DATE=10/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240942
TITLE=TERROR CHARGES/NEW YORK (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-S FEDERAL PROSECUTORS -- ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS IN 
NEW YORK TODAY (FRIDAY) --  HAVE FILED SECRET CHARGES AGAINST A 
FORMER U-S ARMY SERGEANT ALLEGEDLY IN CONNECTION WITH A GLOBAL 
TERROR CAMPAIGN AGAINST AMERICANS.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE 
JOHANSON REPORTS: 

TEXT:   ALI MOHAMED IS SAID TO BE IN CUSTODY IN NEW YORK AFTER 
BEING INDICTED LAST MONTH.  HE REPORTEDLY WAS AMONG SEVERAL 
PEOPLE CHARGED IN A WIDE-REACHING INDICTMENT THAT ALSO COVERS 
RECENT U-S EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN AFRICA.

MR. MOHAMED, WHO ONCE SERVED IN THE EGYPTIAN ARMY, CAME TO THE 
UNITED STATES IN 1985 AND BECAME A PERMANENT RESIDENT.  SHORTLY 
THEREAFTER, MOHAMED ENLISTED IN THE U-S ARMY FOR THREE YEARS.  
HIS DUTIES INCLUDED INSTRUCTING AMERICAN SOLDIERS HEADED FOR THE 
MIDDLE EAST ABOUT ISLAMIC CULTURE AND POLITICS.

ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES (NEWSPAPER), MOHAMED IS BELIEVED 
TO HAVE TIES TO A NEW YORK-BASED MUSLIM GROUP CONNECTED WITH 
SAUDI EXILE OSAMA BIN LADEN.  BIN LADEN IS WANTED IN CONNECTION 
WITH THE U-S EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN KENYA AND TANZANIA IN AUGUST.  
MORE THAN 250 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THOSE BOMBINGS, INCLUDING A 
DOZEN AMERICANS.

CHARGES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN NEW YORK AGAINST THREE PEOPLE 
ACCUSED OF PARTICIPATING IN THOSE ATTACKS.

THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS U-S AUTHORITIES ARE WORKING WITH A 
FORMER ASSOCIATE OF ALI MOHAMED ON A PLEA DEAL.  U-S LAW 
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT.

THE STORY IS BEING WIDELY REPORTED IN NEW YORK, WHICH HAS BEEN 
TARGETED BY TERRORISTS IN RECENT YEARS -- FROM THE 1994 WORLD 
TRADE CENTER BOMBING TO A MASTER PLAN TO BLOW UP CITY LANDMARKS, 
INCLUDING THE UNITED NATIONS BUILDING. (SIGNED)

NEB/NY/EJ/BA/GE

30-Oct-98 11:07 AM EST (1607 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.