The claims caused alarm in the West, particularly in the US, which has been training troops in Mali and neighbouring countries to tackle the militant threat for several years.

BBC: Mali crisis: US admits mistakes in training local troops

Thousands of Pakistanis have been killed in militant attacks in the past three years.

BBC: Pakistan: Teenager tells of failed suicide bomb mission

The authorities say more than 20 young men have travelled back from Minnesota to Somalia in recent years to join the the militant group al-Shabab, which had control of large parts of the country.

BBC: Somali president Mohamud's plea to diaspora in Minnesota

Fatah leadership has had a great deal of support from the West and has been warned over the years not to join hands with militant Hamas, which several countries have deemed a terrorist organization.

CNN: Gaza rally called step toward unity for Fatah and Hamas

No-one has said they were behind the attack, but it happened in an area where the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, has been active in recent years.

BBC: Foreign doctors killed in north-eastern Nigeria

Ships took three years to build (not helped by frequent strikes at the militant yard), incurring crippling penalties for late deliveries.

ECONOMIST: Shipbuilding

Four years ago, Mr Islam was deported from Israel over allegations that he backed militant Muslims.

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