Terrorist Organization Profile - START - National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Terrorist Organization Profile: Omar bin al-Khattab Brigades
Mothertongue Name:	n/a
Aliases:	n/a
Bases of Operation:	West Bank/Gaza
Date Formed:	October 8, 2005
Strength:	Unknown number of members
Classifications:	Nationalist/Separatist
Financial Sources:	Unknown
Founding Philosophy:	The Omar bin al-Khattab Brigades is a Palestinian terrorist organization named after the second Sunni caliph who was a companion of the Prophet Mohammed. The group is widely believed to be a cover for the Palestinian nationalist group al-Fatah and claimed responsibility for a sole attack in October 2005, the kidnapping of three Hamas leaders. The three hostages were released a day later, unharmed. Upon his release, one of the abductees, university professor Riad al-Raz stated that his captors claimed the attack was the result of Hamas' attacks on Palestinian leaders and their 'disregard for Palestinian law.' While there have been reports of the Omar bin al-Khattab Brigades conducting attacks in Iraq, it is assumed to be a different group merely utilizing the same popular Sunni persona.
Current Goals:	The Omar bin al-Khattab Brigades have only been associated with one attack in its history. However, given the continued tensions between al-Fatah and Hamas, members of the group are expected to remain active, conducting attacks on behalf of the Omar bin al-Khattab Brigades or another organization affiliated with al-Fatah.

Key Leaders

n/a

Related Groups

al-Fatah -- Founding Group (Suspected)

U.S. Government Designations

Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO):

No

Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL):

No

Learn more about these U.S. Department of State classifications:

Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)

Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL)

Other Governments' Designations

UK Proscribed Group:	No
Australia Specified Group:	No
Canada Specified Group:	No
EU Specified Group:	No
Russia Specified Group:	No

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