The “mastermind” of the London bombings that killed 56 people and injured hundreds more is none other than Haroon Rashid Aswat, a former spokesman for Muslim cleric Abu Hamza, who is facing terrorism-related charges in the UK. Aswat lived in a Central Seattle mosque in late 1999 and early 2000 as he and other Islamic terrorists searched for suitable locations for a possible terrorist training camp to be established in Bly , Oregon .
Aswat arrived in Oregon in 1999 when James Ujaama, a former Seattle activist, tried to set up a jihad training camp in rur al Oregon . Ujaama was based in London , where he too had become a follower of radic al cleric Abu Hamza, an outspoken al -Qaeda supporter. Interestingly, Ujaama spent a lot of time performing community work that was so highly regarded that Seattle once gave him a key to the city! Washington state lawmakers even declared June 10, 1994, James Ujaama Day.
Aswat lived in Seattle for a few months in early 2000 in a now-defunct storefront mosque. Aswat made 20 c alls to two of the bombers. One call was made just hours before the bombs went off. He has now been arrested by Pakistani authorities while carrying a belt packed with explosives, cash and a false ID.
No comments:
Post a Comment