09 May 2000
(Indictment affirms U.S. commitment to capture other terrorists) (1850) The United States May 8 indicted two Egyptians being held in London for the deadly bombing of United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in August 1998, which resulted in more than 200 deaths and more than 4,000 injuries. The U.S. indictment was filed in New York City and supercedes a previous indictment related to the bombing. The indictment brings to 17 the total number of persons charged, six of whom are in custody in the United States and three in the United Kingdom. The first count of the indictment charges that "Ibrahim Eidarous and Adel Abdel Bary, along with co-defendants Usama Bin Laden, Muhammad Atef, Ayman al Zawahiri, Mamdouh Mahmud Salim, Khalid al-Fawwaz, Ali Mohamed, Wadih el Hage, Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, Mohamed Sadeek Odeh, Mohamed Rashed Daoud al-'Owhali, Mustafa Fadhil, Khalfan Khamis Mohamed, Ahmed Khalfan Ghailrni, Fahid Mohamed ally Msalam, and Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan acted together with other members of "al Qaeda," a worldwide terrorist organization led by Bin Laden, and the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, a global organization led by Zawahiri, in a conspiracy to murder United States nationals." Last week a British magistrate ordered Eidarous and Abdel Bary extradited to the United States. Both men have 15 days to appeal the decision. Al-Fawwaz, who is also in jail in the United Kingdom, was ordered extradited last year and his appeal is pending. "This latest superseding indictment illustrates the commitment of the United States, working with law enforcement agencies around the world, to bring to the bar of justice every single person responsible for the wanton murder of hundreds of innocent victims of every nationality, religion and walk of life and injuries to thousands of others," said Mary Jo White, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who will prosecute the case when the trial begins September 5. There is a $5 million reward for each of the eight fugitives, including Usama Bin Laden, who remains at large and was recently added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. Following is the text of the press release: (begin text) MARY JO WHITE, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and BARRY W. MAWN, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York FBI Office, announced that a superseding indictment was filed in Manhattan federal court today charging USAMA BIN LADEN and 16 co-defendants with conspiring to kill American nationals outside of the United States and for the bombings of the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in August 1998, which resulted in more than 200 deaths and more than 4000 injuries. The superseding indictment names two additional defendants, IBRAHIM EIDAROUS and ADEL ABDEL BARY, who are presently in custody in London, England. The Indictment charges that EIDAROUS and ABDEL BARY at different times led the London cell of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad organization. Many of the leading members of Egyptian Islamic Jihad became influential members of al Qaeda, including defendants AYMAN AL ZAWAHIRI and MUHAMMAD ATEF, ZAWAHIRI and ATEF sat on the majlis al shura (or consultation council) of al Qaeda, according to the Indictment. Eventually, by at least February 1998, the Egyptian Islamic Jihad led by AL ZAWAHIRI had effectively merged with al Qaeda and joined with al Qaeda in targeting American civilians, it was charged. In February 1998, the defendants USAMA BIN LADEN and A YMAN AL ZAWAHIRI endorsed a fatwah under the banner of the "International Islamic Front for Jihad on the Jews and Crusaders", according to the superseding Indictment. This fatwah stated that Muslims should kill Americans -- including civilians -- anywhere in the world where they can be found and both EIDAROUS and ABDEL BARY were found in possession of this it was charged. On August 4, 1998 -- just three days prior to the embassy bombings -- a statement was published by Egyptian Islamic Jihad threatening to retaliate against America for its claimed involvement in the apprehension of Egyptian Islamic Jihad members, according to the charges. A copy of this statement was allegedly found in an office used by EIDAROUS and ABDEL BARY. According to the superseding Indictment, before serving as the cell leader in London, EIDAROUS served as the cell leader in Baku, Azerbaijan for Egyptian Islamic Jihad. In September 1997, EIDAROUS moved from Baku to London, where he allegedly maintained close contact with AL ZAWAHIRI. In his role as cell leader, EIDAROUS provided operational support for the activities of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, it was charged. For example, he engaged in efforts to facilitate the delivery of false travel documents to other Egyptian Islamic Jihad members in Holland and Albania, and served as a conduit for messages to and from AYMAN AL ZAWAHIRI, according to the charges. Also, during his time in London, EIDAROUS allegedly served as a member of the Founding Council of Egyptian-Islamic Jihad. ABDEL BARY allegedly previously served as the cell leader in London, prior to EIDAROUS' arrival in September 1997. While in London, ABDEL BARY pledged his commitment to pursue the goals of Egyptian Islamic Jihad and to follow the orders of the leadership of the group, according to the charges. As with EIDAROUS, ABDEL BARY provided logistical support for Egyptian Islamic Jihad, assisting in the provision of fake travel documents and in the delivery of messages among members in the group, according to the superseding Indictment. In 1998, ABDEL BARY maintained an office in London, England, it was charged, and this office was found to contain the claims of responsibility for the East Africa Embassy bombings that provide certain details about these terrorist attacks. These claims of responsibility were sent to London during the early morning hours of August 7, 1998 the day of the embassy bombings. According to the Indictment, the fingerprints of EIDAROUS and ABDEL BARY were allegedly found on these claims of responsibility, which were sent from London, England to three media organizations in France, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates the day after the embassy bombings. The first count of the Indictment charges that EIDAROUS and ABDEL BARY, along with co-defendants USAMA BIN LADEN, MUHAMMAD ATEF, AYMAN AL ZAWAHIRI, MAMDOUH MAHMUD SALIM, KHALID AL-FAWWAZ, ALI MOHAMED, WADIH EL HAGE, FAZUL ABDULLAH MOHAMMED, MOHAMED SADEEK ODEH, MOHAMED RASHED DAOUD AL-'OWHALI, MUSTAFA FADHIL, KHALFAN KHAMIS MOHAMED, AHMED KHALFAN GHAILRNI, FAHID MOHAMED ALLY MSALAM, and SHEIKH AHMED SALIM SWEDAN acted together with other members of "al Qaeda," a worldwide terrorist organizations led by BIN LADEN, and the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, a global organization led by ZAWAHIRI, in a conspiracy to murder United States nationals. The objectives of this international terrorist conspiracy allegedly included: killing members of the American military stationed in Saudi Arabia and Somalia; killing United States nationals employed at the United States Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and concealing the activities of the co-conspirators by, among other things, establishing front companies, providing false identity and travel documents, engaging in coded correspondence and providing false information to the authorities in various countries. The superseding Indictment also contains additional counts relating to the murder of employees of the United States Government, including Kenyan and Tanzanian citizens who worked at the American embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, as well as diplomats protected by international treaties. The Indictment also contains additional overt acts not previously specified. The trial for this case has been set for September 5, 2000. Today's Indictment brings the total number of persons charged in this case to date to 17, 6 of whom -- MAMDOUH MAHMUD SALIM, ALI MOHAMED, WADIH EL HAGE, MOHAMED SADEEK ODEH, MOHAMED RASHED DAOUD AL-'OWHALI and KRALFAN KHAMIS MOHAMMED are in custody in the United States, and three of whom, KHALID AL-FAWWAZ, EIDAROUS and ABDEL BARY are in custody in the United Kingdom. There is a $5 million reward for each of the eight fugitives, including USAMA BIN LADEN, who remains at large and was recently named to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. Both ABDUL BARY and EIDAROUS were arrested by officials from the United Kingdom last July, where they currently are detained. Last week, Magistrate Nicholas Evans in the United Kingdom ordered EIDAROUS and ASDEL BARY committed for extradition to the United States. They have 15 days from the date of the ruling to appeal this order. AL-FAWWAZ, who is also being detained in the United Kingdom, was ordered extradited last year and his appeal is pending. Ms. WHITE stated: "This latest superseding Indictment illustrates the commitment of the United States, working with law enforcement agencies around the world, to bring to the bar of justice every single person responsible for the wanton murder of hundreds of innocent victims of every nationality, religion and walk of life and injuries to thousands of others. The harm and suffering done to the victims and their families in the bombings of, our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania on August 7, 1998 will never be forgotten and they can rest assured that efforts to apprehend those responsible will continue without letup." Mr. MAWN stated: "The Indictment and pending extradition of Ibrahim Eidarous and Adel Abdel Bary demonstrates once again the resolve of the Joint Terrorist Task Force and our colleagues in the international law enforcement community. We intend to see this investigation through to the prosecution of all those responsible for the murders of 223 people at the U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam nearly two years ago. The partnerships forged by law enforcement agencies throughout the world are stronger than any criminal conspiracies that seek to evade them. For the families of the victims of these tragedies, we cannot undo the devastation; yet we can honor the memory of the victims by bringing those responsible to justice." Ms. WHITE and Mr. MAWN said the investigation of this case is being conducted by the Joint Terrorist Task Force composed of the FBI, the New York City Police Department, the United States Department of State, the United States Secret Service, the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Federal Aviation Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the New York State Police and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Ms. WHITE and Mr. MAWN also noted that New Scotland Yard officials in the United Kingdom have played, and continue to play, a critical role in the investigation of the embassy bombings and thanked those officials for their continued cooperation in this joint investigation. Ms. WHITE and Mr. MAWN also thanked law enforcement authorities in Kenya and Tanzania for their continued cooperation in this investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys PATRICK J. FITZGERALD, KENNETH M. KARAS, MICHAEL J. GARCIA and PAUL W. BUTLER are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)