Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please!
a man they describe as an important commander in Al Qaeda's newly created South Asian wing, police said on Friday.
Police arrested Shahid Usman, in his mid-thirties, and four others in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
late on Thursday. They also seized weapons and 10kg of explosives.
Al Qaeda's new South Asia wing, Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, tried to hijack a Pak navy ship in September this year, a few days after the group had announced its formation.
Police say Usman is the head of the Al Qaeda wing in Karachi, a steamy port city of 18 million people, and was planning more attacks there.
"He is the Karachi chief of Al Qaeda's newly formed wing working under the set up of Asim Umar
...chief of al-Qaeda's Sharia Committee for Pakistain, named head of al-Qaeda in India. His video appearances are frequently accompanied by clips of al Qaeda's senior propagandist in Pakistan, Ahmad Farooq. Umar the author of
The Army of Anti-Christ: Blackwater, Documentation of the Dreadful Terrorist Activities of America's Blackwater in Islamic Countries...
, the South Asia chief of Al Qaeda," a bigwig at the police counter-terrorism unit said.
The official said Usman lived in Defence, a wealthy neighbourhood, and owned a car-parts dealership in one of the city's most expensive commercial areas. "Unlike the usual myrmidon profile, Usman comes from an affluent background," the police officer said.
Officials said Usman was previously associated with the outlawed Harkatul Jihad-al-Islami myrmidon group, whose operational commander, Ilyas Kashmiri, was killed in a US drone strike in 2011 near the Afghan border. Usman had received training in Afghanistan, the police officer said.
The suspected turbans were arrested from Lakri Gali, Old Haji Camp neighbourhood of the city, a police statement said, adding that the arrested men "operate Al-Qaeda's network in the city" and were behind several "acts of terrorism".
Al Qaeda announced the formation of its South Asian wing on Sept 4 with Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-
Zawahiri... Formerly second in command of al-Qaeda, now the head cheese, occasionally described as
the real brains of the outfit.Formerly the Mister Big of Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Bumped off Abdullah Azzam with a car boom in the course of one of their little disputes. Is thought to have composed bin Laden's fatwa entitled World Islamic Front Against Jews and Crusaders. Currently residing in the North Wazoo area. That is not a horn growing from the middle of his forehead, but a prayer bump, attesting to how devout he is...
promising to spread a holy war across South Asia, home to more than 400 million Moslems.
Analysts say the move is part of Al Qaeda's plan to take advantage of the planned withdrawal of US-led forces from Afghanistan and boost its influence in the region.
The new Al Qaeda wing may also be an attempt to grab back the initiative from the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling
Allaharound with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not
reallyMoslems....
(IS) myrmidon group that was expelled from Al Qaeda for its brutal tactics and which now holds parts of Iraq and Syria. Pak
Usman's arrest followed the reported killing of two senior Al Qaeda leaders in Pakistain this month.