US indicts suspects for supporting terrorism
Four alleged Muslim militants have been charged in Detroit with being part of “a sleeper combat cell” that sought to support terrorism.
Meanwhile, a Seattle man linked to an alleged al-Qaida plot to train US recruits was also indicted. And a sixth man is being sought.
The four Detroit suspects are charged with providing weapons and support to groups planning “violent attacks against persons and buildings within the territory of Jordan, Turkey and the United States”.
US agents searching an apartment they used found a video-tape appearing to case US landmarks like Disneyland in California and the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
They also found a cache of false documents, and a day planner detailing planned attacks in Turkey and Jordan.
The suspects are all believed to be immigrants of Arabic descent. The indictment said they have ties to a fundamentalist Islamic religious group called Salafiyya.
There was no direct link drawn in the indictment between the suspects and al-Qaida terror leader Osama bin Laden.
Three of the suspects, Karim Koubriti and Ahmed Hannan from Morocco, and Algerian-born Farouk Ali-Haimoud, were arrested in Detroit shortly after the September 11 attacks.
A fourth suspect, Abdella, is still at large. He is believed to be based in the Chicago area and is accused of giving orders to the others.
He is thought to be an expert on airport security and false IDs.
In addition to Abdella, the other man named in the Detroit indictment is Youssef Hmimssa.
Hmimssa was named at the top of the indictment, where the charges were listed, but was not mentioned further. Legal experts said it probably signalled that the details of his indictment are sealed by a court.
All of the men except Abdella are in custody.
US agents believe they have uncovered a broad effort by US residents - many of whom are citizens or legal residents - to use credit card thefts, illegal cigarette sales, diverted charitable funds and smuggled cash to enrich terror groups.
The Detroit indictment said the men used code to speak about terrorist plans and were “involved in plans to obtain weaponry to benefit operatives overseas.”
The indictment alleges the men checked Detroit Metropolitan Airport for security gaps. Ali-Haimoud used to work at an airport ice cream shop beyond the security checkpoints.
Koubriti lived briefly in Falls Church, Virginia, on the same street as two of the suspected September 11 hijackers, according to court filings.
Hmimssa was arrested on September 28 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His photo and an alias were found on many of the false IDs in the Detroit flat.
In the Seattle case, Muslim activist Earnest James Ujaama was accused of trying to set up a “jihad (holy war) training camp” on the West Coast and providing support and resources to al-Qaida.
The indictment accused Ujaama, a US citizen, of leading discussions about creating poison to use on the public and firebombing vehicles.
Ujaama has repeatedly denied any ties to terrorism.
Born James Ernest Thompson, he is accused of a conspiracy to set up a terror training camp in Bly, Oregon.
He was charged with conspiracy to provide material support and resources for al-Qaida and with using, carrying, possessing and discharging firearms during a crime.
Ujaama’s community work has won him praise in his hometown. He was once given a key to the city of Seattle. And state politicians declared June 10, 1994, James Ujaama Day.
Ujaama accused the government of conducting a witch hunt.
“Should it be the policy of this government to convict innocent people before any hearing or before any trial?” he asked.
“My constitutional rights, my civil liberties and my future have been grossly violated in a bid to seek political gain, not justice or truth.”
