Mohammed Elmi Ibrahim
CBC News has confirmed the identity of a Toronto man — believed to have joined an al-Qaeda-linked group in Somalia and killed in battle — on an insurgent group’s online video.
Mohammed Elmi Ibrahim, an English major at the University of Toronto, can be seen on the two-minute, nine-second video made in Saudi Arabia, in which he discusses the historical significance of his location.
According to a message that accompanies the video found on the al-Shabab website, Ibrahim was killed in battle, although his death has not been officially confirmed.
The message with the video, addressed to Canadian youth, says: “Dont be sadden [sic] but rather rejoice in the news of your dear brother and follow his foot steps and march forth in the ranks of the honest mujahideen, al Shabaab mujahideen.”
Ibrahim, who went by the nickname “Canlish” and was in his early 20s, disappeared at least a year ago and is believed to have joined the Somalian insurgent group al-Shabab. The group was recently added to the Canadian government’s terrorist list.
The designation came as members of the Somalian-Canadian community have reported that the group is trying to radicalize and recruit young Canadians.
Ibrahim had gone with a group to make the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca known as hajj. But he did not return with the group, and that’s when his family and intelligence agents in Canada concluded he had gone to fight with al-Shabab.