Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri was killed by US forces in a drone strike. AFP
Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri was killed by US forces in a drone strike. AFP
Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri was killed by US forces in a drone strike. AFP
Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri was killed by US forces in a drone strike. AFP

Police forces on alert for revenge terror attacks after Al Zawahiri killing


Nicky Harley
  • English
  • Arabic

Police forces have been warned to be on alert for terrorist attacks after the killing of Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri.

His death in a drone strike in Kabul at the weekend has led to fears that attacks could take place in retaliation.

Former UN terrorism expert Hans Jacob Schindler, director of the Counter Extremism Project, issued a warning to nations to remain vigilant.

“Zawahiri’s death is a significant counter-terrorism success, but it should not be cause for anyone to let their guard down,” he said.

“He is most likely to be succeeded by Saif Al Adel, a revered figure within the terrorist organisation and potentially a bolder operative than Zawahiri.

“Zawahiri was killed in Kabul, which is fully under the control of the Taliban, in a house owned by the acting minister of interior. This demonstrates how close the relationship between the Taliban and Al Qaeda has remained, despite Taliban assurances to the contrary.

“The next Al Qaeda leader is therefore in a good position to organise a base of operations there. It is not at all unlikely that we will see terrorists training in Afghanistan and working toward large-scale, spectacular terrorist attacks.”

On Tuesday, the US State Department warned Americans travelling abroad of potential violence after US forces killed the Al Qaeda chief.

It urged US citizens to “maintain a high level of vigilance and practice good situational awareness when travelling abroad”.

“Current information suggests that terrorist organisations continue to plan attacks against US interests in multiple regions across the globe,” the department said.

“These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics, including suicide operations, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings and bombings.”

In a Worldwide Caution Update, the department said it believed “there is a higher potential for anti-American violence given the death of Zawahiri”.

A senior official in the Biden administration said the Egyptian, 71, was on the balcony of a three-storey house in the Afghan capital when two Hellfire missiles struck shortly after dawn Sunday.

It was the first known strike by the US on a target in Afghanistan since Washington withdrew its forces from the country on August 31 last year, days after the Taliban swept back to power.

The US operation involved months of intelligence work to track Al Zawahiri's family to Kabul and identify the target, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

“This mission really took shape over the course of the last six, seven months,” Mr Kirby told CNN. “It was … early this year, as you heard the president say, that we got indications that Zawahiri had moved into Afghanistan.”

Al Zawahiri took control of Al Qaeda after Osama bin Laden, the terrorist organisation’s founder, was killed by American forces in Pakistan in 2011.

President Joe Biden described him as an instrumental player in the planning of the 9/11 attacks on the US and the “mastermind” behind several assaults against Americans, including the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the US Navy destroyer USS Cole in 2000.

Daniel Hoffman, a former senior CIA covert operations officer, said the presence of Al Zawahiri and other Al Qaeda militants in Afghanistan should be “ringing alarm bells”.

He said: “Afghanistan is a clear and present danger. And it has never been more dangerous to the United States of America, I'm sorry to say, than it is right now.”

Before last year's withdrawal, US military leaders said groups such as Al Qaeda could pose a threat from Afghanistan to the US and American allies by 2023.

A UN report last year said as many as 500 Al Qaeda fighters were in Afghanistan and that the Taliban maintained a close relationship with the extremists.

Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

1,000

The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]

50

How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday

3,000

The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

1.1 million

The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.

The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed

Based: Muscat

Launch year: 2018

Number of employees: 40

Sector: Online food delivery

Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception 

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Where can I submit a sample?

Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.

Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:

  • Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
  • Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
  • Al Towayya in Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
  • Bareen International Hospital
  • NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
  • NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
THE DRAFT

The final phase of player recruitment for the T10 League has taken place, with UAE and Indian players being drafted to each of the eight teams.

Bengal Tigers
UAE players: Chirag Suri, Mohammed Usman
Indian: Zaheer Khan

Karachians
UAE players: Ahmed Raza, Ghulam Shabber
Indian: Pravin Tambe

Kerala Kings
UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Abdul Shakoor
Indian: RS Sodhi

Maratha Arabians
UAE players: Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
Indian: S Badrinath

Northern Warriors
UAE players: Imran Haider, Rahul Bhatia
Indian: Amitoze Singh

Pakhtoons
UAE players: Hafiz Kaleem, Sheer Walli
Indian: RP Singh

Punjabi Legends
UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Sandy Singh
Indian: Praveen Kumar

Rajputs
UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed
Indian: Munaf Patel

The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press

A cheaper choice

Vanuatu: $130,000

Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.

Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.

Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.

Benefits:  No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.

MATCH INFO

First Test at Barbados
West Indies won by 381 runs

Second Test at Antigua
West Indies won by 10 wickets

Third Test at St Lucia
February 9-13

 

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Updated: August 03, 2022, 2:38 PM`