The suspected leader of an al Qaeda terror group in Iraq has been arrested in Phoenix, Arizona, US authorities have said.

Ali Yousif Ahmed al Nouri is wanted in the Middle Eastern country, accused of killing two Iraqi police officers in 2006.

The 42-year-old was the leader of an al Qaeda group in the city of Fallujah which planned operations targeting police, according to the Iraqi government.

An Iraqi judge had issued a warrant for al Nouri's arrest and the government there issued an extradition request to the US justice department.

US magistrate Judge John Z Boyle then issued a warrant on 29 August.


Al Nouri was arrested on Thursday in Phoenix by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the US Marshals Service.

He and other alleged members of the al Qaeda group are accused of shooting and killing two members of the Fallujah Police Directorate, including a first lieutenant in June 2006, and a police officer in October 2006.

A statement by the US Attorney's Office District of Arizona said the details in the Iraqi complaint were allegations that have not yet been proven in court.

Al Nouri's extradition would have to be approved by the US court, and the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would then decide whether to surrender him to Iraq, the statement said.

It did not give information about when or how al Nouri entered the US.