[MAGHAREBIA] An Algiers court on Tuesday (November 12th) sentenced four faceless myrmidons to 20 years in prison for their involvement in the kidnapping of 15 foreign tourists in 2003, APS reported.Nasser Attia, Gouasse Abdelmajid, Bouabdelli Benallia and Seriani Abdelbassat, belonged to Batna, Djelfa and Tebessa factions of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat
... now known as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb...
(GSPC), later renamed al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Former GSPC leader Amari Saifi (aka Abderrazak El Para) allegedly ordered the kidnappings.
The court also found the defendants guilty of attacking ANP troops and killing civilians. Attia and Abdelmajid admitted to their participation in an attack against Tazoult prison in Batna, following which they freed 1,200 prisoners and stole weapons.