A leader of an Algerian Islamist group affiliated with Al-Qaeda was killed on Thursday in clashes with the army, a media report said. Samir Saioud alias Samir Moussaab was believed to be the second-ranking leader in the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, recently renamed as Al-QaedaÂ’s branch in northern Africa. | He was killed in fighting in the Si Mustapha region east of Algiers, the APS agency reported, citing an unnamed security source. SaioudÂ’s body was identified by former members of his group, it said. |
The group claimed responsibility for a series of car bomb attacks earlier this month at the governmentÂ’s headquarters and another location that killed 30 people and injured more than 200. It is also blamed for various other attacks, including those in the mountainous area of Kabylie and against workers from the US and Russian companies in Algeria.
Between the beginning of March and early April, attacks against police resulted in at least 34 deaths, including a Russian national. Authorities describe the organisation as the last armed Islamist group operating in Algeria. Dozens of young militants have reportedly joined the group since the beginning of the year.
The Algerian army often conducts operations in the Kabylie area, where militants have holed up, using heavy artillery and helicopters. The groupÂ’s former leader was killed by the army in 2004. The current leader is believed to be Abdelmalek Droudkel alias Abu Mossaab Abdelouadoud. Since this monthÂ’s car bomb attacks, authorities have stepped up security in Algiers and other cities.