Ghezali was re-captured by Pakistani authorities in 2009 with a group of 12 foreigners on their way to Waziristan, where Shahzad received his training.

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But some recipients do become aware that a group of random foreigners, in Tursunova's case from Canada, the U.S. and Israel, has formed online to help them -- and to follow their progress through email updates.

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In 2010, after suspicions that crimes in Melbourne against Indian students were racially motivated, the number of university applications from India fell by half, reducing what is a big source of income for Australia (Indians are the second-largest group of foreigners studying in the country).

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Abou Zeid was one of the group's most ruthless commanders, having seized at least a dozen foreigners for ransom.

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