Allegations of GSPC links to al-Qaeda predate the September 11 attacks . As followers of a Qutbist strand of Salafist jihadism , the members of the GSPC are 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 . Some observers have argued that the GSPC 's connection to al-Qaeda was merely opportunistic , not operational . Claims of GSPC activities in Italy were disputed by other sources , who said that there is no evidence of any engagement in terrorist activities against US , European or Israeli targets : " While the GSPC ... established support networks in Europe and elsewhere , these have been limited to ancillary functions ( logistics , fund-raising , propaganda ) , not acts of terrorism or other violence outside Algeria . " Investigations in France and Britain have concluded that young Algerian immigrants sympathetic to the GSPC or al-Qaeda have taken up the name without any real connection to either group
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat