Khaled Kelkal
Encyclopedia
Khaled Kelkal (April 28, 1971 – September 29, 1995) was an Algerian terrorist
affiliated with the GIA. He was involved in the 1995 terror bombings in France.
, Algeria
, Khaled Kelhal. The family moved to Vaulx-en-Velin
, a suburb
of Lyon
, when he was an infant. He had four sisters and three brothers. While attending La Martinière lycée in Lyon, he became a juvenile delinquent. His older brother Nouredine was sentenced to 9 years in prison for armed robbery. In 1990, Kelkal was placed on probation for four months for trafficking in stolen cars. A few months later, he was arrested for thefts using cars as battering rams to enter private properties. He was sentenced to four years in prison.
; the mosque was headed by imam Mohamed Minta, a sympathiser of the Foi et Pratique ("Faith and practice") fundamentalist organisation. In 1993, Kelkal went to Mostaganem, in Algeria, to visit his family. There, he was probably recruited by one of the radical branches of the GIA
, headed by Djamel Zitouni
, whose aim was to "punish France."
railway, near Cailloux-Sur-Fontaines (Rhône). The device had not exploded, and was found to be similar to the one which had been set off on the 25th of July in the Saint-Michel RER
station. Fingerprints of Khaled Kelkal were found on the bomb, and a search for him began. His picture was displayed in public places all over France.
, Kelkal was found in a place called "La Maison Blanche". He attempted to resist arrest and was shot dead by the gendarmes of EPIGN
. Kelkal's death was shown on television, and a debate erupted over the shooting. On the television footage, as the gendarmes approach Kelkal, one of them was heard yelling "Finis-le, finis-le !" ("Finish him, Finish him !"). Initially, Kelkal was shot in the leg, but he aimed a pistol at the gendarmes, who opened fire in self-defence.
, Kelkal's superior, was arrested in Paris, as he was planning the bombing in a market of Lille
. Further investigations revealed that Kelkal had been behind the car bomb that exploded in front of a Jewish school on the 7th of September 1995 in Villeurbanne
, a suburb of Lyon, which was set to explode as the children left the building at the end of the school day. By a stroke of luck, the school bell rang late and no children were outside when the bomb detonated.
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
affiliated with the GIA. He was involved in the 1995 terror bombings in France.
Biography
Khaled Kelkal was born in 1971 in MostaganemMostaganem
Mostaganem is a port city in and capital of Mostaganem province, in the northwest of Algeria. The city, founded in the 11th century lies on the Gulf of Arzew, Mediterranean Sea and is 72 km ENE of Oran...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, Khaled Kelhal. The family moved to Vaulx-en-Velin
Vaulx-en-Velin
Vaulx-en-Velin is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.It is the fifth-largest suburb of the city of Lyon, and is located to its northeast, on the Rhône River.-Transport:*Metro line A*Tram T3...
, a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, when he was an infant. He had four sisters and three brothers. While attending La Martinière lycée in Lyon, he became a juvenile delinquent. His older brother Nouredine was sentenced to 9 years in prison for armed robbery. In 1990, Kelkal was placed on probation for four months for trafficking in stolen cars. A few months later, he was arrested for thefts using cars as battering rams to enter private properties. He was sentenced to four years in prison.
Embrace of Islam
While he was incarcerated, he met "Khelif," an Islamist who had fled France to evade trial. Upon his return to France in 1989 he was sentenced to 7 years in prison. While in jail, Khelif attempted to recruit Algerians to man militant organisations in Algeria. After his release, Kelkal regularly attended the Bilal Mosque in Vaulx-en-VelinVaulx-en-Velin
Vaulx-en-Velin is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.It is the fifth-largest suburb of the city of Lyon, and is located to its northeast, on the Rhône River.-Transport:*Metro line A*Tram T3...
; the mosque was headed by imam Mohamed Minta, a sympathiser of the Foi et Pratique ("Faith and practice") fundamentalist organisation. In 1993, Kelkal went to Mostaganem, in Algeria, to visit his family. There, he was probably recruited by one of the radical branches of the GIA
Armed Islamic Group
The Armed Islamic Group is an Islamist organisation that wants to overthrow the Algerian government and replace it with an Islamic state...
, headed by Djamel Zitouni
Djamel Zitouni
Abou Abderahmane Amine, born Djamel Zitouni , was the leader of the Algerian Armed Islamic Group , a terrorist group responsible for carrying out a series of bombings in France in 1995.He was killed by a rival faction on July 16, 1996.-References:* William J...
, whose aim was to "punish France."
Criminal activities
On the 11th of July 1995, Kelkal was involved in the assassination of Imam Sahraoui in his mosque in Paris. Sahraoui was considered too moderate by the GIA, and might have attempted to steal money from them. Four days later, in Bron, a suburb of Lyon, Kelkal opened fire on gendarmes at a checkpoint and evaded arrest. On the 26th of August 1995, during the bombing campaign in France, a gas bottle equipped with a detonation system was found near the Paris-Lyon TGVTGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
railway, near Cailloux-Sur-Fontaines (Rhône). The device had not exploded, and was found to be similar to the one which had been set off on the 25th of July in the Saint-Michel RER
RER
The RER is a rapid transit system in France serving Paris and its suburbs. The RER is an integration of a modern city-centre underground rail and a pre-existing set of commuter rail lines. It has several connections with the Paris Métro within the city of Paris. Within the city, the RER...
station. Fingerprints of Khaled Kelkal were found on the bomb, and a search for him began. His picture was displayed in public places all over France.
Death
On 29 September 1995, after a search in the forest of Malval near LyonLyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, Kelkal was found in a place called "La Maison Blanche". He attempted to resist arrest and was shot dead by the gendarmes of EPIGN
Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale
The Parachute Intervention Squadron of the National Gendarmerie was the parachute-trained intervention squadron of the French Gendarmerie. The unit was formed in 1984 and absorbed into the newly reorganized GIGN in September 2007. -Known operations:...
. Kelkal's death was shown on television, and a debate erupted over the shooting. On the television footage, as the gendarmes approach Kelkal, one of them was heard yelling "Finis-le, finis-le !" ("Finish him, Finish him !"). Initially, Kelkal was shot in the leg, but he aimed a pistol at the gendarmes, who opened fire in self-defence.
Aftermath
Using Kelkal's address book, the police arrested other terrorists. Boualem BensaïdBoualem Bensaïd
Boualem Bensaïd is an Algerian member of GIA, an Islamic terrorist organization. He has been accused of an attempted bombing during the 1995 terror campaign in France....
, Kelkal's superior, was arrested in Paris, as he was planning the bombing in a market of Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
. Further investigations revealed that Kelkal had been behind the car bomb that exploded in front of a Jewish school on the 7th of September 1995 in Villeurbanne
Villeurbanne
Villeurbanne is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.It is situated northeast of Lyon, with which it forms the heart of the second-largest metropolitan area in France after that of Paris. Villeurbanne is the second-largest city in the department.-History:The current location of...
, a suburb of Lyon, which was set to explode as the children left the building at the end of the school day. By a stroke of luck, the school bell rang late and no children were outside when the bomb detonated.