Allegations of the former GSPCs links to al-Qaeda predated the September 11 attacks . As followers of a Qutbist strand of Salafist jihadism , the members of the GSPC were thought to share al-Qaeda 's general ideological outlook . After the deposition of Hassan Hattab , various leaders of the group pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb