February 2008. In December 2007, terrorists shot and killed four French tourists and wounded a fifth near the town of Aleg in southeastern Mauritania. Two days later, terrorists killed four soldiers near the town of El Ghallaouiya in northern Mauritania. The perpetrators of these attacks are all believed to be linked to AQIM.
As a result of these safety and security concerns, Peace Corps has temporarily suspended its volunteer program in Mauritania. The State Department, Peace Corps, and Embassy Nouakchott are continually evaluating the security situation in preparation for a return of the Peace Corps’ volunteer program at the first possible opportunity.
Travelers should avoid all non-essential travel to the Hodh El Charghi region of southeastern Mauritania, the eastern half of the Tagant region of central Mauritania (east of Tidjika) and the Zemmour region of northern Mauritania due to increased AQIM activities in these areas. Travel in the unpopulated areas of eastern Mauritania (areas east of Zouerate and Chinguetti and north of Nema) is strongly discouraged due to the threats of terrorism and banditry. U.S. Embassy staff members are authorized to travel to these regions only with Mauritarian government escorts.
U.S. citizens should not venture outside of urban areas unless in a convoy and accompanied by an experienced guide, and even then only if equipped with sturdy vehicles and ample provisions. Driving after dark outside of urban areas is also strongly discouraged. There have been reports of banditry and smuggling in the more remote parts of Mauritania. Landmines also remain a danger along the border with the Western Sahara. Travelers should cross borders only at designated border posts.
Given AQIM’s threats to attack western targets in Mauritania and the region, and due to indications of a desire to kidnap Westerners for ransom, U.S. citizens should remain aware of their surroundings at all times and maintain good personal security practices, including always locking their homes and cars, varying routes and time of travel, and avoiding drawing attention to themselves. When going out, they should avoid being part of large, highly visible groups of Westerners, and avoid sitting in areas that are easily visible from the street when in restaurants or cafes. U.S. citizens should be particularly alert when frequenting locales associated with Westerners, including cultural centers, social and recreation clubs, beach areas, and restaurants.
All U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Mauritania are urged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. By registering, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located between the Presidency building and the Spanish Embassy on Rue Abdallaye. The postal address is B.P. 222, Nouakchott, telephone (222) 525-2660/2663, 525-1141/45, or 525-3038 (ext. 5441), and fax (222) 525-1592. For after-hours emergencies, please call (222) 525-3288. The Embassy webpage is http://mauritania.usembassy.gov.
Updated information on travel and security in Mauritania may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and Canada or, for callers outside of the United States and Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. For further information, please consult the Country Specific Information for Mauritania and the Worldwide Caution, which are available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov.
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