London: Top al-Qaeda commander Rashid
Rauf, the terrorist linked to the trans-Atlantic airline bomb
plant, was involved in grooming at least two dozen British
recruits to carry out more attacks, media reported today.
British-born Rauf escaped from police custody in
Pakistan and then reported killed by a missile fired by US
drone last November, but British intelligence agencies believe
he is still alive.
He used the name Khalid to recruit fellow Britons for
training at a camp in the tribal areas of Pakistan.
One official said that Rauf was involved with a group
of Arab and Uzbek terrorists in a camp in Matta Cheema village
in south Waziristan, where "two dozen" Britons received
training.
Rauf was a key lieutenant to Abu Nasir, the group's
leader and explosives expert.
"He is an explosive expert who has effectively devised
methods of explosives using easy-to-get ingredients that are
virtually undetectable or can raise no alarms for
authorities," The Daily Telegraph reported quoting sources.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, September 14, 2009, 17:47