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CNN Saturday Morning News

Are Defunct Seattle Mosques Linked With al Qaeda?

Aired July 13, 2002 - 09:33   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now more on the possible links between two defunct Seattle mosques and al Qaeda activity. One man in particular is under close scrutiny. Essex Porter of that same affiliate we just told you about, KIRO, has our story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ESSEX PORTER, REPORTER, KIRO (voice-over): In May, FBI agents searched this apartment in north Tacoma. It is the home of Semi Osman, a native of Sierra Leone, a British citizen, and a U.S. resident since the late 1980s.

UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: They were really, really nice, and they were, like, always saying Hi, and they (UNINTELLIGIBLE) like us, and we liked them.

PORTER: Court documents show Osman was arrested on May 23. Two handguns and one assault rifle were confiscated. Now Osman is charged with possessing an illegal firearm because the serial number was obliterated on one of the handguns. He's also charged with an immigration violation to facilitate international terrorism.

Osman and friends the FBI is investigating attended this now- defunct mosque in central Seattle. "The Seattle Times" report the majority of members broke away from the mosque to get away from a small group of radicals that included Osman.

Some members of the Seattle group are reportedly supporters of England-based militant Sheik Abu Hamza, thought to be a recruiter for al Qaeda. And he has connections with Sekina (ph) Security Services, a London-based outfit on trial this week in a British court for offering holy war terrorist training camps in the United States.

One of those training camps might have been near Bly, Oregon, where 15 of the militants gathered for target practice three years ago.

No one answered when we knocked at Semi Osman's door in Tacoma, though neighbors say his wife and daughter still live here. As the FBI search warrant describes, a label on the door proclaims "No true God but Allah."

(on camera): Osman's attorney points out that his client once served in the U.S. Army, still serves in the naval reserve. He says his client is innocent.

Essex Porter, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News, Seattle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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