Abu Doha

Abu Doha
أبو ضحى
Born
Hider Hanani

1963 (age 60–61)
NationalityAlgerian
Other namesAmar Makhlulif
OrganizationAl-Qaeda
AllegianceGSPC
Conviction(s)Immigration offences

Hider Hanani[1] (b. 1963), alias Amar Makhlulif and kunya Abu Doha (Arabic: أبو ضحى), is an Algerian alleged to be member of the al-Qaeda and GSPC terrorist networks.[2]

Hanani claimed asylum when he first arrived in Britain in 1994. He left the country for Afghanistan from 1996 to 1999, where he admittedly attended the Khalden training camp.[3]

As a result of a German terrorism investigation, Hanani was arrested at London Heathrow Airport in February 2001 while attempting to travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on a forged passport.[4] Hanani was held on terrorism charges while his traveling companion Rabah Kadre was suspected of an immigration violation.[5]

Hanani was indicted in the United States in August 2001 for being the mastermind of the plot to bomb the Los Angeles airport during the 2000 millennium celebrations.[6] When Ahmed Ressam was apprehended, he had a business card with Hanani’s number and calling cards which were used to call it 11 days earlier.[7] Ressam's testimony provided evidence for the indictment, but after he stopped cooperating with prosecutors, they dropped the case in 2005.[8] Hanani has admitted meeting Ahmed Ressam in Jalalabad, but not being involved in the millennium bombing plot.[3]

After the U.S. extradition request was dropped, Hanani was held in prison under immigration powers by the British government.[9] Hanani was held in Belmarsh Prison.[2] In July 2008, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission released him on bail, under 24-hour house arrest.[9] Although the British press was forced to identified him only as "U", details in the ruling identifies him clearly as Hanani.[10][11] In February 2009, Hanani was returned to Belmarsh Prison on the orders of the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.[12] After writing a statement that said he and his world views had changed, Hanani was released to house arrest again in a ruling in July 2011.[9]

  1. ^ "Terror suspect held for seven years without charge in British prison". Birmingham Mail. 3 January 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2016. mirror.
  2. ^ a b Burrell, Ian; Lichfield, John (15 January 2003). "Warning signs of Algerian terror cells as early as 1994". Independent. Archived from the original on 2016-02-13. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  3. ^ a b Gardham, Duncan (3 July 2008). "Terrorist 'linked to Osama bin Laden' released on bail". Telegraph. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  4. ^ O'Neill, Sean (9 January 2003). "'Architect of terror' held in British jail cell". Telegraph. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  5. ^ Rotella, Sebastian (19 November 2002). "Detentions Signal Fear in Europe". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  6. ^ Meyer, Josh (29 August 2001). "Alleged Mastermind in LAX Bomb Plot Indicted". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Algerian indicted in LA airport bomb plot". The Washington Times. 29 August 2001. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  8. ^ Lawless, Jill (1 November 2006). "Millenium bomb-plot suspect still in British legal limbo". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  9. ^ a b c "U v Secretary of State for the Home Department" (PDF). Special Immigration Appeals Commission. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  10. ^ Burns, John (July 4, 2008). "2nd Terror Suspect Released in Britain". New York Times. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  11. ^ Rotella, Sebastian (29 June 2008). "Lacking evidence, Britain to free LAX bomb plot suspect". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  12. ^ Bhattacharyya, Anindya (3 March 2009). "Exposed: Britain's internal rendition". Socialist Worker. Retrieved 5 February 2016.