Fugitive ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ‘praises Sri Lanka bombers’ as world’s most wanted terrorist is seen for first time in five years
ISIS terror chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is seen for the first time in almost five years in a new video released to prove he's still alive.
The world's most wanted terrorist can apparently be heard name-checking the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka as revenge for their losses in the Syrian city of Baghouz in a speech to his closest followers.
In the 18 minute recording, the terrorist can be heard addressing the end of the so-called caliphate, which once stretched across tracts of Iraq and Syria and ruthlessly ruled over 10 million people.
It seems to be designed to show al-Baghdadi is alive and still in command of the on-the-run terror group as it plots new atrocities around the world.
Mystery had surrounded his whereabouts for some time. He was said to have been seriously wounded in an air strike in 2015.
But in the propaganda video he seems to have recovered.
"He talks about war against 'Crusaders' and about battles in Baghouz in Syria being over, indicating that this interview was filmed somewhat recently.”
The siege at Baghouz lasted 10 weeks and ended in March, marking the complete collapse of the caliphate.
In an audio-only section, he praises the Sri Lanka hotel and church suicide bombers, claiming the massacre was "revenge".
Terror experts said that part was likely added afterwards to bring it up to date.
Timeline of hate
TERROR chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was born in 1971 to a religious family north of Iraq capital Baghdad.
He is believed to have become a cleric and helped found a militant group after the US invasion in 2003.
Al-Baghdadi was picked up in 2004 on suspicion of being a jihadist and interned at America’s Camp Bucca.
After being freed from detention in 2009 he warned his captors: “I’ll see you guys in New York.”
Al-Baghdadi, seen on a wanted poster, right, later joined the IS terror group.
He became leader in 2010 when his predecessor was killed in a rocket strike by US and Iraqi forces.
He stopped the group releasing video messages and instead began to foster a more mysterious image.
The terror chief is believed to have been born in Samarra, north of Iraqi capital Baghdad, in 1971.
He was reportedly a cleric in a mosque when the city was invaded by US-led forces in 2003.
While reports differ on when al-Baghdadi was radicalised, it has been suggested that he was brainwashed in Camp Bucca, a US prison in southern Iraq.
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