Testimony begins Friday in the trial of Detroit-area four men accused of being members of a terrorist sleeper cell. The trial is the first resulting from the post-Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism investigation. U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen declined to postpone the trial because of the war in Iraq. In opening statements, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard G. Convertino said the case is not about “young Arab men coming to the United to live the American dream.” Rather, it “is about deception, dedication and destruction.” The government has accused Karim Koubriti, 24, Ahmed Hannan, 34, Farouk Ali-Haimoud, 22 and Abdel-Ilah Elmardoudi, 37, of being members of a sleeper cell that planned violent attacks on such targets as a U.S. air base in Turkey and Las Vegas. They allegedly talked about obtaining Stinger missiles to shoot down airplanes and planned to recruit others to their cause. Convertino said prosecutors can prove Elmardoudi received $1,200 from Amsterdam to buy computer equipment for creating false documents. Full Story
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