In a newly released video by Al Kataib Media, Al Shabaab's official media wing, the group highlights at least two attacks in Kenya. Part of the video is dedicated to the Mpeketoni attacks in neighboring Kenya last year. In that attack, more than 60 people were killed by Al Qaeda's branch in Somalia.
The video begins by showing several news segments describing the group's attack in the coastal Kenyan town. Several burned buildings and vehicles are shown while news anchors report on the horrible murders that took place in the town. The video then cuts to Kenyan troops arresting Muslims and what the group describes as committing other crimes against the Muslims of Kenya or Somalia. When the group first took responsibility for the attack, it said that Kenya's presence in Somalia and its "killing of Muslims" was the reason it conducted the attack.
The video then cuts to several Shabaab fighters walked across a field and then stopping in a wooded area to prepare for the attack. Next, the video then cuts to the attack itself. The video shows several burning buildings, dead bodies, and the group committing the murders before the fighters walk away. The video also featured an audio speech by its former emir, Mukhtar Abu Zubayr, who was killed last year in a US drone strike.
The most interesting aspect of the video, however, is that several Caucasian fighters were shown to be in the ranks of Shabaab. The faces of these fighters were blurred out and their nationalities were never showcased in the video. These fighters could be from the Caucasus, Europe, or even North America. The most well known Caucasian fighter that has fought for Al Shabaab is Abu Mansoor al Amriiki.
Al Amriiki, who's real name was Omar Hammami, was an American from Alabama who became a top leader in Al Shabaab before being killed by the group. According to The Long War Journal, Al Amriiki "served as a recruiter, financier, and military commander." The Long War Journal goes on to say, "He was even seen with Shabaab’s top leaders at a public eulogy for slain al Qaeda emir and founder Osama bin Laden in May 2011."
However, in 2013, the intelligence wing of Al Shabaab, the Aminyat al Mukhabarat, killed Al Amriiki and a British fighter named Osama al Britani. Al Amriiki, before he was killed, fell out with Abu Zubayr. In a move to consolidate his power, as Bill Roggio puts it at The Long War Journal, Zubayr had Al Amriiki and several other Shabaab leaders killed.
Photos showing the Caucasian fighters can be seen below:
The video begins by showing several news segments describing the group's attack in the coastal Kenyan town. Several burned buildings and vehicles are shown while news anchors report on the horrible murders that took place in the town. The video then cuts to Kenyan troops arresting Muslims and what the group describes as committing other crimes against the Muslims of Kenya or Somalia. When the group first took responsibility for the attack, it said that Kenya's presence in Somalia and its "killing of Muslims" was the reason it conducted the attack.
The video then cuts to several Shabaab fighters walked across a field and then stopping in a wooded area to prepare for the attack. Next, the video then cuts to the attack itself. The video shows several burning buildings, dead bodies, and the group committing the murders before the fighters walk away. The video also featured an audio speech by its former emir, Mukhtar Abu Zubayr, who was killed last year in a US drone strike.
The most interesting aspect of the video, however, is that several Caucasian fighters were shown to be in the ranks of Shabaab. The faces of these fighters were blurred out and their nationalities were never showcased in the video. These fighters could be from the Caucasus, Europe, or even North America. The most well known Caucasian fighter that has fought for Al Shabaab is Abu Mansoor al Amriiki.
Al Amriiki, who's real name was Omar Hammami, was an American from Alabama who became a top leader in Al Shabaab before being killed by the group. According to The Long War Journal, Al Amriiki "served as a recruiter, financier, and military commander." The Long War Journal goes on to say, "He was even seen with Shabaab’s top leaders at a public eulogy for slain al Qaeda emir and founder Osama bin Laden in May 2011."
However, in 2013, the intelligence wing of Al Shabaab, the Aminyat al Mukhabarat, killed Al Amriiki and a British fighter named Osama al Britani. Al Amriiki, before he was killed, fell out with Abu Zubayr. In a move to consolidate his power, as Bill Roggio puts it at The Long War Journal, Zubayr had Al Amriiki and several other Shabaab leaders killed.
Photos showing the Caucasian fighters can be seen below:
- Caleb