Omar Hammami, a wanted American jihadi fighter in Somalia, says he was the victim of an assassination attempt, which he proceeded to Tweet pics of. He said Friday that the leader of Islamic extremist rebels in Somali was starting a civil war, just hours after a bullet left the Alabama native with a neck wound. Omar Hammami posted on Twitter about what he labeled an assassination attempt late Thursday as he was sitting in a tea shop. He posted four pictures. In one of them, there is blood on his neck and all over his t-shirt. Hammami, one of the two most notorious Americans in overseas jihadi groups, moved from Alabama to Somalia and joined al-Shabab in about 2006. He fought alongside the al-Qaida-linked group for years while also gaining fame for posting YouTube videos of jihadi rap songs during that time. But Hammami had a falling out with al-Shabab over the last year amid signs of increasing tension between Somalis and foreign fighters in the group. He first expressed fear for his life in an extraordinary web video in March 2012 that publicized his rift with al-Shabab, and says he has received death threats. “Just been shot in neck by shabab assassin. not critical yet,” Hammami tweeted. On Friday he wrote that the leader of al-Shabab was sending in forces: “we are few but we might get back up. abu zubayr has gone mad. he’s starting a civil war.” Hammami has been a thorn in the side of al-Shabab after accusing the group’s leaders of living extravagant lifestyles with the taxes fighters collect from Somali residents. Another Hammami grievance is that the Somali militant leaders sideline foreign militants inside al-Shabab and are concerned only about fighting in Somalia. Hammami’s Friday comment about a civil war could refer to those differences. Al-Shabab slapped Hammami publicly in a December Internet statement, saying his video releases are the result of personal grievances that stem from a “narcissistic pursuit of fame.” The statement said al-Shabab was morally obligated to stamp out his “obstinacy.” Hammami has enemies on all sides. The U.S. named Hammami to its Most Wanted terrorist list in March and is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture. Al-Shabab fighters are not eligible for the reward.
Original post:
Omar Hammami, Wanted U.S. Jihadi Terrorist, Tweets Pics of Assassination Attempt
