The World's Youngest Terror Suspect
(Shahzad Shameem, Abbottabad)
The World's Youngest Terror
Suspect...Ready To Blow Himself Up At The Age Of 11
Suicide bomber aged 11 has been
arrested alongside Taliban fighters.
Known only as Abdullah, the youngster was caught crossing the mountains from
Pakisrtan's tribal region into Afghanistan wearing a jacket packed with
explosives.
Police say he is the youngest terror recruit they have ever come across.
Abdullah has also become Afghanistan's youngest prisoner but he is still being
held at a top security prison in the capital, Kabul.
Abdullah has become the world's youngest terror suspect after he was caught
wearing a jacket filled with explosives Originally from Peshawar in Pakistan,
Abudullah was training to be a suicide bomber and had learned the principles of
jihad - holy war - at the religious school in Pakistan where he was taught.
Abdullah was interviewed by ITV News's International Editor Bill Neely, who
wrote about the visit in the Mirror. His full interview will be screened on
tonight's ITV News at Ten. Mr Neely said he was shocked at the picture of
innocence before him. 'I'd been told I would meet a youth who had been arrested
with a group of Taliban fighters – but I didn't expect the picture of apparent
innocence that confronted me,' he said.
'I watched this little boy speak, his high-pitched voice so innocent, pouring
out the detail of an adventure he had clearly relished.'
ITN journalist Bill Neely said he was shocked at how innocent Abdullah appeared
Mr Neely said Abdullah's days were spent reading the Koran and his evenings were
taken up learning how to load weapons and how foreigners came to Muslim lands to
kill them.
Abdullah's younger brother Amin, 10, is also a student at the same school.
Abdullah told the journalist, his favourite weapon of choice was the Kalashnikov
because he found the trigger of the pistol hard to pull.
When Mr Neely asked the 11-year-old how felt about becoming a suicide bomber he
said he knew he 'would end up in pieces.'
He also said he knew the difference between suicide and sacrifice and that he
wanted to kill non-Muslims when he grew up 'so they can't come to our homes and
kill us.'
It is not yet clear what authorities will do with the boy but it is likely he
will be returned back to his religious school.
By Debra Killalea