Najmiddin Jalolov

Najmiddin Jalolov ( Nadzhmuddin Kamolitdinovich Dzhalolov, a.k.a. Abu Yahya Muhammad Fatih; April 1, 1972 – September 14, 2009) was the leader of the Jama'at al-Jihad al-Islami, a militant organization affiliated with Al Qaeda that operates in the larger Central Asian region. The group was also suspected of planning attacks in Russia and Western Europe.

Early life

Jalolov was born in the town of Xartum, Andijan Region, Uzbek SSR, today Uzbekistan. He trained in mines and explosives at Al-Qaida camps and participated in operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan on the Taliban side.

Terror activities Jalolov was a former member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), another organization affiliated with Al Qaeda. Uzbek courts found Jalolov guilty of terrorism in absentia in 2000.

He was considered a potential ringleader in a September 2007 plot to attack several venues in Germany, according to the United States Treasury Department. In 2006, he directed the casing of terrorist targets, particularly hotels catering to Western visitors, in Central Asia.

Jalolov was tied to Taliban leader Mohammed Omar, Uyghur militant Abu Mohammad, and Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.