Abu Basir Al-Wahishi, Emir of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
According to press reports, 'Umar Faruq 'Abd Al-Muttalib, the Nigerian man who attempted to blow up Northwest Airlines flight 253 on Christmas Day, received the explosives from a bomb expert affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).[1]
At this early stage in the investigation the suspect's ties to AQAP have yet to be corroborated. It is noteworthy, however, that the Emir of AQAP, Nasir Al-Wahishi, wrote about bombing U.S. airplanes in a recent issue of the organization's magazine, Sada Al-Malahim. The issue was dated Shawwal 1430, corresponding to September-October 2009, and was posted on jihadist websites on October 28, 2009.
As reported by JTTM on November 5,[2] Al-Wahishi wrote an article titled "War Is Deception" in which he urged others to emulate Abu Al-Khayr ('Abdallah Hasan Tali' 'Asiri), an AQAP suicide bomber who attempted to assassinate Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Muhammad bin Naif. One of the passages in the article read:
"Make the explosives into a bomb that you can throw, set off with a timer, explode by remote, or make them into an explosives belt; or you can put them in any electronic device, like a digital recorder in which you hear the tunes of explosions, or in a photo album, a folder, or an envelope. Explode them on any taghut,[3] spy nest, Emir, minister, or Crusader, wherever you find them.
"Likewise, [you should explode them] in the airports of the Western Crusader countries that have taken part in the war against the Muslims, or in their planes, on their residential blocks, or in their metros, and so on. There is always a stratagem [to be found] if you think and rely on Allah, and have no fear of it being discovered after you have hidden it well. By the power of Allah, it can not be discovered…"
While Al-Wahishi appeared to be mainly encouraging independent actions on the part of "lone wolf" bombers, the article did include an offer to help with these initiatives: "For our part, we will make contact with anyone who wants to wage jihad with us, and we will guide him to a suitable means to kill the collaborators and the archons of unbelief…"
According to media reports, 'Abd Al-Muttalib, the would-be bomber of NWA flight 253, had 80 grams of the explosive PETN sewn into his underwear.[4] This method of hiding the explosives in or near one's private parts may also be suggestive of an Al-Qaeda connection. In recent propaganda, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has taken great pride in the fact that the suicide bomber Abu Al-Khayr had managed to sneak his explosives through multiple levels of security and into the presence of the Saudi Deputy Interior Minister. The communiqué taking responsibility for the assassination attempt said that "nobody knows or will ever know the nature [of this explosives charge] and how it was detonated."[5] In fact, the bomber is believed to have hidden the explosives in his rectum. An AQAP video celebrating the assassination attempt later bragged that the explosives were not discovered "even though [Abu Al-Khayr] was searched more than once in the airports of Najran and Jeddah, and again at the Prince's palace."[6]
AQAP has also focused in its recent propaganda on the use of small amounts of powerful explosives. (According to some reports, Abu Al-Khayr's explosives were also in PETN.) Al-Wahishi wrote: "It requires no great effort on your part, nor large sums, to manufacture 10 grams, more or less, of explosives. Do not search long for the materials, since they are in your mother's kitchen and are ready at hand, in whatever city you are in. Then you will accomplish what Abu Al-Khayr accomplished, may Allah have mercy on him." Likewise, in the video released by AQAP in celebration of the assassination attempt, the suicide bomber himself said in a recording made before the bombing: "The tyrants of the House of Saud claimed that they had already shut down [the operations of] the jihad fighters, and banned the selling of explosives of any kind… Bur from now on, we will come to you with [only] 50 grams, 100 grams, or 200 grams [of explosives], and with Allah's help, our brothers in the manufacturing department will produce videos explaining how anyone, using simple materials available to him, can [manufacture explosives] and blow up the enemies of Allah… You will be surprised to learn that explosives can be manufactured [even] from foodstuffs…"[7]
In conclusion, it is not yet known for certain if or when 'Abd Al-Muttalib was in Yemen, but the circumstantial evidence drawn from AQAP's own publications and videos indicates that such a connection is plausible, and that the organization was actively seeking to assist in bombing plots like the attempt to blow up NWA 253.
Endnotes:
[1] Eric Schmitt and Eric Lipton, "Officials Point to Suspect's Claim of Qaeda Ties in Yemen," New York Times, December 27, 2009.
[2] Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Looks to Continue Political Assassinations, Encourages Lone Wolf Bombers in the West, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/report.htm?report=3736¶m=APT, November 5, 2009.
[3] A taghut is an idol or false god; salafi jihadis most often use the term as a reference to contemporary rulers of Muslim countries.
[4] Richard Esposito and Brian Ross, "Investigators: Northwest Bomb Plot Planned by Al-Qaeda in Yemen," December 26, 2009, http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/northwest-bomb-plot-planned-al-qaeda-yemen/story?id=9426085.
[5] AQAP Claims Responsibility for Assassination Attempt against Saudi Prince Muhammad bin Naif, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=1815¶m=GJN%7C, August 30, 2009.
[6] New AQAP Video Justifies Assassination Attempt against Prince Muhammad bin Naif; Threatens Further Attacks on Saudi Royal Family, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=1960¶m=GJN, September 25, 2009.
[7] New AQAP Video Justifies Assassination Attempt against Prince Muhammad bin Naif; Threatens Further Attacks on Saudi Royal Family, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=1960¶m=GJN, September 25, 2009.
