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- Aug 2, 2010
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Big Baghdadi
Terror chief's £1.2billion to wage war on world
Elusive Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Associated Press
By DAN SALESAssociated Press
Published: 11 hrs ago
THE worlds most powerful terrorist seen as more influential than Osama Bin Laden yesterday issued a chilling call for Muslims worldwide to help him build an Islamist state.
Elusive Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi dubbed The Invisible Imam is preparing to wage war backed by a £1.2billion terror kitty.
As his forces rampage through Iraq, the warlord blasted: Rush, because Syria is not for the Syrians, and Iraq is not for the Iraqis. The earth is Allahs.
The 19-minute audio rant posted on militant websites marks a rare public outing for al-Baghdadi, of whom only two photographs are known to exist.
Isis tanks roll into Iraq
Reuters
During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, al-Baghdadi went on: There is no better effort in this blessed month or any other than jihad in Gods path, so embrace this change and champion Allahs religion through jihad.
So to arms, to arms, soldiers of the Islamics, fight, fight.
Rare second pic of al-Baghdadi
EPA
He said the gigantic Islamic state which would include Greece, Ethiopia and all of North and West Africa is a land for all Muslims, telling them it will return your dignity, might, rights, and leadership.
As pictures emerged appearing to show Isis militants with a long-distance Scud missile in Syria, the US State Department placed a £6million bounty on al-Baghdadis head.
Expert Charlie Cooper, of counter-extremist think tank Quilliam, told The Sun: As it stands right now he is more powerful than Ayman al-Zawahri, the leader of al-Qaeda.
You can compare him to Bin Laden in terms of influence now. In terms of his financial infrastructure and the territorial moves he has made, al-Baghdadi is more powerful.
He was born in 1971 to a religious family north of Baghdad and became a cleric before the US invaded in 2003. The Americans quickly suspected him of being a jihadist and threw him in Camp Bucca in Iraq in 2005. On being freed from the detention facility in 2009, al-Baghdadi warned his captors: Ill see you guys in New York.
He joined Isis and became its leader in 2010 when his predecessor was killed in a raid. He stopped the group releasing video messages and instead began to foster a more mysterious image.
Isis which has renamed itself the Islamist State now boasts 6,000 fighters in Iraq, 5,000 in Syria and around 3,000 foreigners including Brits. It also has a massive weapons array, including M16 rifles, grenade launchers, rocket-propelled grenades and surface-to-air missiles.
Isis parades a Scud missile
Its ranks swell all the time, thanks partly to its social media presence with more than 16,000 followers of its Twitter page.
Mr Cooper said: Given that he was captured by the Americans and released it gives him sort of legitimacy, people will think he has probably been waterboarded.
He has now disappeared. He runs things through cells so its not easy to have access to him. Someone who is as elusive as him what can you do about that?
Reuters
Mr Cooper added: The vast majority of Muslims hate al-Baghdadi. But by his followers he is seen as the leader of all Muslims through the Isis world view you couldnt get better than him.
Around a quarter of Isiss £1.2billion fortune was stolen in cash and gold bullion when it ransacked the Iraqi city of Mosul.
More than half came from plundering Syrias oil fields in 2013.
Obama sending in troops
Meanwhile, Washington is sending 300 more troops on top of military advisers dispatched by President Barack Obama.
Mr Cooper added: The Iraqi army is making a strong counter attack. If he pushes back it would be a huge propaganda victory. He will look like someone who against all odds has managed to fight off international forces and this therefore must be the will of God.
dan.sales@the-sun.co.uk
State of evil
The proposed Islamic state
Dream is real
THE new caliphate has been backed by some Islamic extremists raising fears of attacks on tourists and ex-pats.
A senior cleric for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula tweeted on Isis: Congratulations on making the dream come true.
In Tunisia, leaders of militia group Ansar al Sharia also urged Muslims to back the Islamic state. Middle East expert Christopher Walker said: Events in Iraq are acting as a central rallying point.
Whos who of fear
Abubakar Shekau: Leader of Boko Haram militants who snatched 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria. The US is offering £4.6million to track him down.
Mokhtar Belmokhtar: Head of Islamic fighting force which executed 39 of 800 hostages at Algerias Amenas gas plant last year. Bounty: £2.9m.
Mullah Omar and Ayman al-Zawahiri
Ayman al-Zawahiri: Current al-Qaeda boss, seen as a planner of 9/11. Was behind the tourist massacre at Luxor, Egypt, in 1997. Bounty: £16m.
Osama bin Laden
Associated Press
Mums tears
Slaughtered teen's mum's grief
EPA
Naftali, 16, was one of three teens abducted and killed hitchhiking in the West Bank.
The bodies of Eyal Yifrach, 19, and Gilad Shaar, 16, were also found on Monday after a two-week hunt.
Victims Eyal, Naftali and Gilad
AFP
He has vowed revenge on Palestinian group Hamas, which has denied any involvement.
