Amr Hamed

Amr Mohamed Hamed (also Amer AhmedMichelle Shephard, "Guantanamo's Child", 2008.] ) was a Canadian who died in the American bombing of an Afghan training camp on August 20 1998, as retaliation for the African embassy bombings.National Post, "Dozens of Canadians join Jihad terror camps", October 22 2003]

Life in Egypt

While living in Egypt, Hamed had played for the Egypt national basketball team.Bell, Stewart. National Post, "A model life, a model operative", October 14, 2005] But he immigrated to Canada, landing at Lacolle, Quebec and making his way westward to Vancouver, British Columbia.

Life in Canada

In 1998, he co-founded an import-export business named "4-U Enterprises" with his "best friend", former Egyptian Essam Marzouk who shared his love of sports.CBC, " [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2001/11/15/marzouk_011115.html B.C. refugee may have terrorist links] ", November 15 2001] The two shared their faith openly, and would sometimes disappear into the forests of the coastal mountains for days at a time as a spiritual retreat to memorise the Quran.

Considered to be "naive and inexperienced", he followed Marzouk seeking "the adventure of Afghanistan" and lived for a while with the Khadr family in Pakistan, where he became known for his love of banana splits and sharing their ability to mix the Western world with his current life.

Death and legacy

On August 20 1998, Al Farouq training camp was bombed by American cruise missiles; and Hamed was blown to pieces; although Abdurahman Khadr identified a distinctive birthmark on his toe; and for the first time, felt hatred for Americans.

In November 2001, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigated claims that an "al-Qaeda office" in Kabul had business cards reading "4-U Enterprises - Amr H. Hamed" and included an address for a rented postal box in a B.C. convenience store.Salopek, Paul. Chicago Tribune, "A chilling look into terror's lair", November 18 2001]

In 2003, he was referenced by Abdurahman Khadr, who told authorities that "a lot" of Canadians had trained at Khalden, including "a Vancouver man he knew as Amer, who was killed in a 1998 U.S. missile strike".Bell, Stewart. National Post, "'A lot' of Canadians in al-Qaeda", August 1, 2004]

In their 2008 report concerning Mahmoud Jaballah, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) misidentified Hamed and Essam Marzouk as being the same person.Canadian Security Intelligence Service, [http://cas-ncr-nter03.cas-satj.gc.ca/rss/Jaballah.pdf Summary of the Security Intelligence Report concerning Mahmoud Jaballah] , February 22, 2008. p. 33]

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