1 The Long War Journal: Stockholm suicide bomber aspired to jihad

Written by Lisa Lundquist on December 12, 2010 11:55 AM to 1 The Long War Journal

Available online at: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/12/stockholm_suicide_bo.php

In the hours since the suicide and car bomb attacks in downtown Stockholm yesterday, more information has emerged about the car used in the attack and identity of the suicide bomber, who killed only himself in the explosions. The vehicle, which had been loaded with canisters of gas, belonged to the bomber, and a well-trafficked jihadist forum has announced his identity.

The Shumukh al-Islam jihadist forum confirmed the identity of the suicide bomber as Taimour Abdulwahab in a statement released today on their website.

"It is our brother, mujahid Taimour Abdulwahab, who carried out the martyrdom operation in Stockholm," said the website Shumukh al-Islam.

Swedish police confirmed that the owner of the car used in the bombing has been identified as Taimour Abdulwahab, born Dec. 12, 1981; today would be his 29th birthday, according to Swedish journalist Per Gudmundson. The car was purchased as late as November of this year.

There was an R.I.P. page on Facebook for Abdulwahab, created earlier today, noting he "died an heros dead in Stockholm" on Dec. 11. Abdulwahab's own Facebook page, which appeared under the nom de guerre "Taimour Al-Abdaly," is replete with references to militant Islam and videos from Iraq and Chechnya, and listed "favorites" include "Islamic Caliphate State" and Sheikh Abu Muhammad al Maqdisi, the radical Jordanian cleric and mentor of Abu Musab al Zarqawi. Within the past few hours, both Facebook pages have been taken down.

One of the links on Abdulwahab's Facebook page shows photos of him in what appears to be Jordan.

The warning emailed to Swedish authorities shortly before the bombing yesterday contained a request for forgiveness from the plotter's family for deluding them about a recent trip to the Middle East; the trip was made for terrorist training purposes.

"I never went to the Middle East to work or earn money. I went there for Jihad," he stated.

More information about Abdulwahab pops up on a Muslim dating website, which contains statements in both Arabic and English. An excerpt reads as follows: "I was born in Baghdad, Iraq. We moved to Sweden in 1992. I moved to UK 2001 to study. I have Bacholar degree in physical therapy. I am married sence 2004 and have 2 girls. One is 3.6 and the second is 1.6 years old. I want to get married again, and would like to have a BIG family. My wife agreed to...."

Abuldwahab studied at the University of Bedfordshire in Luton, England, from 2001-2004, obtaining a degree in Sports Therapy. It is possible that while in Luton he was in contact with the infamous "Luton cell" that was active at the time. According to The Local, a Swedish newspaper in English, there may be some connection between the Stockholm bomber and the Islamic extremist community in Luton, which has been linked to al Qaeda and the London Tube bombings of 2005.

Swedish authorities have condemned yesterday's bombings as an incidence of terrorism and are conducting an investigation as to the origins, extent, and perpetrators of the plot.