STATUS UNKNOWN

  • Full name: Mohammed Cherabi
  • Pseudonym: N/a
  • Alternatives: N/a
  • Location: N/a
  • Affiliation: fmr Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh], fmr Holy Warriors’ Consultative Council [MSM], fmr Shari’a for Belgium Movement [Sh4B]

Mohammed Cherabi (°ca 1988) was a jihadi of North African descent from the Belgian city of Vilvoorde. He turned to Salafism in the early 2010s and became involved with the local branch of the Shari’a for Belgium Movement [Sh4B].1 In September 2012, Cherabi participated in protests against an anti-Islam film.2

In December 2012, Cherabi started assisting Belgian Islamists on their journey to join jihadi forces in Syria.3 He cooperated closely with long-time acquaintance Houssein el-Ouassaki.4 The former local Sh4B leader from Vilvoorde had become the head of the foreign fighters wing of the Holy Warriors Consultative Council [MSM; Majlis Shura al-Mujahideen] and recruited many of his former associates. Cherabi inspired and facilitated the travel of at least sixteen jihadis from Belgium to Syria over the next years.5

In March 2013, Cherabi and two companions traveled to Syria where they joined the MSM.6 He returned home on request of his wife in June.7 Back in Belgium, Cherabi allegedly developed a close relationship with Khaled Zerkani and his associates.8 In October 2013, he again traveled to Syria. By now, Cherabi and his associates had switched allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiya fi-Iraq wal ash-Sham].9 He returned to Belgium in February 2014.10

Upon his return, Cherabi began providing logistical support to the Verviers-based DaIISh operatives who were planning to carry out attacks in Belgium.11 On May 31, 2014, he took part in the armed robbery of a group of friends playing poker at a home in Opwijk.12 One of the victims was injured in the incident.

Cherabi was apprehended by police in September 2014.13 On Nov. 20, 2015, a Belgian court sentenced him to seven years in prison for his role in facilitating the travel of jihadis to Syria.14 In September 2016, Cherabi received a three-year prison term for his role in the 2014 armed robbery.15

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