JTF-GTMO Archives

Guantanamo detainee selected for aborted 9/11 hijacking transferred to Oman

Thomas Joscelyn | January 18, 2017

Mohammed Al Ansi was one of ten Guantanamo detainees transferred to Oman earlier this week. Ansi had been denied transfer as recently as March 2016. The US government found that he “participated in advanced combat training and may have met with al Qaeda external operations chief Khalid Shaykh Mohammed.” Ansi may have been “considered for participation in a suicide attack or deployment in the West” as part of the 9/11 hijackings.

Ex-Guantanamo detainee allegedly led recruiting cell for the Islamic State

Thomas Joscelyn | February 29, 2016

A former Guantanamo detainee named Hamed Abderrahaman Ahmed was arrested on Feb. 23 in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, for allegedly running a jihadist recruiting cell for the Islamic State. Spanish authorities also claim that he and others were willing to carry out a terrorist attack on Spanish soil. According to a leaked Joint Task Force Guantanamo threat assessment, Ahmed traveled through Iran to Afghanistan to receive training in al Qaeda’s camps in 2001.

4 Gitmo detainees transferred to Afghanistan are veteran insurgents, files allege

Thomas Joscelyn | December 24, 2014

On Dec. 20, the Defense Department announced the transfer of four Afghans to their home country. Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) deemed all four to be “high” risks to the US, its interests and allies. All four are veteran insurgents, according to JTF-GTMO.

34 ‘high risk’ Guantanamo detainees approved for transfer

Thomas Joscelyn | September 24, 2012

The Obama administration has released a list of 55 Guantanamo detainees who have been approved for transfer, but remain in custody. The Long War Journal finds that 34 of the 55 detainees listed were previously deemed “high risk(s)” by Joint Task Force Guantanamo.