Abaaoud profile of man behind paris attacks
Abdelhamid Abaaoud was a Belgian-Moroccan militant Islamist who was believed to be the mastermind behind the November 2015 Paris attacks. Here is a profile of him:
Early Life
Abaaoud was born on March 22, 1987, in Brussels, Belgium, to Moroccan parents. He grew up in a low-income neighborhood in the city and was known to have been involved in petty crime and gang activity as a teenager.
Radicalization
Abaaoud became radicalized in his early 20s, reportedly after being influenced by online extremist propaganda and sermons by radical imams. He began to frequent mosques and prayer centers in Brussels that were known to be hotbeds of radical activity.
Jihadist Activities
In 2012, Abaaoud traveled to Syria to join the Islamic State (ISIS) and fight alongside other foreign fighters. He quickly rose through the ranks and became a key figure in the group's Belgian branch.
Return to Belgium
In 2014, Abaaoud returned to Belgium, where he began to plan and orchestrate attacks in Europe. He was known to have been in contact with other Belgian and French militants, including the Kouachi brothers, who carried out the Charlie Hebdo attack in January 2015.
Paris Attacks
Abaaoud was believed to be the mastermind behind the November 2015 Paris attacks, which killed 130 people and injured hundreds more. The attacks involved a series of coordinated shootings and bombings at several locations in the city, including the Bataclan concert hall, where 89 people were killed.
Death
Abaaoud was killed in a police raid on November 18, 2015, in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. He was shot and killed by French police after a shootout with officers who were attempting to arrest him.
Legacy
Abaaoud's death did not mark the end of the Paris attacks, as several other suspects were still at large and were later arrested and convicted of their roles in the attacks. However, his death did deal a significant blow to ISIS's Belgian branch and its ability to plan and carry out attacks in Europe.
Personal Life
Abaaoud was known to have been married to a woman named Fatima, who was also a Belgian-Moroccan national. The couple had a young daughter together. Abaaoud was also known to have been close to his family and was said to have been a charismatic and persuasive individual who was able to recruit others to his cause.
Motivations
Abaaoud's motivations for carrying out the Paris attacks were likely driven by a desire to avenge the deaths of other Muslims, particularly in Syria and Iraq, where ISIS was fighting against government forces and other opposition groups. He was also motivated by a desire to spread fear and chaos in Europe and to challenge the authority of Western governments.
Impact
Abaaoud's actions had a significant impact on European security and politics, leading to a surge in anti-terrorism measures and a renewed focus on countering online extremism. His death also marked a turning point in the fight against ISIS, as the group's leadership began to fragment and its ability to plan and carry out attacks in Europe began to decline.