[AZ Central] An Iraqi man who is alleged to have been the leader of a group of Al-Qaida terrorists has been arrested in Phoenix, according to federal officials.Ali Yousif Ahmed Al-Nouri, a 42-year-old Phoenix resident, is wanted to stand trial in Iraq on charges of the premeditated murder of two Iraqi police officers, according to a statement by Michael Bailey, the U.S. Attorney for Arizona, and Brian A. Benczkowski, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Criminal Division.
Ahmed served as the leader of a group of al-Qaida terrorists in Al-Fallujah, Iraq, according to information provided by the Iraq government in support of an extradition request, the statement said.
The al-Qaida group planned operations targeting Iraqi police, the statement said.
Ahmed and other members of the al-Qaida group are accused of shooting and killing two members of the Fallujah Police Directorate, including a first lieutenant on about June 1, 2006, and a police officer on about Oct. 3, 2006, the statement said.
An Iraqi judge issued a warrant for Ahmed's arrest. As a result, the Iraq government requested his extradition from the U.S. The Justice Department subsequently filed a complaint in Phoenix seeking a warrant for Ahmed's arrest based on the extradition request, the statement said.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John Z. Boyle issued a warrant on Wednesday, Aug. 29, the statement said. Ahmed was then arrested on Thursday by the Phoenix field offices of the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals Service.