Alleged Al Qaeda terrorist leader arrested in Arizona, faces extradition to Iraq for murder

An alleged Al Qaeda terrorist leader was arrested this week in Arizona.

Ali Yousif Ahmed Al-Nouri, 42, was arrested in Phoenix on Thursday by the FBI, Homeland Security, and U.S. Marshal's Service.

Ahmed is accused of carrying out two operations in Fallujah in 2006 that resulted in the deaths of Iraqi police officers.

The Justice Department said in a statement:

According to the information provided by the Government of Iraq in support of its extradition request, Ahmed served as the leader of a group of Al-Qaeda terrorists in Al-Fallujah, Iraq, which planned operations targeting Iraqi police.

Ahmed and other members of the Al-Qaeda group allegedly shot and killed a first lieutenant in the Fallujah Police Directorate and a police officer in the Fallujah Police Directorate, on or about June 1, 2006, and October 3, 2006, respectively.

According to a Justice Department complaint, an Iraqi judge issued a warrant for Ahmed's arrest last May.

The Iraqi government subsequently issued an extradition request, which the U.S. government recently approved, resulting in U.S. Magistrate Judge John Z. Boyle issuing a warrant for Ahmed on Wednesday, the Arizona Republic reported.

It is not yet clear when Ahmed's extradition will be fully processed and he will be returned to Iraq.