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Afghan Militant Group Declares Itself Reporter’s Killer Afghan Militant Group Declares Itself Reporter’s Killer
(6 months later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — A little-known Islamist militant group has claimed responsibility for the killing of a Swedish journalist in Kabul, adding another layer of mystery to a case in which Afghan and Western officials have struggled to determine why a veteran radio correspondent would be singled out for assassination. KABUL, Afghanistan — A little-known Islamist militant group has claimed responsibility for the killing of a Swedish journalist in Kabul, adding another layer of mystery to a case in which Afghan and Western officials have struggled to determine why a veteran radio correspondent would be singled out for assassination.
The militant group, calling itself Feday-e-Mahaz, posted a statement on its website claiming it had sent gunmen to kill the journalist, Nils Horner, 51, because he was an intelligence agent working for MI6, the British spy agency.The militant group, calling itself Feday-e-Mahaz, posted a statement on its website claiming it had sent gunmen to kill the journalist, Nils Horner, 51, because he was an intelligence agent working for MI6, the British spy agency.
“He was not a journalist,” the group said in a statement. “He was a spy of MI6. He was a special worker of MI6.” The statement was attributed to Qari Hamza, who was identified as the group’s spokesman and was probably using a nom de guerre. In English statements on its website, the group has called itself the Suicide Front.“He was not a journalist,” the group said in a statement. “He was a spy of MI6. He was a special worker of MI6.” The statement was attributed to Qari Hamza, who was identified as the group’s spokesman and was probably using a nom de guerre. In English statements on its website, the group has called itself the Suicide Front.
The British Embassy dismissed the claim that Mr. Horner was a spy, saying he worked for Swedish Radio and no one else. Mr. Horner held dual Swedish and British citizenship.The British Embassy dismissed the claim that Mr. Horner was a spy, saying he worked for Swedish Radio and no one else. Mr. Horner held dual Swedish and British citizenship.
Afghan and Western officials said they had not yet seen any solid evidence to back up the claim by Feday-e-Mahaz, which emerged in recent years and has been described as a more radical offshoot of the Taliban. The two men who killed Mr. Horner on Tuesday fled the scene immediately after the shooting and have not been arrested, Afghan officials said.Afghan and Western officials said they had not yet seen any solid evidence to back up the claim by Feday-e-Mahaz, which emerged in recent years and has been described as a more radical offshoot of the Taliban. The two men who killed Mr. Horner on Tuesday fled the scene immediately after the shooting and have not been arrested, Afghan officials said.
Officials noted that the group’s statement, which was dated Tuesday, did not become public until Wednesday after nearly 24 hours of news coverage detailing the killing of Mr. Horner, who arrived in Kabul on Sunday.Officials noted that the group’s statement, which was dated Tuesday, did not become public until Wednesday after nearly 24 hours of news coverage detailing the killing of Mr. Horner, who arrived in Kabul on Sunday.
The Taliban denied responsibility for Mr. Horner’s death in the hours after he was killed. Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, was eager to reiterate the message on Wednesday, saying, “We had nothing to do with this.”The Taliban denied responsibility for Mr. Horner’s death in the hours after he was killed. Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, was eager to reiterate the message on Wednesday, saying, “We had nothing to do with this.”
He said that the Taliban were investigating the killing and that Feday-e-Mahaz had no connection to the main insurgents.He said that the Taliban were investigating the killing and that Feday-e-Mahaz had no connection to the main insurgents.
“We don’t know them, and we don’t know if they have a physical existence,” he said in a telephone interview.“We don’t know them, and we don’t know if they have a physical existence,” he said in a telephone interview.
Mr. Mujahid said the Taliban did not attack people they considered legitimate journalists. He left open a loophole for supposed “spies,” but added that Mr. Horner certainly fell into the category of reporters that the Taliban had no interest in targeting.Mr. Mujahid said the Taliban did not attack people they considered legitimate journalists. He left open a loophole for supposed “spies,” but added that Mr. Horner certainly fell into the category of reporters that the Taliban had no interest in targeting.
Feday-e-Mahaz, however, has shown few qualms about striking targets that other groups have treated as off limits. “They do crazy stuff that no other insurgent faction would do,” said Graeme Smith, who works in Afghanistan for the International Crisis Group, a research and advocacy institution based in Brussels.Feday-e-Mahaz, however, has shown few qualms about striking targets that other groups have treated as off limits. “They do crazy stuff that no other insurgent faction would do,” said Graeme Smith, who works in Afghanistan for the International Crisis Group, a research and advocacy institution based in Brussels.
In May last year, for instance, the group was believed to have been behind an attack on offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in eastern Afghanistan. It was the first time that any armed group in Afghanistan had attacked the Red Cross, whose neutrality had been respected since it began working here more than 30 years ago.In May last year, for instance, the group was believed to have been behind an attack on offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in eastern Afghanistan. It was the first time that any armed group in Afghanistan had attacked the Red Cross, whose neutrality had been respected since it began working here more than 30 years ago.
The nominal leader of Feday-e-Mahaz, Hajji Najibullah, also has a history of targeting journalists. He is believed to have been behind the kidnapping of David R ohde, who was a reporter for The New York Times when he was abducted during a trip to meet a Taliban commander in eastern Afghanistan in 2008.The nominal leader of Feday-e-Mahaz, Hajji Najibullah, also has a history of targeting journalists. He is believed to have been behind the kidnapping of David R ohde, who was a reporter for The New York Times when he was abducted during a trip to meet a Taliban commander in eastern Afghanistan in 2008.
Hajji Najibullah was still affiliated with the Taliban at that point. He appears to have broken away from the main insurgents sometime in early 2012 after they publicly acknowledged that they were exploring the possibility of holding peace talks.Hajji Najibullah was still affiliated with the Taliban at that point. He appears to have broken away from the main insurgents sometime in early 2012 after they publicly acknowledged that they were exploring the possibility of holding peace talks.
Mr. Smith said Hajji Najibullah’s group had vehemently criticized the Taliban for being open to starting peace talks in Qatar. “This activity has all accelerated since the Taliban’s brief foray into diplomacy in Qatar,” he said.Mr. Smith said Hajji Najibullah’s group had vehemently criticized the Taliban for being open to starting peace talks in Qatar. “This activity has all accelerated since the Taliban’s brief foray into diplomacy in Qatar,” he said.
The group first attracted widespread notice in May 2012 under a different name, the Mullah Dadullah Front, when it claimed responsibility for killing a former Taliban minister, Mullah Arsala Rahmani. Mullah Rahmani was living under government protection in Kabul and was viewed as a potential intermediary for talks with the Taliban.The group first attracted widespread notice in May 2012 under a different name, the Mullah Dadullah Front, when it claimed responsibility for killing a former Taliban minister, Mullah Arsala Rahmani. Mullah Rahmani was living under government protection in Kabul and was viewed as a potential intermediary for talks with the Taliban.