CNN
—
The US transferred an alleged al Qaeda bomb maker from Guantanamo Bay to Saudi Arabia, the Protection Division introduced Wednesday, a part of the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to shut the jail facility.
Ghassan Al Sharbi, a 48-year-old Saudi native who has been held in detention at Guantanamo Bay for 20 years, was despatched to Saudi Arabia after a assessment board decided he not wanted to be held to guard in opposition to a “persevering with important risk to the nationwide safety of the USA,” the Protection Division mentioned. The switch included a set of safety measures, together with monitoring, journey restrictions, and continued data sharing.
Al Sharbi attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical College within the US from 1999 to 2000, after which he traveled to Afghanistan and commenced coaching with al Qaeda, in accordance with authorities data. In Pakistan, he then realized to fabricate remote-controlled bombs, with the intent of educating others the required abilities, the data mentioned. He was captured in March 2002 and handed over to the US quickly after.
His switch to Saudi Arabia comes two weeks after the Protection Division repatriated two detainees to Pakistan, because the Biden administration tries to cut back the variety of individuals held at Guantanamo Bay.
Abdul Rabbani and Mohammed Rabbani, who had been by no means charged with a criminal offense, had been held as detainees within the decadeslong conflict in opposition to terror for allegedly working protected homes utilized by al Qaeda members, together with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the 9/11 assaults.
There are presently 31 detainees remaining at Guantanamo Bay, 17 of whom are eligible for switch, in accordance with the Protection Division.
