BAGHDAD, Oct 15: US forces said on Saturday they had captured two senior Al Qaeda members in Iraq, including a man known as the ‘Barber’ who helped top extremists evade detention by transforming their appearances.

Walid Muhammad Farhan Juwar al Zubaydi, also known as Firas, Abu Ziyad, and ‘The Barber’, was seized in a Baghdad raid on Sept 24 by US-led forces acting on a tip, the statement said.

Also captured was Ibrahim Muhammad Subhi Khayri al Rihawi, commonly known as ‘Abu Khalil’.

The former performed duties including ‘altering senior Al Qaeda in Iraq members’ appearances by dying hair colour, altering hairstyles and changing facial hair in their efforts to evade capture’.

Abu Khalil was described as ‘a close associate of Abu Azzam, (who) served as an executive assistant for the terrorist emir.

“He also acted as a banker for Azzam and stored the terrorist organization’s funds so they would not be confiscated should Abu Azzam be killed or captured.” —AFP