United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

BRITISH MAN ARRESTED ON SEVERAL TERRORISM-RELATED CHARGES

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Garcia, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with members from several federal law enforcement agencies, today announced that BABAR AHMAD, age 30 (d.o.b. 5/4/74) of Fountain Road, London, England, was arrested yesterday, August 5, 2004, by British law enforcement authorities in London on an arrest warrant and criminal Complaint issued by United States Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in the District of Connecticut on July 28, 2004. The Complaint, unsealed this morning, charges AHMAD with the following:

• Conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, an offense that carries a maximum possible penalty of life imprisonment;

• Conspiracy to launder money with intent: (1) to support the Taliban; (2) to kill persons in a foreign country; and (3) to provide material support to terrorists. This offense carries a maximum possible penalty of 20 years of imprisonment;

• Conspiracy to support the Taliban, an offense that carries a maximum possible penalty of ten years of imprisonment;

• Solicitation to commit a crime of physical violence, an offense that carries a maximum possible penalty of 20 years of imprisonment.

U.S. Government officials requested that British law enforcement authorities execute the arrest warrant for AHMAD in England, and intends to request his extradition to the United States to answer the charges and to stand trial.

The criminal Complaint against AHMAD alleges, among other things, that between 1997 and 2003, AHMAD, through Azzam Publications, operated a series of pro-jihad (Muslim holy war) web sites via an Internet Service Provider (ISP) located in the State of Connecticut. The two main Azzam Publications web sites were www.azzam.com, utilizing ISPs in Nevada and Connecticut, and www.qoqaz.net, which is operated from outside of the United States. Postings on the web sites described the need for Muslims to engage in violent attacks against infidels, appealed for financial support and provided instructions on how to enter Islamic war zones. The web sites also provided detailed instructions for sending money or other support to a specific official of the Taliban.

Evidence collected during this lengthy investigation include e-mails connected with an Azzam e-mail account linked to AHMAD that disclose contact with a Chechen Mujahideen leader who participated in, among other things, the planning of the Moscow theater attack in October 2002. The affidavit in support of the Complaint discloses that AHMAD employed elaborate steps to disguise his connection to the web sites by the use of aliases and encrypted data.

Documents filed with the Court allege that between February 29, 2000 and December 17, 2001, both www.azzam.com and www.qoqaz.net carried the message "… Muslims must use every means at their disposal to undertake military and physical training for jihad." The sites provided instructions for individuals to prepare to wage jihad through physical training and firearms training.

The web sites also provided very explicit instructions on how to raise funds for, and then transmit them to, the Taliban. For example, in 2001, the sites suggested the use of the hawala system – a record-less financial transaction system – to transfer funds to Pakistan and the Taliban. The sites instructed that monies be hand-delivered only to specifically named members of the Taliban Consul General in Pakistan, and instructed users how to respond if intercepted by law enforcement officers. More particularly, the sites suggested that smugglers carry form letters explaining that the money represented donations from charitable organizations in the United States.

Between November 2001 and March 23, 2002, a www.azzam.com message instructed Pakistani nationals from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom on how they could obtain a visa to travel through Pakistan and on to Afghanistan in order to fight for the Taliban.

The affidavit alleges that in December 2003, British law enforcement authorities executed several search warrants at locations connected to AHMAD. Agents from the Anti-Terrorist Branch of New Scotland Yard seized, among other things, a document that set forth plans for a U.S. naval battle-group operating in the Straits of Hormuz in April 2001. The information contained in the document, which was classified at the time, has been confirmed as authentic by the United States Navy. The document included the battle group's planned movements on April 29, 2001, and a drawing of the group's formation. In addition, the document specifically noted that the battle group was tasked both with enforcing sanctions against Iraq, and with conducting operations against Afgahanistan and Al Qaida. Most important, the document specifically described the battle-group's vulnerability to a terrorist attack, and provides specific examples on how the ships might be attacked (e.g., "they have nothing to stop a small craft with RPG etc, except their Seals' stinger missiles.").

Court documents further allege that AHMAD received e-mail correspondence in July 2001 from a U.S. Naval enlistee on active duty on the U.S.S. Benfold, the substance of which was sympathetic to the jihad movement. The enlistee expressed anti-American sentiment and offered praise for the Mujahideen, the attack of the USS Cole and the "men who have brought honor . . . to the ummah in the lands of Jihad Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya, etc."

The criminal Complaint further alleges that Azzam Publications was transmitting messages to, and that AHMAD was in communication with, Taliban fighters and Mujahideen detailing needs for funds, equipment (including night vision goggles), and fighters.

"This case is the result of the superior investigative efforts of many federal law enforcement agencies working together, and with our partners in the United Kingdom," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "Everyone in law enforcement plays a role in fighting terrorism, and we in Connecticut are committed to fighting terror both in Connecticut and beyond our borders. In order to dismantle terrorist organizations, we must attack them at their roots, so it is critical that we uncover and sever the financing stream and communication that supports the terrorists' violent intentions."

U.S. Attorney O'Connor emphasized the investigation is continuing.

"This arrest represents the culmination of three years of sophisticated, electronic investigative work by ICE agents and IRS-CI, in conjunction with the FBI, the New Haven Joint Terrorism Task Force, and British authorities," said DHS Assistant Secretary Garcia. "Removing Ahmad from the streets and from cyberspace is a significant achievement in ICE's ongoing efforts to secure America's homeland."

U.S. Attorney O'Connor indicated that his Office would seek the extradition of AHMAD from the United Kingdom to stand trial on the charges. U.S. Attorney O'Connor emphasized that the arrest and federal charges are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to have the case presented to a grand jury and, if he is indicted, he is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the Government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by a Task Force in Connecticut comprised of Special Agents of the Department of Homeland Security – Immigrations & Customs Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the IRS-CI Electronic Crimes Program, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor also praised the substantial efforts of law enforcement authorities from New Scotland Yard whose efforts and assistance were essential in the investigation in this case.

The case is being prosecuted by a team of federal prosecutors led by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Appleton from the District of Connecticut, and includes assistant United States Attorneys from the District of Connecticut, and attorneys from the Counter-Terrorism Section of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov