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American Morning

Seattle Man Charged in Terror Probe

Aired August 29, 2002 - 07:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get "Up Front" this morning, a federal grand jury in Seattle has indicted a well-known Islamic activist on charges of terrorism. Earnest James Ujaama, an American citizen, accused of conspiring to set up an al Qaeda training camp in Oregon.
Our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena, now watching the latest on this story from D.C. this morning.

Kelli -- what more do we know?

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Bill.

The charges Ujaama faces center around providing support and resources to al Qaeda. Officials say that the material support for terrorism has to be regarded as serious as an act of terrorism itself.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA (voice-over): James Ujaama, a U.S. citizen, stands charged with being an agent of the al Qaeda terrorist network, operating in the United States.

JOHN MCKAY, U.S. ATTORNEY: The purposes of the conspiracy, as alleged in the indictment by the grand jury, including offering and providing facilities within the United States for those interested in violent jihad training, to provide safe houses in the United States for members of this conspiracy, to recruit individuals interested in violent jihad training.

ARENA: Ujaama has been held as a material witness in Alexandria, Virginia, according to federal officials, since late July. He proclaims in a statement his innocence, and accuses the government of -- quote -- "conducting a witch hunt."

His family has steadfastly denied that he has any terrorist involvement.

MUSTAFA UJAAMA, BROTHER: This issue is bigger than this, than him or me. This issue is dealing with America in our lives (ph).

ARENA: The 36-year-old Ujaama is not charged with committing any terrorist act, but with providing support for the al Qaeda network in a conspiracy dating back to 1999. Specifically those charges include planning to offer jihad training at a ranch in Bly, Oregon, that prosecutors say Ujaama compared to terrain in Afghanistan, and setting up a Web site promoting violent acts against the United States.

CHARLES MANDIGO, FBI: What we have to look at in this case is that the seriousness of support to terrorism that is equally important as the terrorist acts that may be committed by people.

ARENA: Sources describe Ujaama as a smaller fish caught in a larger investigation of a radical British cleric, Sheikh Abu Hamza. Investigators believe Hamza is actually a senior recruiter for al Qaeda, an allegation he denies.

Officials say Ujaama attended Hamza's mosque in London while living there, as did Zacarias Moussaoui and the alleged shoe bomber, Richard Reid.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: Three unnamed co-conspirators are mentioned in the Ujaama indictment, and federal officials say that more charges could follow.

Bill -- back to you.

HEMMER: All right, Kelli, quickly, though, this case surrounding the Seattle area, another story breaking out of Detroit. What more do we know on that, Kelli?

ARENA: Well, in that case, four men, who have been in the United States since at least 2000, were charged with operating an underground support unit, and what the government calls a "sleeper cell" for a terrorist group that is loosely connected to al Qaeda.

Now, the government says that the men plotted attacks on sites in Turkey, in Jordan, and they also have a videotape that seemed to case U.S. landmarks, including Disneyland in California.

Now, again, Bill, this is a case of providing material support and resources to terrorist groups, much like the Ujaama case, which officials say they are really focusing on right now.

HEMMER: Kelli, thank you.

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