MARTYRED
- Full name: Ayman Ben Habib Ben Khadiri al-Samiri
- Pseudonym: N/a
- Alternatives: Aymen Smiri, Aymen al-Sumairi
- Location: Tunisia
- Affiliation: fmr Samiri and Kahlaoui Module [SKM]
Ayman al-Samiri (°1996) was a little-known jihadi from the Hay Ibn Khaldoun suburb of Tunis. He apparently turned to Salafist extremism in the mid-2010s.1 Samiri prayed at a mosque that was formerly aligned to the Partisans of Shari’a in Tunisia [AST; Ansar Achariaâ] and frequented by known jihadi operatives.2 He became a supporter of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiya fi-Iraq wal ash-Sham] and reportedly developed contacts with elements of the Soldiers of the Caliphate in Tunisia [JaKI; Jund al-Khilafa fi-Ifraqiya] based in the Dorsal Atlas mountain range.3
In the late 2010s, Samiri and long-time associate Mohammed al-Kahlaoui eventually set up their own DaIISh-affiliated cell. Samiri went on to serve as the leader of the module.4 He attracted several jihadis and helped develop plans to attack the security forces, commercial entities and diplomatic missions in and around the Tunisian capital city.5 Samiri also helped construct several explosive belts.6
Samiri masterminded the Jun. 27, 2019 operation in which two of his associates blew themselves up in attacks on the police in Tunis.7 Two people were killed in the incident. Subsequent investigations revealed his role in the bombings. The Tunisian authorities issued a public alert for him a few days later.8
On Jul. 02, policemen intercepted Samiri as he was on his way to carry out a suicide attack on members of the national guard. Samiri blew himself up after officers had shot and injured him at a railway station in the Ettadhamen suburb of Tunis.9
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