Pentagon releases al Qaeda bomb expert from Guantánamo

The Pentagon on Thursday announced the transfer of two Guantánamo detainees, including an al Qaeda explosives expert who developed bombs to target U.S. forces. 

Tariq Mahmoud Ahmed al-Sawah, 58, was transferred to Bosnia, where he holds citizenship. He is an admitted member of the terror group who developed specialized bombs, or improvised explosive devices (IEDs), to use against U.S. military forces and civilians, according to his official file posted by The New York Times.

{mosads}”These IEDs included the limpet mine to sink US naval vessels and the prototype for the shoe-bomb used in a failed attack on a civilian transatlantic flight,” his file said.

Al-Sawah’s file also notes that while he will possibly reestablish “extremist associations,” his cooperation with the U.S. government makes it unlikely he will do so. 

The review board set up by President Obama to review remaining detainee transfers decided to release him last February. 

The Pentagon also announced the transfer of Abd al-Aziz Abduh Abdallah Ali al-Suwaydi, a 41-year-old Yemeni, to Montenegro. 

Al-Suwaydi admitted to being an explosives trainer, according to his files posted by the Times.  

Thursday’s transfers mark the 15th and 16th of January. They are part of the president’s bid to release as many detainees as possible in order to bring the remaining detainees to the U.S. and close the prison. 

The latest transfers bring the total number of detainees remaining at the prison to 91. One more detainee is scheduled to be transferred this month.