Antiterror forces in Aden catch ISIL suicide bomber recruiter

Ali Sael was able to move freely about the country, eluding the security forces, because he worked as an imam and had no known history as a militant

ADEN // Antiterrorism forces in Aden have arrested a man suspected of recruiting suicide bombers for ISIL.

Ali Sael was arrested early on Tuesday after several days of surveillance by Yemeni police supervised by coalition forces.

Aden police spokesman Abdurrahman Al Naqeeb said Sael was “one of the leading figures in ISIL “ and had moved to Aden after forces loyal to the Yemeni government liberated his native Lahj province from extremist groups. He was able to move freely about the country, alluding the security forces because he worked as an imam and had no known history as a militant.

He came to the attention of the security forces when they monitored his mobile phone after hearing that his preaching had become increasingly radical, said Mr Al Naqeeb.

They soon discovered Sael had recruited suicide bombers through sermons, which he preached in secret and also through social media. When police questioned him on Tuesday he claimed he had recruited 25 suicide bombers.

Five of them had already completed their mission, said Mr Al Naqeeb, including setting off an explosion at Al Solban camp in Aden last month, which killed more than 50 soldiers waiting to collect their salaries.

Antiterrorism forces confirmed Sael had trained 20 suicide bombers still alive in Aden, and exploited imams from poorer mosques by offering them money so that he could preach his extremist ideology in their mosque.

Sael was arrested at his apartment in Inma, a residential neighbourhood of Aden. He offered no resistance.

Aden police said Sael had admitted his role and also provided information about another ISIL cell in the city. Antiterrorism units raided that address and arrested three people.

Working under the supervision of the Saudi-led coalition, Yemen’s antiterrorism forces say they have arrested dozens of militants in Aden and Lahj provinces.