TERRORIST
GROUP PROFILES
MILNET
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Armed Islamic Group (GIA)
a.ka. Gama'at al-Islamiyya
From: Patterns of Global Terrorism. United States
Department of State Publication 10321
also, see the MIPT
file on GIA
Description
An Islamic extremist group, the GIA aims to overthrow the secular
Algerian regime and replace it with an Islamic state. The GIA began its
violent activities in early 1992 after Algiers voided the victory of
the
Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) - the largest Islamic party - in the
first
round of December 1991 legislative elections.
Activities
Frequent attacks against regime targets - particularly security
personnel
and government officials - civilians, journalists, teachers, and
foreign
residents. Since announcing its terrorist campaign against foreigners
living in Algeria in September 1993, the GIA has killed about 100
expatriate men and women - mostly Europeans - in the country. The GIA
uses
assassinations and bombings, including car bombs, and it is known to
favor kidnapping victims and slitting their throats. The GIA hijacked
an
Air France flight to Algiers in December 1994, and suspicions centered
on the group for a series of bombings in France in 1995.
GIA has been linked to Usama Bin Laden's Al-Qaida, with the first
"student" being trained in the Sudan by Al-Qaida in January of 1994,
and later funds were traced from Bin Laden's headquarters (at the time)
in Khartoumb, Sudan to a London cell of the GIA.
On April 15, 2002, the group named its new leader, Rachid Oukali,
alias Abou Tourab. He replaces Antar Zouabri, who was killed in a
gunbattle with security forces on February 8, 2002.
Strength
Unknown, probably several hundred to several thousand.
Location/Area of Operation
Algeria, but has spread to other regions in North Africa and Middle
East. In 1999, a known member and two accomplices ( Abdelmajid
Dahoumane, Ahmed
Ressam, and Mokhtar
Haouari) were convicted of attempting to target the Los Angeles
International Airport in California, as part of what has become known
as the Millenium Bomb plot.
External Aid
Algerian expatriates, many of whom reside in Western Europe, provide
some financial and logistic support. In addition, the Algerian
Government has accused Iran and Sudan of supporting Algerian
extremists,
and severed diplomatic relations with Iran in March 1993.
Created: 02/11/97
Last Updated: 02/11/97
Page Maintained by George Goncalves - ggoncalves@nps.navy.mil