U.S. Extradites Terrorism Suspect Oubssama Abdullah Kassir from Czech Republic

According to a press release from the United States Justice Department, a terrorism suspect was extradited from the Czech Republic on Tuesday. Oubssama Abdullah Kassir who also uses the aliases Abu Abdullah and Abu Khadija was charged in New York with the crime of conspiring to provide material support and resources to Al Qaeda. In addition to that charge Kassir faces other unnamed counts for alleged operation of terrorism websites. Kassir was apprehended in Prague by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kassir is a Lebanese national last believed to have resided in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Kenneth L. Wainstein, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Garcia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mark J. Merson, and the Police Commissioner of the City of New York, Raymond W. Kelly jointly announced Kassir's extradition.

Kassir was originally arrested by authorities from the Czech Republic in December of 2005, while on a layover from Sweden awaiting a flight to Beirut, Lebanon. Kassir's arrest in Prague was the result of a criminal complaint filed in New York. This criminal complaint led to an arrest warrant for Kassir being listed with Interpol.

United States officials allege that Kassir assisted Al Qaeda in numerous ways including conspiring with other Al Qaeda supporters to establish a Jihad training camp in Bly, Oregon. The property in Oregon was apparently chosen by Kassir and his co-conspirators due to the terrain's resemblance to that of Afghanistan. Kassir and his co-conspirators allegedly wished for the camp to provide jihad training for a group of Muslims that would later move to Afghanistan.

In addition to the training camp Kassir is accused of running at least three terrorist websites that contained instructions on how to make bombs and poisons. These instructions were contained in the "Mujahideen Explosives Handbook" and the "Mujahideen Poisons Handbook". These handbooks have been designated as terrorist materials by the United States Government. Kassir allegedly ran the websites from 2001 until his arrest in Prague in 2005. One of the websites resides on a server located in New York. Kassir faces seven criminal counts in New York for conduction of these activities.

United States Government officials also claim that they have witnesses that allege that Kassir was in possession of a CD containing instructions on how to make bombs and poisons. Witnesses also allege that Kassir had claimed he had been trained in several jihad camps overseas.

Kassir's arraignment was set for 4:15 p.m. in Manhatten Federal Court; U.S. District Judge John F. Keenan will preside. The prosecution will consist of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric B. Bruce and Michael Farbiarz along with Trial Attorney George Z. Toscas from the Counterterrorism Section at the Department of Justice.

The press release took care to note that at this time the charges are an accusation, and guilt will not be established until it is proven.

Source:
United States Department of Justice