Abdullah Hassan Al Aseery
Encyclopedia
Abdullah Hassan al-Asiri (1986 – August 8, 2009) was a Saudi Arabia
n member of al Qaeda. His name is an ascription to the 'Asir Province of Saudi Arabia. He died in August 2009 while attempting to assassinate Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister of the Interior in a suicide bombing.
Abdullah was reportedly recruited into al Qaeda by his older brother Khalid al-Asiri and the two brothers reportedly traveled to Yemen in 2007.
He first rose to notability when he was named on a Saudi list of most wanted terrorist suspects on February 3, 2009, and then on August 27, 2009, for attempting to assassinate Saudi Deputy Minister of the Interior, Saudi Prince Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, who he only slightly injured in a suicide bombing.
Asiri spoke to the Prince a few days prior to the bombing, expressed a desire to turn himself in as part of the country's terrorist rehabilitation program, and they agreed to meet. This was an apparent ploy to get admitted to the Prince's palace. Asiri is believed to have traveled to Jeddah from the Yemen
ite province of Marib.
On August 27, 2009, Asiri waited in line at Bin Nayef's Jeddah
home as "well-wisher," a tradition in the kingdom during Ramadan
. He exploded a suicide bomb (perhaps with a cell phone), killing himself, but only lightly injuring the Prince (who was protected from the full force of the blast by Asiri's body).
According to early and the most recent reports, Asiri's older brother had hidden one pound of PETN
plastic explosive
s in his anal canal
, which security experts described as a novel technique. Asiri had passed through a metal detector and remained in the security of the Prince's bodyguards for over 24 hours before gaining the audience.
According to Al Arabiya
, this was the first assassination attempt against a royal family member since 2003, when Saudi Arabia faced a sharp uptick in al-Qaeda linked attacks. The Saudi Gazette
reported on October 22, 2009, that a Yemen
i named Rayed Abdullah Salem Al Harbi
assisted Asiri in preparing for his suicide mission.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
n member of al Qaeda. His name is an ascription to the 'Asir Province of Saudi Arabia. He died in August 2009 while attempting to assassinate Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister of the Interior in a suicide bombing.
Overview
According to the Saudi GazetteSaudi Gazette
Saudi Gazette is the leading English language daily newspaper published in Saudi Arabia. and is currently available both in print and online.As of July 1, 2011, Dr Omar S. Elmershedi is the Saudi Gazette Editor-in-Chief.Managing Editor: Shams Ahsan...
Abdullah was reportedly recruited into al Qaeda by his older brother Khalid al-Asiri and the two brothers reportedly traveled to Yemen in 2007.
He first rose to notability when he was named on a Saudi list of most wanted terrorist suspects on February 3, 2009, and then on August 27, 2009, for attempting to assassinate Saudi Deputy Minister of the Interior, Saudi Prince Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, who he only slightly injured in a suicide bombing.
Asiri spoke to the Prince a few days prior to the bombing, expressed a desire to turn himself in as part of the country's terrorist rehabilitation program, and they agreed to meet. This was an apparent ploy to get admitted to the Prince's palace. Asiri is believed to have traveled to Jeddah from the Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
ite province of Marib.
On August 27, 2009, Asiri waited in line at Bin Nayef's Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
home as "well-wisher," a tradition in the kingdom during Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
. He exploded a suicide bomb (perhaps with a cell phone), killing himself, but only lightly injuring the Prince (who was protected from the full force of the blast by Asiri's body).
"I did not want him to be searched, but he surprised me by blowing himself up," said Prince Mohammed, who appeared on state television with a bandage around two of his fingers on his left hand.
"However, this will only increase my determination" to fight terrorism in the kingdom.
According to early and the most recent reports, Asiri's older brother had hidden one pound of PETN
PETN
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate , also known as PENT, PENTA, TEN, corpent, penthrite , is the nitrate ester of pentaerythritol. Penta refers to the five carbon atoms of the neopentane skeleton.PETN is most well known as an explosive...
plastic explosive
Plastic explosive
Plastic explosive is a specialised form of explosive material. It is a soft and hand moldable solid material. Plastic explosives are properly known as putty explosives within the field of explosives engineering....
s in his anal canal
Anal canal
The anal canal is the terminal part of the large intestine.It is situated between the rectum and anus, below the level of the pelvic diaphragm. It lies in the anal triangle of perineum in between the right and left ischioanal fossa....
, which security experts described as a novel technique. Asiri had passed through a metal detector and remained in the security of the Prince's bodyguards for over 24 hours before gaining the audience.
According to Al Arabiya
Al Arabiya
Al Arabiya is a Pan-Arabist Saudi-owned Arabic-language television news channel. Launched on March 3, 2003, the channel is based in Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates, and is majority-owned by the Saudi broadcaster Middle East Broadcasting Center ....
, this was the first assassination attempt against a royal family member since 2003, when Saudi Arabia faced a sharp uptick in al-Qaeda linked attacks. The Saudi Gazette
Saudi Gazette
Saudi Gazette is the leading English language daily newspaper published in Saudi Arabia. and is currently available both in print and online.As of July 1, 2011, Dr Omar S. Elmershedi is the Saudi Gazette Editor-in-Chief.Managing Editor: Shams Ahsan...
reported on October 22, 2009, that a Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
i named Rayed Abdullah Salem Al Harbi
Rayed Abdullah Salem Al Harbi
Rayed Abdullah Salem Al Harbi was a citizen of Saudi Arabia who was named on Saudi Arabia's list of most wanted terrorist suspects....
assisted Asiri in preparing for his suicide mission.