Alleged al-Qaida leader arrested in Phoenix, accused of killing two Iraqi police officers

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, Jan. 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.

The extradition case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office of Arizona and the Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs.

The statement noted that the details in the complaint are allegations that have not yet been proven in court.

The statement did not provide information on when or how Ahmed entered the U.S.

Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-8312. Follow him on Twitter @azdangonzalez. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.