DATE=  11/3/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222099

TITLE=TERROR TRIAL: CLOSING ARGUMENTS (L - ONLY)

BYLINE=MAX RUSTON

DATELINE=NEW YORK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  THE TRIAL OF THE MAN ACCUSED OF MASTERMINDING THE 1993 

BOMBING OF NEW YORK'S WORLD TRADE CENTER IS REACHING ITS FINAL 

STAGE.  THE GOVERNMENT PROSECUTOR BEGAN HIS CLOSING ARGUMENTS 

TODAY (MONDAY), AS WE HEAR FROM V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON IN

NEW YORK.



TEXT:  PROSECUTOR DAVID KELLEY SAYS DEFENDANTS RAMZI YOUSEF AND 

EYAD ISMOIL HAD HOPED TO KILL UP TO A QUARTER-MILLION PEOPLE BY 

BOMBING NEW YORK'S WORLD TRADE CENTER IN 1993.  HE SUMMARIZED 

WEEKS OF TESTIMONY, SAYING EXTENSIVE TELEPHONE RECORDS AND 

FINGERPRINTS PROVE THAT THE TWO MEN WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 

BOMBING AND INTENDED TO KILL TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE -- 

CHARGES BOTH DEFENDANTS DENY.



MR. KELLEY SAID THE PROSECUTION DEMONSTRATED THE TWO MEN HAD THE 

MEANS AND INTENT TO CARRY OUT THE CRIME.  HE SAID PROSECUTORS 

PROVIDED THE JURY WITH "INDISPUTABLE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE" TYING 

THE DEFENDANTS TO MATERIALS USED IN THE BOMBING.



MR. YOUSEF IS THE ALLEGED MASTERMIND OF THE BOMBING.  MR. ISMOIL 

IS CHARGED WITH DRIVING A VEHICLE INTO A PARKING GARAGE 

UNDERNEATH NEW YORK'S TALLEST SKYSCRAPERS ON FEBRUARY 26TH, 1993.

MR. ISMOIL CONTENDS HE BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS LOADED WITH SOAP 

AND SHAMPOO.  PROSECUTOR DAVID KELLEY TOLD THE JURY IN NEW YORK 

THAT ASSERTION WAS A PATHETIC LIE.



THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AFTER MR. ISMOIL LEFT THE PARKING GARAGE, 

KILLING SIX PEOPLE AND INJURING MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND.  

PROSECUTORS SAY MR. YOUSEF LATER TOLD A U-S SECURITY OFFICER THAT

HE HAD HOPED TO CAUSE ONE OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER'S TWIN TOWERS

TO COLLAPSE ON TOP OF THE OTHER, KILLING UP TO 250-THOUSAND 

PEOPLE.  PROSECUTORS SAID THE BOMBING WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE TWO 

MIDDLE EASTERN MEN IN RETALIATION FOR U-S AID TO ISRAEL.



THE PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE CLOSING STATEMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE

COMPLETED LATE TUESDAY, AFTER WHICH A JURY WILL CONSIDER THE 

EVIDENCE AGAINST THE TWO ALLEGED TERRORISTS.  RAMZI YOUSEF AND 

EYAD ISMOIL FACE POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCES OF LIFE IN PRISON IF 

CONVICTED.



THIS IS THE SECOND CASE BROUGHT AGAINST RAMZI YOUSEF IN AS MANY 

YEARS.  LAST YEAR, HE WAS CONVICTED OF PLOTTING TO BOMB A DOZEN 

U-S AIRLINERS OVER ASIA IN ORDER TO CREATE WHAT PROSECUTORS 

DESCRIBED AS "48 HOURS OF TERROR IN THE SKY."  (SIGNED)



NEB/NY/MPR/LSF/RRM



03-Nov-97 2:10 PM EST (1910 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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