Nizar Trabelsi Module (Jihadi Entity, Belgium)

• Local Name: N/a
• Transliteration: N/a
• Alternatives: N/a
• Status: 2001 – 2001 (Defeated)
• Conflicts: Islamist Militancy in Belgium

The Nizar Trabelsi Module [NTM] was a special purposes cell of al-Qa’ida that was based in Belgium. It was formed by Trabelsi after he had returned to Europe from Afghanistan in early July 2001. Trabelsi had been tasked by al-Qa’ida military chief Mohammed Atef to attack the joint Belgian-American air force base of Kleine Brogel.¹

Upon his arrival in Belgium, Trabelsi immediately linked up with local al-Qa’ida associate Abdelkrim el-Haddouti.² They began making preparations for the attack and acquired explosives and firearms.³ Trabelsi and Haddouti also recruited a number of associates. They cooperated closely with other al-Qa’ida-affiliated militants in Belgium, including Tarek Maâroufi, several Antwerp-based operatives and the Moumen, Tarik and Gouram Module [MTGM] from Brussels.⁴

Following the Sep. 11, 2001 attacks in America, the Belgian government clamped down on jihadi activity in the country. On Sep. 13, police arrested Trabelsi and Haddouti from a house in the Brussels suburb of Ukkel.⁵ A large stash of explosives was also seized by the authorities.⁶ A week later, two other NTM operatives were apprehended.⁷ On Mar. 06, 2002, police searched seven homes of people affiliated with Trabelsi’s cell in the Schaarbeek suburb of Brussels and the city of Verviers.⁸

On Sep. 30, 2003, judges rendered verdicts against almost two dozen Belgian-based al-Qa’ida members, including the NTM operatives. Trabelsi was sentenced to ten years imprisonment, while Haddouti was handed a five-year prison term.⁹ Other NTM cadres were given shorter prison sentences.