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Terrorist group intended to attack Angolan Presidency and Parliament

Luanda, Jan 25 (Prensa Latina) Members of a terrorist group that intended to attack the Presidency of Angola and the National Assembly were arrested today, reported the spokesman for the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC), Manuel Halaiwa.

The actions of that body together with other intelligence, defense and security institutions of the country, allowed the identification of the activity of the network last October and the arrest of seven of its members in November, said Halaiwa in a press conference held at the headquarters of the SIC in Cacuaco.

In addition to the aforementioned objectives, the investigations revealed that they intended to carry out terrorist actions in various points of the provinces of Luanda and Huambo.

Among them were the Luanda Refinery, the electrical substation in the Belén area in Huambo, the headquarters building of the SIC in that province, as well as facilities of the national oil company Sonangol. The US embassy in Angola and the Intercontinental Hotel were also among the targets, with the aim of creating chaos during the visit of the then US president, Joe Biden.

To do so, they had hand grenades and other explosives, which in total amounted to about 60 tons.

The SIC spokesperson explained that the 34-year-old Angolan citizen João Deussino is considered the leader of the organization, who recognizes himself as president of the United Front for the Rectification of the African Order, an organization created in Huambo.

The investigations carried out revealed the participation of Deussino’s brothers and friends, who are part of the seven detained so far, among whom was also a citizen member of the National Police and another who worked at the Huambo demining center.

Halaiwa said the network received funding from people in Angola and abroad, which was deposited in bank accounts belonging to the mother-in-law of the group’s leader and which were operated by his wife, who worked in an Angolan bank.

The SIC did not specify the number of members of the group in Angola or the members identified abroad, but said they had connections in Burkina Faso, where they intended to train 13 people to carry out terrorist actions.

He said these individuals have been identified and their arrest will be carried out soon.

The seven detainees are awaiting trial on charges of attempted attack, criminal association, arms trafficking and possession of prohibited ammunition, possession of toxic substances and falsification of documents.

ef/arc/kmg

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