Senegalese security forces make terror arrests

Senegalese authorities have arrested a Mauritanian man believed to have links to extremist organisation al-Qaeda. Sources said 34-year old Mohamed Ahmed Heidar had been involved in the "recruitment of young Senegalese men to serve al-Qaeda aims." Senegalese newspapers quoted security official Abdoul Aming as saying that residents had been warned about Heidar's presence in the area. In a related development, another terror suspect was arrested on the Senegal-Mali border, accused of having links to al-Qaeda. Sources said Abu-Baker Deyancu learnt the Koran from Abu-Walid al-Shaarawy, spokesperson of South African militant group al-Tawhid wal-Jihad. Senegalese authorities have arrested several Islamist militants of different nationalities on the Senegal-Mali border over the last few years.