The Armed Islamic Group (GIA) is an Islamic extremist group which aims to overthrow the secular Algerian regime and replace it with an Islamic state. The group began its violent activity in 1992 after Algiers declared the victory of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) "the largest Islamic opposition party" void, following the first round of legislative elections in December 1991. FIS was outlawed and many of its leaders arrested, and the group split into a moderate wing and a number of armed extremist factions, one of which was GIA. <p><br />GIA engaged in frequent attacks against civilians (especially journalists, intellectuals and secular schools) and government workers, sometimes wiping out entire villages in its area of operation. From 1993 to 1998, about 70,000 civilians were killed in surprise raids throughout the country. Also in 1993, GIA announced a campaign against foreigners living in Algeria, and subsequently killed more than 100 expatriates, predominantly Europeans. The group uses assassinations and bombings, including car bombs, and it is known to favor kidnapping victims and slitting their throats. <p><br />In an event that foreshadowed September 11th, the GIA hijacked an Air France Flight from Algiers to Paris on Christmas Eve in 1994 with 227 passengers and crew. Although the hijackers released some women, children, and elderly passengers before takeoff, an informant and some of the released hostages told the French that the hijackers actually wanted to fly the jet into the Eiffel Tower and explode it over Paris. All four hijackers were killed when French security forces stormed the aircraft. <p><br />Although the GIA has not targeted Americans in Algeria, some Algerian terrorists who have tried to attack the United States may be linked to the GIA, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. In December 1999, Ahmed Ressam was arrested at the U.S.-Canadian border with a carload of explosives. Ressam is an Algerian who was living in Canada and he was convicted of plotting a millennium-eve attack on Los Angeles International Airport. Ressam also led authorities to alleged co-conspirators in Canada and the United States.<br />