Ali Tounsi, head of the Algerian DGSN (national police), was shot dead in his office this morning by Oultache Chouaib, a commander of the helicopter unit (according to Ech-Chorouk). Chouaib, it is said, was in a “manic stupor” after a verbal spat with Tounsi. The killer is said to have been under investigation for corrupt business deals involving spare helicopter parts, according to El Khabar. Practically all reports, Arabic and French, of the murder are conflicting. One has the killer committing suicide (this is from the Interior Ministry). Another has Oultache killing Tounsi and exchanging fire with other police officers, being shot and hospitalized. Another has his him shot dead by the police on site. In any case, an ally of Gen. Mohamed Mediene (also known as General Toufiq/Tewfik) has been felled at a time when tensions between the military security establishment and the president are thought to be unusually high.
Read also: Khouya Houwari’s post on the murder at Algerian Review. He gives a good summary of inconsistencies in the media on the logistics of the killing. Continue reading
