STATUS UNKNOWN
- Full name: Hicham Beyayo
- Pseudonym: N/a
- Alternatives: N/a
- Location: Belgium, fmr Pakistan
- Affiliation: fmr Aroud-Garsallaoui Network [AGN]
Hicham Beyayo (°1985) is a little-known jihadi operative from the Anderlecht suburb of Brussels. He reportedly became attracted to radical Islam in 2001.1 In the mid-2000s, Beyayo came into contact with al-Qa’ida associates Malika el-Aroud and Moezeddine Garsallaoui.2 He helped Garsallaoui with translating al-Qa’ida messages and videos.3 Beyayo became a confidant of Aroud and Garsallaoui. He later served as the third-in-command of the couple’s informal al-Qa’ida-affiliated jihadi network.4
In December 2007, Beyayo traveled to Pakistan where he joined Garsallaoui who had journeyed to the country a month earlier.5 Beyayo was given training at an al-Qa’ida-ran camp in Waziristan.6 He possibly trained to become a suicide bomber.7 Beyayo returned to Belgium in September 2008 and linked up with Aroud’s Brussels-based AGN cell.8
Beyayo was put under surveillance by Belgian intelligence services upon his arrival in the country. The authorities soon believed that he was making final preparations to carry out a suicide attack.9 On Dec. 11, 2008, Beyayo was arrested as security forces rolled up the AGN module in a series of raids.10 On May 10, 2010, a Belgian court sentenced him to five years in prison.11 His current status and whereabouts are unclear.
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