Alleged Al Qaeda Leader Arrested In Arizona, Where He Taught Driving School

A man who the Iraqi government says was the leader of an Al Qaeda cell who took part in the murders of two Iraqi police officers arrested on Wednesday in Phoenix, Ariz., where he reportedly taught driving school.

Federal prosecutors said on Friday that Ali Yousif Ahmed Al-Nouri, 42, was arrested following an extradition request from Iraq. An Iraqi judge issued a warrant for Ahmed’s arrest on May 12, 2019, on charges that he took part in the pre-meditated murder of two police officers in Fallujah in 2006.

Prosecutors said that the Iraqis believe that Ahmed was a leader of the Al Qaeda cell in Fallujah, a stronghold for the terrorist group, which was led at the time by Osama bin Laden.

A complaint against Ahmed unsealed on Friday says that he led an Al Qaeda group on a mission to kill Iraqi police officers. The group allegedly ambushed and murdered officer Issam Ahmed Hussein on June 1, 2006, and officer Khalid Ibrahim Mohammad on Oct. 3, 2006.

Ahmed will be held in federal custody until his extradition hearing, where a judge will review the information provided by the Iraqis.

It is unclear when Ahmed came to the United States. According to The Arizona Republic, he ran A-Plus Driving School in Phoenix. Business records show that Ahmed formed the company on June 22, 2016.