Publication |
2009.
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Summary/Abstract |
On 31 May, the Al-Qaeda franchise claimed its first Western victim in Mali when British tourist Dyer was executed. Captured across the Niger border on 22 January, Dyer had been held in northeast Mali.Given that 37 other Westerners have been ransomed since 2003, his death appeared to be a clear signal that the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)faction established in Mali were more than just criminal opportunists.The fact that his execution was apparently in response to the UK government refusing to release Jordanian militant cleric Abu Qatada seemed to support this.
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