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Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003

Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the arrests in Washington after an indictment was unsealed in Tampa, Fla.

Ashcroft said the four arrested and four more suspects overseas "play a central role in global terrorism. They are material supporters of foreign terrorist organizations."

The eight are charged with being members or leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, identified in a 2001 State Department report as a terrorist organization.

PIJ, formed in the Gaza Strip during the 1970s, is dedicated to the violent destruction of Israel and the formation of a Palestinian state, the report says.

The indictment said the organization has carried out bombings and shootings against civilians in Israel.

The suspects are also variously charged with conducting a racketeering enterprise since 1984, conspiracy to kill and maim persons abroad and conspiracy to provide material support and resources to the PIJ, among other allegations.

The indictment said the suspects were careful not to draw attention to themselves and communicated in code, a system allegedly drawn up by Al Arian.

The suspects also allegedly engaged in extortion and money laundering, the indictment said.

The attorney general was accompanied in the announcement by Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff, head of the Justice Department's criminal division, and Paul Perez, U.S. attorney in Tampa.

Amin, an engineering professor at the University of South Florida, has been the target of federal interest for years. This was the first time charges have been brought against him.

His arrest was immediately criticized by Council on American-Islamic relations.

"We are very concerned that the government would bring charges after investigating an individual for many years without offering any evidence of criminal activity," said CAIR board chairman Omar Ahmad in a statement. "This action could leave the impression that Al Arian's arrest is based on political considerations, not legitimate national security concerns."

Al Arian, 45, a native of Kuwait, lives in Temple Terrace, Fla. He is accused of being the leader of PIJ in the United States, and being secretary of the "Shura Council," the worldwide governing body of the organization.

Besides Al Arian, the FBI arrested three other Arabs.

Sameeh Hammoudeh, 42, born in the West Bank, is also a resident of Temple Terrace. An instructor and student at USF, he is also an administrator of Islamic Academy of Florida. He is accused of being a member of PIJ.

Hatim Naji Fariz, 30, born in Puerto Rico, is a resident of Spring Hill, Fla., and manager of a medical clinic. The indictment says he is a member of PIJ.

And Ghassan Zayed Ballut, 41, born on the West Bank, lives in Tinley Park, Ill., and owns a small business. Ballut is charged with being a member of the PIJ in Chicago.

Four defendants named in the indictment are still overseas.

Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, 46, born in the Gaza Strip and now a resident of Damascus, is the alleged leader of the PIJ and a former Tampa resident.

Bashir Musa Mohammed Nafi, 50, born in Egypt, is a resident of Oxfordshire, England, and a professor at Muslim College. He is allegedly a member and founder of the group, and a member of Shura Council.

Mohammed Tasir Hassan Al Khatib, 46, born in the Gaza Strip, lives in Lebanon. He was allegedly a member of PIJ in Tampa, and was the group's treasurer and a member of the council.

And Abd Al Aziz Awda, 52. He was born in Gabaly, Israel, but is now imam of Al Qassam Mosque in the Gaza Strip. He is accused of being a founder and the "spiritual leader" of PIJ.

Copyright 2003 by United Press International.

All rights reserved.

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Editor's note:
Revealed: The Terrorists Living Among Us