Monday, May 16, 2005

The Birth of a Suicide Bomber

"People have no education, so the young get attracted to their ideology," said Yousef Jalil, 23, whose brother, Rachid, was one of the recruits. But before setting off his explosives, Rachid panicked and fled the scene. He's now on death row. Two other co-activists also changed their minds just before attacking.

Rachid, 29, had worked as a butcher with only elementary education. His cousin, Mohammed El Arbaoui, also a butcher, went through with it and blew himself up, one day before his 22nd birthday.

Now both families insist that the recruiters, also residents of the shantytown, had threatened to harm their families if they refused to take part.


Violence + Ideological Brainwashing = Bomber ... Indeed.