Tuesday, May 3, 2016

The orange-bearded British jihadist leading an ISIS death squadron: Bizarre-looking Islamist went from preaching hate at London mosque to setting up terror group's first Somali base

A former British-based hate preacher has re-emerged in an ISIS video, leading a band of jihadis in Somalia.

Abdul Qadir Mumin used to be a key recruiter and facilitator for the al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab in Somalia after fleeing his home in South London.

He became one of the few high profile al-Shabaab figures to switch his allegiance to ISIS and has since fled with a small band of jihadis to the remote mountains in Puntland.

Abdul Qadir Mumin used to be a key recruiter and facilitator for the al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab in Somalia after fleeing his home in South London 
Abdul Qadir Mumin used to be a key recruiter and facilitator for the al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab in Somalia after fleeing his home in South London

Mumin used to preach at Greenwich mosque, which is believed to have been where Mohammed Emwazi and Michael Adebolajo occasionally attended prayers.

Upon fleeing to Somalia in 2010, Mumin burnt his passport and declared he would spend the rest of his life fighting jihad. 

Mumin, who also used to reside in Sweden, was reportedly spotted by Somali forces after the government re-gained control of the village of Galgala, according to Sky News

Residents described how Mumin and his small group of ISIS fighters had raided the village, torching houses and attacking civilians for not covering up.

Although ISIS have gained considerable territory in Syria, Iraq and Libya, the militant group has struggled to gain a real footing in the Horn of Africa.

Upon fleeing to Somalia in 2010, Mumin burnt his passport and declared he would spend the rest of his life fighting jihad. Mumin pictured in an al-Shabaab video earlier last year
Only a small number of al-Shabaab fighters, around 20 fighters in Puntland, have followed Mumin in giving bayah (allegiance) to ISIS.
Despite a deluge of Somali-speaking propaganda videos urging al-Shabaab fighters to join ISIS, the al-Qaeda group retains much of its army in Somalia.  

Mumin, also known as Ikrima al-Muhajir, previously served as a senior figure in al-Shabaab before becoming one of the few high profile figures to join ISIS.

His switch was announced through an audio statement early last year, prompting an al-Shabaab crackdown on ISIS dissenters. 

Al-Shabaab insurgents attacked a Somali military base on Tuesday and killed five soldiers in two hours of fierce fighting near the northwestern town of Baidoa, a military officer said.

Mumin, also known as Ikrima al-Muhajir, previously served as a senior figure in al-Shabaab before becoming one of the few high profile figures to join ISIS
Mumin, also known as Ikrima al-Muhajir, previously served as a senior figure in al-Shabaab before becoming one of the few high profile figures to join ISIS
Somali and English speaking ISIS fighters in Libya appeal to Somalis to defect from al-Shabaab to ISIS
Somali and English speaking ISIS fighters in Libya appeal to Somalis to defect from al-Shabaab to ISIS
Al-Shabaab insurgents attacked a Somali military base on Tuesday and killed five soldiers in two hours of fierce fighting near the northwestern town of Baidoa, a military officer said
Al-Shabaab insurgents attacked a Somali military base on Tuesday and killed five soldiers in two hours of fierce fighting near the northwestern town of Baidoa, a military officer said

'Al-Shabaab militants attacked early in the morning. Five soldiers died and 12 others were wounded,' captain Aden Nur told Reuters from Baidoa. Six al-Shabaab fighters were killed, he added.

Abdiasis Abu Musab, the group's military operations spokesman, said it had ambushed a truck carrying troops to reinforce the base, killed 11 soldiers and seized seven guns.

'We exploded the truck using a planted bomb and then ambushed,' he told Reuters.

It was not possible to verify the death toll independently. Al-Shabaab has inflated casualty figures in the past. 

Abdul Qadir Mumin is thought to be hiding in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland in north-eastern Somalia. Puntland takes its name from the Land of Punt and wishes to remain part of a federal Somalia
Abdul Qadir Mumin is thought to be hiding in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland in north-eastern Somalia. Puntland takes its name from the Land of Punt and wishes to remain part of a federal Somalia


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