A Yemeni cleric being held in Germany in a terrorism investigation secretly raised money and recruited troops for al-Qaida and Hamas, according to U.S. prosecutors. A complaint unsealed Tuesday in federal court in Brooklyn charges Sheik Mohammed Ali Hasan al-Moayad with providing material support to a terrorist network. The suspect is well-known in Yemen for his charity work and political connections. Al-Moayad, and his assistant, Mohammed Mohsen Yahya Zayed, were arrested Jan. 10 in a sting operation at a hotel near Frankfurt airport. Prosecutors allege al-Moayad told an informant that he “has provided material support, in the form of money, weapons, communications, equipment and recruits” to al-Qaida and Hamas. He also allegedly claimed he “has met Osama bin Laden several times and has given bin Laden millions of dollars prior to Sept. 11.” U.S. authorities consider al-Moayad’s arrest a blow to Muslim charities used as fronts to finance terrorism. Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.