The military communiqué indicates that they are former members of the armed movements Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat and Armed Islamic Group involved in attacks against buildings of the security forces and assassinations of law enforcement officers.

The suspects were killed by the National People’s Army in Skikda (northwest), capital of the wilaya (province) of the same name, while participating in a meeting to organize a cell of the armed group Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, reveals the military report.

It adds that the dead “are involved in several criminal acts including attacks against military and civilian caravans and some had been convicted in absentia by the courts”.

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