Malika El-Aroud

Belgian police arrested Malika El-Aroud on December 11, 2008. The widow of a senior al Qaeda operative named Abdessater Dahmane, she has been called an "al-Qaeda living legend."CNN: Belgian police arrest 'al Qaeda legend' (December 11, 2008) Known primarily by her first name or her pen name, "Oum Obeyda," she blogs on the Internet to recruit individuals to al Qaeda.NY Times: Al Qaeda Warrior Uses Internet to Rally Women (May 28, 2008)

Belgian police arrested 13 other people in addition to El-Aroud, stating that a planned terrorist attack was believed to be imminent. The attack was believed to be timed to the arrival of European Union leaders in Brussels for a summit, but it was unknown if the summit was the target of the attack.CNN: Belgian police arrest 'al Qaeda legend' (December 11, 2008)

El-Aroud was arrested December 11, 2007, as a person of interest in a plot to break an Al Qaeda operative out of a Belgian jail, but was released due to lack of evidence.Counterterrorism Blog: My CNN Interview with "Al Qaeda Living Legend" (December 11, 2008)

El-Aroud and her husband Moez Garsalloui were arrested Febuary, 2005, and charged with supporting terrorism on their Web site. She was charged with aiding and abetting her husband. In June 21, 2007, El-Aroud and Garsalloui were convicted. Her husband was sentenced to 2 years in prison, but her six-month jail sentence was suspended.Swissinfo: Islamist website owners found guilty by Swiss court (June 21, 2007)

"Most Muslims love Osama. It was he who helped the oppressed. It was he who stood up against the biggest enemy in the world, the United States. We love him for that." — Malika El-Aroud, CNN interviewCNN: Suicide bomber's widow soldiers on (August 24, 2006)