Faker Boussora

Faker Boussora

FBI photo of Faker Boussora
Born Faker Ben Abdelazziz Boussora
(1964-03-22) March 22, 1964
Tunis, Tunisia
Occupation Student

Faker Ben Abdelazziz Boussora (born March 22, 1964 in Tunis, Tunisia)[1] is a Canadian citizen,[2] and a senior member of al-Qaeda. He is being sought in connection with possible terrorist activity within the United States, with a US$5 million bounty on his head by American authorities.[3] He also went by the name Abu Yusif al-Tunisi.[4]

In early 2002, he was the subject of an international manhunt, one week after his Montreal companion Abderraouf Jdey was identified as the fifth person seen on a videotape found in Afghanistan, pledging to die as a shaheed. Together with Jdey, Boussora was placed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's newly created Most Wanted Terrorists Seeking Information list, along with the other four subjects of the videotape, even though Boussora was not otherwise connected to the group.

Although only Ramzi bin al-Shibh was ever captured from among the six original names on the list, only Jdey and Boussora remain on the FBI Seeking Information - War on Terrorism list.[5]

Life

Boussora left Tunisia in 1988, and moved to France.[1] In 1991 he moved to Montreal, Canada on a student visa,[6] where he attended the Assuna Mosque, and may have met with Raouf Hannachi.[7][8] Living in a Montreal suite,[9] he continued making routine trips back home to Tunisia until 1999, when he received Canadian citizenship, and left Canada for an undisclosed location. Believed to have a serious pituitary gland illness causing "extremely poor health",[1][5] authorities allege he trained at an Afghan training camp before subsequently returning to Canada.[1]

Upon his return, Boussora rented a second-floor apartment above a tailor shop owned by Hasidic Jews.[10] During his absence, and even following his departure from Canada, mail still arrived at his old suite from the Middle East addressed to him.[9] In November 2001, he left Canada, believed to be bound for Europe, possibly together with Jdey.[11]

It was the first time authorities had reason to suspect him of any wrongdoing.[12] Already under fire for issuing "excessive and somewhat alarmist" warnings about terrorists plotting against the United States, Attorney General John Ashcroft stated that Jdey and Boussora should be considered "extremely dangerous".[13]

A month after Jdey and Boussora were declared fugitives, the Republic of Turkey announced that the pair may be within their borders.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Faker Ben Abdelazziz Boussora". National Counterterrorism Center.
  2. ↑ Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Summary of the Security Intelligence Report concerning Hassan Almrei, February 22, 2008.
  3. ↑ United States House of Representatives, Small Business Committee, Testimony of Janice L. Kephart, November 17, 2005
  4. ↑ Edmonton Sun, "A Short Glossary of some Key People and Groups Involved in Terrorism", September 9, 2005
  5. 1 2 "Seeking Information Alert for FAKER BEN ABDELAZZIZ BOUSSORA". Fbi.gov. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  6. ↑ Leiken, Robert S.; Brooke, Steven. "Matrix of terror suspects". Nixoncenter.org.
  7. ↑ Hayder, Mili (July 28, 2005). "Securing the Northern Front: Canada and the War on Terror" (PDF). Jamestown.org.
  8. ↑ Leser, Eric. Le Monde, “Deux ans de traque n'ont pu réduire la menace terroriste d'Al-Qaida”, September 10, 2003
  9. 1 2 "New Al-Qaeda Link Allegation Stuns Montreal". CBC. January 27, 2002.
  10. ↑ "Analysis: Concern of US officials about security lapses in Canada". National Public Radio, All Things Considered. August 2, 2002.
  11. ↑ Hickerson, Colin (February 4, 2003). "US wary of 'time bombs' waiting to strike from north". Boston Globe.
  12. ↑ "Two Canadians among fugitive al-Qaeda members". Cbc.ca. January 26, 2002.
  13. ↑ Lichtblau, Eric (January 26, 2002). 2 "Canadians tied to terrorist plots" Check |url= value (help). Los Angeles Times.
  14. ↑ "Turks: Al Qaeda Men Planning Israel Attack". Fox News. February 20, 2002.
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