FBI wants Ressam accomplice

Associated Press

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — An Algerian man arrested in Canada was an accomplice of Ahmed Ressam, who was convicted of plotting to bomb Los Angeles International Airport, according to FBI documents made public Thursday.

Samir Ait Mohamed discussed setting off bombs in Montreal with Ressam and helped him plan the Los Angeles bombing plot that was disrupted by Ressam’s arrest while trying to enter the United States at Port Angeles in December 1999, the FBI affidavits say.

Mohamed was arrested in July in Montreal following the FBI allegations. He is seeking refugee status and is in custody in Vancouver. He faces no Canadian charges.

The United States wants Canada to extradite Mohamed to face several terrorist-related charges.

He is accused in America of conspiring "to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries," and conspiring to provide material support for a terrorist act, according to the court documents.

Much of the information in the affidavits comes from FBI interviews with Ressam, who was convicted earlier this year on terrorism charges in the plot to bomb the Los Angeles airport during millennium celebrations.

Ressam was arrested in Port Angeles after getting off a ferry from British Columbia. The rental car he was driving had explosive materials in the trunk.

In July, Ressam testified against accomplice Mokhtar Haouari at a trial in New York. In that case, Ressam said he and Mohamed talked about "blowing up a neighborhood in Canada where there was an Israeli interest."

Ressam also said at the trial that Mohamed was aware Ressam intended a terrorist attack in the United States. Mohamed suggested that any bomb "be implanted in a gasoline truck for a larger and more serious explosion," Ressam told the court.

According to the affidavits made public Thursday, Mohamed introduced Ressam to Haouari and worked closely with Ressam.

"Ahmed Ressam solicited the help of Samir Ait Mohamed to obtain genuine Canadian passports from an individual working inside the passport agency," FBI special agent Fred Humphries said in one affidavit. "The passports were to be used by a team of terrorists who intended to enter the U.S. … to conduct terrorist attacks."

Humphries declined Thursday to elaborate on the affidavit, saying the information had been turned over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. An RCMP spokeswoman, Cpl. Louise Lafrance, said the force refuses to discuss details of ongoing investigations.

The affidavits say Ressam and Mohamed talked about bombing a Jewish neighborhood in Montreal and other areas of the city. The FBI also said Mohamed sent forged Canadian passports and money to Germany, where other terrorists associated with Ressam were residing.

The FBI also alleges a connection between Ressam, Mohamed and al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, blamed for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

An affidavit says Ressam and Mohamed tried to buy a laptop computer in Montreal in 1999 for Abu Zoubeida, described by the FBI as a terrorist leader at a training camp in Afghanistan. Ressam trained at a camp in Afghanistan.

"Zoubeida is a known collaborator of Osama bin Laden," the affidavit said.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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