Saddam’s ex-henchman to lead terror gang
ISlAMIC State has named a leader to succeed Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi.
Abdullah Qardash, a brutal henchman of Saddam Hussein, will take over from AlBaghdadi, who killed himself when cornered by US special forces in Syria. nicknamed the Professor, Qardash had been put in charge of the day-to-day running of the group in August but will now lead the entire operation.
‘Baghdadi was a figurehead,’ said a US security official last night. ‘He was not involved in operations or day to day. All Baghdadi did was say yes or no – no planning.’
Qardash linked up with Al-Baghdadi in prison following the fall of Saddam.
the family of a British aid worker executed by IS last night urged Western powers to destroy the group. Reg Henning, whose brother Alan was beheaded in 2014, said: ‘I’d wipe them out. they are animals and shouldn’t be breathing the same air we are breathing.
‘We need to put them into the history books once and for all. It’s been five years since my brother’s death and Islamic State keep popping up again and again. It’s time they were taken off the face of the earth.’
Al-Baghdadi blew himself up with three children on Saturday night while being chased down a tunnel by US elite troops and military dogs. Donald trump suggested yesterday he might declassify ‘certain parts’ of the footage which he likened to a movie.
the remains of Al-Baghdadi were buried at sea with religious rites according to Islamic custom, a US official said last night. Kurdish forces last night confirmed that follow-up US airstrikes killed Al-Baghdadi’s chief assistant.
Abu Hassan Al-Muhajir died in the village of Ain Al-Baydah near Jarablus in northern Syria. Photos from the scene show human remains and two obliterated vehicles.
the security agencies are watching terror suspects more closely amid fears of retaliatory attacks over the death of Al-Baghdadi.
UK officials are being ‘extra-vigilant’ with dozens of high-risk individuals.
Mr trump was booed at a baseball game by spectators who shouted ‘lock him up’.
the US President was attending a World Series clash between Washington nationals and Houston Astros on Sunday night. the crowd jeered when his face came up on the big screens. Mr trump was with wife Melania.