Ahmed Siddiqui (German)
| Ahmed Siddiqui | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974 (age 41–42) |
| Arrested | US Forces |
| Citizenship | Germany |
| Detained at | Bagram Theater Internment Facility |
Ahmed Siddiqui is a citizen of Germany who is suspected of ties to terrorism.[1][2][3][4] Siddiqui was captured in July 2010, and held in the Bagram Theater Internment Facility, where he was reported to have confessed to a role in a plot to plant bombs in European cities. He was reported to have confessed that he was just one of 45 conspirators in the bomb plot. All the plotters were reported to hold European passports.
ABC News reports that Siddiqui had been under surveillance in Germany since 1997.[1] He attended the al Quds mosque in Hamburg -- the same mosque as Mohammed Atta and other hijackers in the September 11 attacks. He had worked as a cleaner at Hamburg International Airport. According to ABC German authorities. closed the mosque, based on information from his confessions.
Der Spiegel reports that Siddiqui traveled to Pakistan's Tribal Agencies in March 2009, with his Indonesia wife, his brother, and another couple.[3] Der Spiegel reports he confessed to membership in the Islamic Movement for Uzbekistan.
A second German suspect, Rami Makanesi, is reported to have confirmed portions of Siddiqui's confession.[1]
Pakistan's Daily Times reports Siddiqui had been living in the Mir Ali area prior to traveling to Afghanistan prior to his capture.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 Troy McMullen, Anna Schecter (2010-10-07). "German Terror Connection Grows; 45 More Suspects Being Tracked". ABC News. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
The claims of a captured German al Qaeda recruit about a multi-city plot against Europe have been bolstered by other "highly reliable" sources of information, US and German intelligence officials said Thursday.
- ↑ Richard Esposito, Rhonda Schwartz, Matthew Cole, Anna Schecter (2010-09-29). "9/11 Mosque Continued To Produce Jihadis". ABC Nightline. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
According to Der Spiegel, a German identified as Ahmad S. who was detained by US forces in Afghanistan this summer allegedly had direct ties to Hamburg and the 9/11 plotters. Ahmad S. drove the father of Mounir al Motassadeq to visit Motassadeq in prison and vacationed with Motassadeq's family. Motassadeq, who helped run the al Quds mosque, was convicted in a German court for his role in the 9/11 attacks.
- 1 2 "Hamburg Islamist Speaks of Threat of Attacks in Germany". Der Spiegel. 2010-09-06. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
German officials are investigating apparent statements by a Hamburg Islamist recently arrested by US forces in Afghanistan about attack scenarios for terror strikes in Germany and neighboring countries. Ahmad S. is one of a number of Germany-based Islamists thought to have traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2009.
- 1 2 "German militants training in Pakistan’s border area". Daily Times (Pakistan). 2010-10-08. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
Of the Germans in the region, most recent attention has been on a German citizen of Afghan descent Ahmed Siddiqui who had been in the Mir Ali area and was captured in Afghanistan in July. He is now being interrogated by US forces at the Bagram Air Field, German and US officials have said. American officials say Siddiqui provided some details of an early-stage terrorist plot to attack targets in Britain, France and Germany, which led to the recent warnings in Europe.