Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'Top Level' Al-Qa'eda Suspect (Held) In Paris
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 6-19-2004 | Henry Samuel

Posted on 06/18/2004 6:00:42 PM PDT by blam

'Top level' al-Qa'eda suspect in Paris

By Henry Samuel in Paris
(Filed: 19/06/2004)

French anti-terrorism magistrates are questioning an al-Qa'eda suspect described as one of the "highest level terrorist suspects to be caught in years".

Said Arif, who experts believe to be a lieutenant of Iraq's most wanted terrorist leader, Abu Musab Zarqawi, was flown from Syria to Paris on Thursday night and placed under investigation in relation to a series of planned terrorist strikes in Paris.

A spokesman for the French interior ministry described Arif as "highly mobile, with all the terrorist techniques taught in Afghanistan". He said France had been looking for him for "many months".

Arif's lawyer said his client had been in jail in Syria for around a year before being extradited, but intimated that any incriminating statements during that time had been made under extreme duress.

"The declarations he made during that year in detention are to be treated with caution," said Felix de Belloy.

According to a judicial source, Arif is "close" to Zarqawi, al-Qa'eda's toxin and chemical poisons specialist suspected of masterminding some of Iraq's bloodiest suicide attacks.

He was also wanted in connection with the so-called Chechen network, "a group suspected of having trained in Georgia to fight the Russians in Chechnya before plotting several terrorist strikes in France and elsewhere in Europe".

Born in Algeria in 1965, Arif deserted the army before joining terrorist training camps in Afghanistan.

Investigators have also cited him as being in "close relation" with a Frankfurt-based group whose planned bomb attack of a market in Strasbourg in December 2000 was prevented at the last minute.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; alqaedafrance; arif; captured; jihadineurope; level; paris; saidarif; suspect; top
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

1 posted on 06/18/2004 6:00:45 PM PDT by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: blam

Great catch!


2 posted on 06/18/2004 6:05:56 PM PDT by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam
French anti-terrorism magistrates are questioning an al-Qa'eda suspect described as one of the "highest level terrorist suspects to be caught in years".

Let me guess. Knowing the french this means that his brother's wife's friend bumped into some one who might or might not have swept the house where Zarqawi shoeshine boy used to live.

Considering how concerned about terrorism the french are that would be about the level of competence and trust I have in their alleged work.

3 posted on 06/18/2004 6:07:33 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Latine loqui coactus sum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam

French terms of surrender are being drawn up now.


4 posted on 06/18/2004 6:11:35 PM PDT by Dr Snide (vis pacem, para bellum - Prepare for war if you want peace)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam
I think this might be the same guy...?

France Gets Hands on Algerian Terror Suspect

5 posted on 06/18/2004 6:12:59 PM PDT by b4its2late
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Harmless Teddy Bear

I was wondering what they were holding him with? Cordon bleu or whine?

(If the French are, indeed, doing something right, I will apologize for my doubt.)


6 posted on 06/18/2004 6:13:10 PM PDT by bannie (Liberal Media: The Most Dangerous Enemies to America and Freedom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: blam
An important kill in Saudi Arabia
An important kill in Pakistan.
An important capture in France.

Things may finally be starting to unravel for bin Laden.

So9

7 posted on 06/18/2004 6:15:04 PM PDT by Servant of the 9 (We are the Hegemon. We can do anything we damned well please.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: b4its2late
"I think this might be the same guy...?"

Yup. Looks like the same guy.

8 posted on 06/18/2004 6:19:42 PM PDT by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the 9

He wasn't captured in france...he was extradited by the Syrians. Hmmm....who has been putting pressure on boy Assad? Hint...it wasn't the french.


9 posted on 06/18/2004 6:23:47 PM PDT by blanknoone (Gigolos for John Kerry...it has a certain ring to it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: blam

"placed under investigation in relation to a series of planned terrorist strikes in Paris."

How is this possible. The French love the terrorist. They were helping Saddam, they stayed out of Iraq. Maybe the terrorist don't care. Note to Spain, watch your back. They well be back just as soon as they want to extort something else from you.


10 posted on 06/18/2004 6:28:21 PM PDT by MPJackal (Waiting for the big one and some nice beach front property in Nevada.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the 9
Things may finally be starting to unravel for bin Laden.

IMHO, Tora Bora unravelled bin Laden literally. It's just now that we are starting to pick up the pieces......

11 posted on 06/18/2004 6:29:45 PM PDT by b4its2late (John Kerry changes positions more often than a Nevada prostitute!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: blam

And what do the Frenchy-Frenchmen find so offensive about this particular fellow? Did he walk out of a Jerry Lewis movie, or something?


12 posted on 06/18/2004 6:31:39 PM PDT by DJ Frisat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the 9

As long as Western politicians fail to recognize the true enemy (Mohammedanism and Mohammedans), he has us right where he wants us.


13 posted on 06/18/2004 6:32:53 PM PDT by Guillermo (It's the 99% of Mohammedans that make the other 1% look bad)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: bannie
If the French are, indeed, doing something right,

It is possible.

It is also possible the sun will go nova tomorrow.

I consider the sun going nova more probable.

14 posted on 06/18/2004 6:35:19 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Latine loqui coactus sum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Harmless Teddy Bear

I like your name.


15 posted on 06/18/2004 6:36:01 PM PDT by bannie (Liberal Media: The Most Dangerous Enemies to America and Freedom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: b4its2late
The fact that these terrorists have resorted to beheadings to me means they have lost all organization and funding to carry out anything big. Little do they know that *any* American killed, no matter how many, will only seal there fate even further.
16 posted on 06/18/2004 6:37:54 PM PDT by rintense (Screw justice. I want revenge.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: rintense

Bump


17 posted on 06/18/2004 6:52:05 PM PDT by BenLurkin (We are hoping for the sound of the "Bees")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: blam

This is good news but.....I'm getting sick and tired of hearing "top level" & "Top leutinant to....". I want some of the SOB's like Bin Laden (or a carcass) and Al Zaquwari. It always seems one of their minions gets caught but not the big cheese.


18 posted on 06/18/2004 6:56:06 PM PDT by Ragirl (Vote in '04 ! Those who sit on their hands end up with poop on them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bannie

Yeah. You think they might put him in Le Gitmo?


19 posted on 06/18/2004 7:06:00 PM PDT by ChinaThreat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: All

GOOGLE Search Term: "SAID ARIF"http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Said+Arif%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&filter=0


20 posted on 06/18/2004 9:14:18 PM PDT by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson