Abd Al-Rahim Al-Nashiri - Allegedly Joined Al-Qaeda

Allegedly Joined Al-Qaeda

Finally, probably in 1998, al-Nashiri allegedly joined al-Qaeda, allegedly reporting directly to bin Laden. In late 1998, he allegedly conceived of a plot to attack a U.S. vessel using a boat full of explosives. Bin Laden allegedly personally approved of the plan, and allegedly provided money for it. First, al-Nashiri allegedly attempted to attack the USS The Sullivans as a part of the 2000 millennium attack plots, but the boat he used was overloaded with explosives and began to sink.

The next alleged attempt, however, the USS Cole bombing, was successful. 17 U.S. sailors were killed, and many more were injured. This alleged success brought him allegedly fame and respect within al-Qaeda, and al-Nashiri became allegedly the chief of operations for the Arabian Peninsula. He organized the Limburg tanker bombing in 2002, and he may have planned other attacks as well.