Boualem Bensaïd
Encyclopedia
Boualem Bensaïd (born 11 November 1967 in Algiers
) is an Algerian member of GIA
, an Islamic terrorist organization. He has been accused of an attempted bombing during the 1995 terror campaign in France
.
Born in Algeria in 1967, a sport teacher, he entered clandestinity around 1990. He went back to France in 1994, as Algeria was in full-scale civil war
. In 1999, he was sentenced to 10 years of prison on charges of "association de malfaiteurs".
On 27 November 2003 he was sentenced in appeal to life detention, with a 22-year "safety sentence" (which prevents the detainee from being liberated for good conduct), on charges of having attempted to bomb the TGV
Lyon-Paris on 26 August 1995. At the sentence, he exclaimed "God
is great! Allah akbar! ("God is great!" in Arabic), it is a miserable decision!". The appeal court thus confirmed the judgement given by the First Special Criminal Court.
A prisoner since his arrest in 1995, Bensaïd is serving two more sentences of 10 years and 30 years for other charges related to the terrorist attacks of 1995.
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
) is an Algerian member of GIA
Armed Islamic Group
The Armed Islamic Group is an Islamist organisation that wants to overthrow the Algerian government and replace it with an Islamic state...
, an Islamic terrorist organization. He has been accused of an attempted bombing during the 1995 terror campaign in France
1995 bombings in France
The 1995 bombings in France were carried out by the Armed Islamic Group , who were broadening the Algerian Civil War to France. In total, these attacks killed eight and injured more than 100...
.
Born in Algeria in 1967, a sport teacher, he entered clandestinity around 1990. He went back to France in 1994, as Algeria was in full-scale civil war
Algerian Civil War
The Algerian Civil War was an armed conflict between the Algerian government and various Islamist rebel groups which began in 1991. It is estimated to have cost between 150,000 and 200,000 lives, in a population of about 25,010,000 in 1990 and 31,193,917 in 2000.More than 70 journalists were...
. In 1999, he was sentenced to 10 years of prison on charges of "association de malfaiteurs".
On 27 November 2003 he was sentenced in appeal to life detention, with a 22-year "safety sentence" (which prevents the detainee from being liberated for good conduct), on charges of having attempted to bomb the TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
Lyon-Paris on 26 August 1995. At the sentence, he exclaimed "God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
is great! Allah akbar! ("God is great!" in Arabic), it is a miserable decision!". The appeal court thus confirmed the judgement given by the First Special Criminal Court.
A prisoner since his arrest in 1995, Bensaïd is serving two more sentences of 10 years and 30 years for other charges related to the terrorist attacks of 1995.
See also
- 1995 Islamist terror bombings in France
- Armed Islamic Group (GIA)Armed Islamic GroupThe Armed Islamic Group is an Islamist organisation that wants to overthrow the Algerian government and replace it with an Islamic state...
- Khaled KelkalKhaled KelkalKhaled Kelkal was an Algerian terrorist affiliated with the GIA. He was involved in the 1995 terror bombings in France.-Biography :...