On April 1, 2012, an individual calling himself Abu Al-Qa'qa' Al-Andalusi posted a message on the Ansar Al-Mujahideen message board titled "Muhammad Merah as I Knew Him". Abu Al-Qa'qa' claims that both he and Merah were members of "Jund Al-Khilafa," the jihad group that has claimed responsibility for Muhammad Merah's killings. His nickname, "Al-Andalusi", may indicate a connection to Spain.
In the post, Abu Al-Qa'qa' gives details about Merah's travels to Afghanistan and Pakistan, which he allegedly heard from Merah himself. He strongly rejects the Western media's claims that Merah was a disturbed young man, describing him as a pious Muslim and praising his technological skills and his eagerness in training to be a mujahid. He adds that Merah was supposed to carry out a suicide bombing in Afghanistan, but that his plan was abandoned for reasons he is not at liberty to disclose.
According to Abu Al-Qa'qa', Muhammad Merah made two trips to the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. The first time, he traveled to Afghanistan through Egypt, Syria, the Palestinian Territories, Iraq and Tajikistan, but was arrested before he could join a jihad group. The second time he managed to obtain a visa to Pakistan, and while there, met with Taliban members who introduced him to Jund Al-Khilafa. ...
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