Killing of Antar Zouabri

Prior to the event, Zouabri had been planning a terrorist attack in Boufarik stadium when it was packed with supporters of two football teams playing a match that day, with two of his close collaborators, Boutheldja Fodhil and Hakim Boumediene.^[2] At the last minute, one of the two collaborators realized that they couldn't enter the stadium without being searched by security guards. They returned to the house, but their steps were tracked by security forces. At 3 p.m., security forces surrounded the house, closed all access to the street where the terrorist group stayed, and evacuated civilians to avoid injuries. At 5:15 p.m., the Special Intervention Group stormed the house. An urban police tank smashed down the main door while snipers took positions on the heights of neighboring houses. Zouabri's group threw two grenades to try and find a way out. One of the snipers fired a rocket into the room where the terrorists hid and set fire there. As they tried to run away, they were shot to death by the snipers on the two houses overlooking the neighborhood. Their identities were confirmed by fingerprints.^[5][6] Antar Zouabri has been the 8th leader of the GIA killed since 1992, and was succeeded by Rashid Abu Tourab as leader of the Armed Islamic Group.^[7][8]