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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation

In Reply, Please Refer to Release No.

219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604

January 28, 2004 German National Arrested for Terrorist Threat Hoax Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today the arrest of AWNI ABUGHOUSH, age 40, whose current address is 16700 Olcott in Tinley Park, Illinois. ABUGHOUSH was arrested earlier today, without incident, by FBI Agents in Chicago. ABUGHOUSH was charged in a criminal complaint filed earlier today in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of making a false statement to representatives of the United States government, which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, ABUGHOUSH, who is an Israeli born German citizen visiting the United States on a tourist visa, telephonically contacted the Tinley Park Police Department last week, indicating that a female friend was planning to commit a terrorist attack. The Chicago FBI was immediately contacted and a full-scale investigation was begun. Agents in both the Chicago and Philadelphia field offices were involved in the investigation, as the alleged terrorist attack was to target the Philadelphia area. Subsequent investigation determined that the individual identified by ABUGHOUSH, Asman Abughoush, was in fact his sister and the two were feuding over a personal loan that had not been re-paid. Additionally, ABUGHOUSH indicated that his sister was in the Unites States illegally, which caused him problems with Customs officials, every time he entered the U.S. ABUGHOUSH eventually admitted to making up the terrorist threat against his sister, apparently out of frustration with her over the above described issues. Asman Abughoush was eventually detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau (ICE) in Philadelphia on immigration violations and is being deported. In announcing this arrest, Mr. Kneir said "This is the second time in less than a month that individuals have intentionally provided false information to the FBI as a result of personal dispute with family members. This type of conduct will not be tolerated. While we continue to encourage the public to be vigilant and report suspicious activity, this arrest should send a clear warning to anyone contemplating making a false terrorist threat." Mr. Kneir also expressed his appreciation for the invaluable assistance provided by the Tinley Park Police Department and the Illinois State Police in investigating this threat. ABUGHOUSH is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward A. Bobrick at 2:30 PM today, at which time he will be formally charged. If convicted of the charge against him, ABUGHOUSH faces a possible sentence of up to 5 years incarceration. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. EDITOR's NOTE: A copy of the complaint filed against ABUGHOUSH is available from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645.

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