The booby-trapped body of a man captured and killed by jihadists last week exploded when relatives tried to bury it, killing 17 individuals and injuring many others.
It’s thought the citizen went to find grass for his cattle in a forest outside of Diankabou in Koro, located in the Mopti region of Mali. He never returned. Youssouf Aya, a national assembly representative for Koro, told the North South Journal, “He was shot dead by unidentified gunmen.”
Authorities discovered his body last Tuesday. The assumption is jihadists rigged his corpse with an improvised explosive device, and when relatives moved the body into the grave, the device detonated.
You've reached your daily free article limit.
Subscribe and support our veteran writing staff to continue reading.
The booby-trapped body of a man captured and killed by jihadists last week exploded when relatives tried to bury it, killing 17 individuals and injuring many others.
It’s thought the citizen went to find grass for his cattle in a forest outside of Diankabou in Koro, located in the Mopti region of Mali. He never returned. Youssouf Aya, a national assembly representative for Koro, told the North South Journal, “He was shot dead by unidentified gunmen.”
Authorities discovered his body last Tuesday. The assumption is jihadists rigged his corpse with an improvised explosive device, and when relatives moved the body into the grave, the device detonated.
This attack is the first of its kind in Mali, but radical militants in neighboring Burkina Faso used an identical method. They rigged a body draped in military fatigues with explosives. Upon detonation, the blast murdered two law enforcement officers and an army doctor.
No group has come forward claiming these two attacks, which is unusual for terrorists in this region. It could be the group is embarrassed by the style of attack and doesn’t want the bad press.
Who are the attackers? I have no doubt this is the work of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. Not because we know them to be the lowest-of-the-low scumbags, but because members of al-Qaeda would respect a funeral of a fellow Muslim. We’ve known al-Qaeda action in this region to abide by a strict rule of war. Case and point: they released Jocelyn Elliott, the wife of kidnapped Australian doctor Ken Elliott, stating “they do not involve women in their war.”
Plus, al-Qaeda would release a statement after such a devastating attack to move the limelight away from the Islamic State.
If this is to be a new tactic employed in the region, we can expect to see the death toll rise over 2019.
SOFREP Exclusive: The Inside Story of Canada’s JTF2 Record-Breaking Sniper Kill
Trump’s Pentagon Shake-Up: Former Fighter Pilot Dan “Razin” Caine Now America’s Top General
Why Bombs Are Out and Trade Wars Are In: How Trump’s Economic Bitch Slap Could Actually Prevent World War 3
Admiral William McRaven is Not Exactly a Fan of Donald Trump, Still He is Not Without His Own Controversy
Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis.
TRY 14 DAYS FREEAlready a subscriber? Log In
COMMENTS
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.