U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation
For Immediate Release
May 29, 2001
Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office


FBI Director Louis J. Freeh today issued the following statement:

I am extremely pleased with the verdict rendered in the trial of four individuals associated with the senseless and cowardly 1998 bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The jury members diligently considered a great amount of testimony and related evidence and returned a just and appropriate verdict.

The verdict represents a significant development in a massive investigation that involved the deployment of personnel from 38 of the 56 FBI field offices to East Africa. Through skill and perseverance, FBI personnel overcame major logistical challenges, which are inherent to crime scenes located in foreign countries, to conduct a thorough investigation that led to the verdict rendered today. The investigation will continue as 13 of the 22 defendants in this matter, including Osama Bin Laden, remain as fugitives.

The FBI commends the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments and their law enforcement officials for their important, continuing cooperation with this complex investigation. The FBI's active investigation of this crime could not have been maintained without the superb assistance of the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments and law enforcement officials.

I also wish to express my sincere thanks to the governments of Morocco, Pakistan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and others for their invaluable assistance during this massive investigation. The liaison and investigative efforts by the personnel of over 20 FBI Legal Attache offices, who were closely involved with this matter from the outset, also have my highest praise.

The New York United States Attorney's Office headed by Mary Jo White and the entire prosecution team of Assistant United States Attorneys Pat Fitzgerald, Ken Karas, Mike Garcia, and Paul Butler have my congratulations for the verdict and thanks for their devotion and commitment to the prosecution of these terrorists. The Special Agents of the New York Field Office who worked closely with the prosecution team are to be highly commended for their exhaustive efforts.

The FBI shares the sorrow of the families of the 12 American and 200 Kenyan and Tanzanian citizens killed in the bombings. The continued patience exhibited by these brave families during the investigative process is greatly appreciated as the FBI and its foreign law enforcement partners continue to address this matter.

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