Mauritanian al-Qaeda suspect escapes from court

03/04/2008

A suspected al-Qaeda member on trial in Mauritania for alleged involvement in the December 2007 slaughter of four French tourists escaped from a Nouakchott courthouse following a hearing on Tuesday (April 2nd). Sidi Ould Sidna reportedly asked for permission to visit the restroom and fled shortly afterwards amid loose police surveillance.

Deputy prosecutor Moustapha Ould Said confirmed the escape and said a guard, a courthouse employee and two of the fugitive's sisters who were thought to have helped with the escape have been arrested.

Police conducted a vast search of the area surrounding the courthouse but were unable to find the fugitive. Ould Said said the state would offer a reward for information regarding Sidna's whereabouts.

Sidna and four other alleged members of a Mauritanian al-Qaeda affiliate were arrested in Guinea-Bissau in January. The group is suspected of gunning down four French tourists and injuring a fifth on December 24th in Eastern Mauritania. Four additional suspects remain at large.

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