Official: Two former Guantanamo detainees arrested in Belgium

2015-07-27T11:09:06-04:00

From: CNN

(CNN)Two former detainees at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba were arrested by Belgian police in a counterterrorism operation targeting a recruiting network for al Qaeda in Syria.

They were arrested Wednesday night along with three others as they were about to break into a house to raise funds in the town of Hoboken, near Antwerp, a senior Belgian counterterrorism official told CNN.

"We have dismantled a serious recruiting network for Syria," the official told CNN.

One of the former Guantanamo Bay detainees was Moussa Zemmouri, 37, a Moroccan national born in Antwerp, Belgian federal prosecutors announced Friday. The other was an Algerian identified as Soufiane A., who prosecutors believe spent time in Syria.

Both have been charged with participating in the activities of a terrorist group and all five have been charged with attempted armed robbery.

Zemmouri was released from Guantanamo in 2005 and authored a book "Innocent at Guantanamo" after returning to Belgium. His case was featured prominently by the UK Muslim prisoner advocacy group CAGE, which has long maintained that he has no links to terrorism.

According to a 2003 detainee assessment file posted by the WikiLeaks website, Zemmouri was transferred to U.S. custody after he was detained by Pakistani police when fleeing Afghanistan after the beginning of the U.S. bombing campaign in autumn 2001.

The document alleged he had trained in the al Qaeda-sponsored Derunta training camp in Khost, Afghanistan. It said "sensitive reporting also indicates that detainee is a high-ranking member of the Theological Commission of the Moroccan Islamic Fighting Group (MIFG)."

According to the Belgian official, Zemmouri was put under observation after his return to Belgium. Belgian security services suspect he provided theological encouragement to several former members of the al Qaeda affiliated MIFG who left to fight jihad in Syria after they completed prison sentences in Belgian jails.

The official said there was no indication the group was plotting an attack in Belgium.

Efforts to immediately reach an attorney for Zemmouri were unsuccessful.

Belgian officials know of the identity of more than 300 extremists who have traveled from Belgium to join jihadi groups in Syria.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/24/politics/former-guantanamo-detainees-arrested-belgium/index.html

Two former Gitmo detainees arrested in Belgium - CNNPolitics.com

Two former detainees at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba were arrested by Belgian police in a counterterrorism operation targeting a recruiting network for al Qaeda in Syria.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 11:14 AM

2015-07-27T11:14:42-04:00

My bet is that the recidivism rate for these former detainees will be close to 100%. Question is, will they all be caught as quickly as these two -- before they can do more damage. I'm thinking probably not.

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Jul 27 at 2015 11:17 AM

2015-07-27T11:17:26-04:00

Hate to be crass, but here is my surprised look... -.-

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Jul 27 at 2015 11:18 AM

2015-07-27T11:18:58-04:00

Can anyone say the tip of the iceberg. I suspect many, most, perhaps all Gitmo detainees released will support the jihad in some way. No one should be surprised by this.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 27 at 2015 11:24 AM

2015-07-27T11:24:02-04:00

RallyPoint Shared Content Yeah, those 2nd and 3rd order effects from trying to close Guantanamo are a problem. Sad that this administration will not look hard at the consequences and the MSM will not connect the dots.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 27 at 2015 11:47 AM

2015-07-27T11:47:55-04:00

Don't send them back to Gitmo; the POTUS will just release them again.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jul 27 at 2015 12:16 PM

2015-07-27T12:16:37-04:00

They are just two of many I'm sure. This should be no surprise to anyone at this point.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 27 at 2015 12:21 PM

2015-07-27T12:21:18-04:00

This is not surprising. And yet the president wants to close it down.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 1:13 PM

2015-07-27T13:13:36-04:00

Just imagine what the five that were released for the traitor are up to!

Response by SPC David S. made Jul 27 at 2015 2:12 PM

2015-07-27T14:12:21-04:00

Belgium should send them back to the US via one way tickets and a limo ride to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. If these guys are so trust worthy I'm sure POTUS wouldn't mind letting these guys ruck up with them at the white house -

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 3:42 PM

2015-07-28T15:42:20-04:00

Don't blame the POTUS. Americans protest to give them rights. so this is what happens when we lobby for the wrong things.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 8:51 PM

2015-09-03T20:51:27-04:00

Huh ... You mean we released bad guys? Thought they were all peace loving Afghans who were innocent farmers and all were illegally rounded up by those monstrous Bounty Hunters seeking rewards.