Abu Omar al-Baghdadi is a leader for the Al Qaeda terrorist group. He is also purportedly the head of the Islamic State of Iraq, and vehemently opposes the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq. There have been a number of reports by Iraqi journalists and intelligence officers that have claimed either the death or capture of al-Baghdadi, all of which have turned-out to be false.
On April 23, 2009, the Iraqi military announced the allegedly captured al-Baghdadi in Baghdad after two suicide bombing that left 73 people dead. No confirmation on his capture has been made by U.S. intelligence officials.Times Online: Iraq Al-Qaeda boss Abu Omar al-Baghdadi 'is captured' (April 24, 2009)
2009 Alleged Capture
Iraqi officials released that they had captured the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi. However, the U.S. military has not confirmed the report, and even go as far as saying that the man may not exist. The alleged capture came after two car bombings in the country's capital left 73 people dead.
References
Fast Facts
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Title
Islamic State of Iraq Leader
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AKA
Abu Hamza al-Baghdadi and Abu Omar al-Quraishi al-Baghdadi
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Thought to have been captured in 2007, but turned out not to be al-Baghdadi Al Jazeera : Captured Iraqi not al-Baghdadi (March 10, 2007)
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May 2007, speculation that he may be the same person as Muharib Abdul Latif al-Jubouri, who was killed in BaghdadGlobal Security: Abu Omar al-Baghdadi
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Named leader of al Qaeda in Iraq after Abu Musab al Zarqawi was killedThe Long War Journal: Al Qaeda leader Abu Omar... (April 27, 2009)
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Iraqi military policeman Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi stated that al-Baghdadi's in custodyCBSNews: U.S. Won't Confirm Al Qaeda In Iraq Arrest (April 23, 2009)
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Allegedly captured after two suicide bombing in Baghdad
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