Adel Mashat, head of networks of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) in Europe surrendered to authorities a few days ago, after 6 years in prison in France for “planning for blasts” during France World Cup 1998. He is now among his family members in Algiers awaiting his case to be settled.

Well informed sources said Adel Mashat came back to Algeria from Germany, where his wife and children are currently living. He joined them on January 15, at the end of his six-year-prison sentence. The same sources said his family, living in Kouba, Algiers, undertook contacts with Algerian diplomatic mission in Berlin, Germany, to facilitate his return according to his wish. He has taken legal steps to benefit from the national reconciliations law, in order to get the sentence given to him by Algerian justice revoked, the same sources add.

The Algiers tribunal of Sidi M’hamed gave him, in absentia, in the early 1990s, a 20-year-firm prison sentence for the creation of a terrorist group and conspiracy; he was, at that time, on the run in Europe. Adel Mashat, 38, is known for his close relationship with the Islamic Armed Group (GIA) he was actively supporting. After the creation of the GSPC, he made contacts with his leader then, Hassan Hattab, and carried on activating for the Salafist Group even in prison in France.

Mashat, met Abdelhaq Layaida, a GIA’s leader, in Morocco, and had links with one the major leaders of terrorist networks in Europe, Djamel Lounissi, imprisoned in Italy now.

Head of Salafist Group in Europe surrenders