al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb

Armed Islamic Group -- Founding Group and Faction

Al-Qaeda Committee in the Islamic Maghreb, Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat

<a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=AG">Algeria</a>, <a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=ML">Mali</a>, <a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=MR">Mauritania</a>, <a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=NG">Niger</a>

Algerian expatriates and GSPC members abroad, especially in Western Europe; In addition, Algeria has accused Iran and Sudan of providing support to Algerian extremists

The al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb is based in Northern Africa, specifically Algeria. However, the group is believed to be establishing links with groups across Northern Africa,  and it also has links to an external network of extremists in Western Europe. The group has signaled its intent to target symbols of Western countries both inside and outside of Algeria,  and it has also established a network to send North African militants to Iraq for suicide operations and as foot soldiers.  Some intelligence experts fear the group is moving towards a global objective, along the lines of al-Qaeda, and may soon adopt similar tactics to al-Qaeda. Other experts argue that the Organization does not have the resources to launch large-scale attacks outside of Algeria.  However, the al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb still appears dedicated to its primary objective, the establishment of an Islamist state in Algeria.<br /><p> <br />Recent arrests of members of the Organization have uncovered plans for chemical attacks. In April 2005, a GSPC member, Kamel Bourgass, was convicted for "conspiracy to cause public nuisance by use of poisons and/or explosives. Bourgass's recent conviction did not represent the disruption of a vast terrorist conspiracy originally portrayed by British authorities, and, amidst a lack of hard evidence, many feel that the ricin plot was an overblown threat. Bourgass was connected with the London-based GSPC cell led by Abu Doha, a known associate of Usama bin Laden who has also been linked with the foiled plot to blow up Los Angeles International Airport.<br />