APPREHENDED
- Full name: Borhène Ahmed Ben Saleh Boulaâbi
- Pseudonym: N/a
- Alternatives: N/a
- Location: Tunisia
- Affiliation: fmr Soldiers of the Caliphate in Tunisia [JaI], fmr Birgade of Uqba Bin Nafa’a [KUIN]
Borhène Boulaâbi (°1991) is a Tunisian jihadi from Kasserine who started his career in militancy by joining the Brigade of Uqba Bin Nafa’a [KUIN; Katibat Uqba Ibn Nafaâ] in 2013.1 In late 2014, Boulaâbi split from the KUIN and became one of the founding members of the Soldiers of the Caliphate in Tunisia [JaKI; Jund al-Khilafa fi-Ifriqiya].2 He served as one of the group’s key commanders and was linked to the several significant operations, including the Apr. 07, 2015 attack on a military patrol near Sbeïtla in which five soldiers were killed.3
Following the death of Seifeddine Jammali in mid-2016, Boulaâbi took over command of the JaKI’s fighters on Mount Mghila.4 In that capacity, he was responsible most of the group’s attacks in the area, including the Nov. 07, 2016 killing of a soldier inside his home. Boulaâbi personally beheaded a shepherd on Jun. 02, 2017.5 He was also blamed for overseeing the planting of landmines on the mountain.6
On Jan. 06, 2018, Boulaâbi was injured and arrested in an army operation on Mount Salloum.7 Two of his associates were killed in the encounter.8 At the time of Boulaâbi’s capture, he was planning to assassinate local politicians and police chiefs in the Kasserine governorate.9 Boulaâbi was also reported to have been plotting a suicide bomb attack against an undisclosed target.10
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