APPREHENDED
- Full name: Mahiedine Merabet
- Pseudonym: N/a
- Alternatives: N/a
- Location: France
- Affiliation: Baur and Merabet Cell [BMC], Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh]
Mahiedine Merabet (°1987) is a French Islamist of North African descent from the northern city of Roubaix. He was deeply involved in crime and racked up a string of convictions for drug dealing and theft between 2004 and 2013.1 Merabet was sentenced to four years in prison in late 2013.2 During his incarceration, Merabet shared a cell with Clément Baur who introduced him to austere Salafism.3 Penitentiary authorities soon flagged him for radicalism.4
Following his release from prison, Merabet tried to set up a business selling Islamic religious articles.5 In the fall of 2016, he reconnected with Baur and sheltered him at his home in Roubaix.6 Police monitored Merabet and searched his house on Dec. 07, 2016.7 Jihadi propaganda was recovered during the sweep. Merabet left Roubaix and was spotted in Luxembourg a few days later but French authorities were unable to track him down for several months.8
In March 2017, Merabet joined Baur in Nancy.9 The duo had by then committed themselves to launching attacks in France. In April 2017, Merabet sent his identity papers and bank card to police in Roubaix with a note explaining that he no longer needed them.10 Merabet and Baur went to Marseille where they allegedly planned attacks against a rally of nationalist presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, polling stations and several bars.11 The two men acquired explosives, firearms and ammunition. Merabet made a video in which he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiya fi-Iraq wal ash-Sham].12 Intelligence services intercepted the recording when he tried to send it to DaIISh operatives. The terrorists were tracked down about a week later. On Apr. 18, 2017, police arrested Merabet and Baur at their hideout in Marseille.13 Security services also seized their explosives and weapons.
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