The Algerian state pursued a number of strategies against the GIA . One was to encourage France to take an active part in the fight against the networks of the GIA in France , and thus to cut off its principal means of support abroad . To prevent this from happening , brought a campaign of bombings , hijackings , etc. to France , in hopes the French government would conclude that " the price of terrorism within France was too high " and would withdraw its support from the Algerian regime and " hasten its collapse . " The GIA 's first act was to hijack an Air France Flight 8969 , which was due to fly from Algiers to Paris in December 1994 . During their hijack the GIA announced " We are the Soldiers of Mercy " . Intelligence provided by " Omar Nasiri " ( a disgruntled GIA member turned mole ) and a police raid of a safe house discovered their plan was to crash it on Paris , a plan prevented when the GIGN stormed the plane at Marseille . The GIA conducted a series of bombings in France from 1995 to 1996 . Analysis of a bomb with a failed trigger mechanism made it possible to identify a conspirator , Khaled Kelkal , who was shot and killed by French gendarmes on 29 September 1995 . In late 1999 , several GIA members were convicted by a French court for the 1995 bombing campaign
Flight 8969
Air France Flight 8969
Djamel Zitouni