The U.S. Justice Department released the below information today:
BROOKLYN—A six-count indictment was unsealed today in United States District
Court for the Eastern District of New York charging Ibrahim Suleiman Adnan Adam
Harun, also known as “Spin Ghul,” with conspiracy to murder American military
personnel in Afghanistan, conspiracy to bomb American diplomatic facilities in
Nigeria, conspiracy to provide material support to al Qaeda, providing material
support to al Qaeda, and related firearms and explosives counts. The indictment
was returned under seal by a federal grand jury sitting in Brooklyn, New York on
February 21, 2012, and relates to Harun’s alleged activities in Afghanistan,
Pakistan, and Africa beginning in 2001.
The charges were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for
the Eastern District of New York; John Carlin, Acting Assistant Attorney General
for National Security; George Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal
Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office; and Raymond W. Kelly,
Commissioner, New York City Police Department.
According to court documents, Harun, who was born in Saudi Arabia but claims
citizenship in Niger, was extradited from Italy to the United States on October
4, 2012, and arraigned in a sealed proceeding in federal court in Brooklyn, New
York on October 5, 2012. The case is scheduled for a public status conference
before United States District Judge Edward R. Korman at the United States
Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York, on March 22, 2013, at
2:30 p.m.
Harun is charged with crimes related to his alleged terrorist activities on
behalf of al Qaeda beginning in 2001. According to the indictment and other
court documents, beginning in 2001, the defendant traveled from Saudi Arabia to
Afghanistan with the intent to fight violent jihad. He arrived in Afghanistan
shortly before the September 11, 2001 attacks. He then joined al Qaeda, received
military-type training at al Qaeda training camps, and ultimately fought against
United States and Coalition forces in Afghanistan with an al Qaeda fighting
group based in Pakistan. According to the indictment, Harun allegedly attempted
to kill United States military personnel in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2003.
In 2003, in Pakistan, Harun received further al Qaeda training and traveled to
Africa with the intent to conduct attacks on United States diplomatic facilities
in Nigeria. While in Nigeria, Harun allegedly conspired with others to bomb such
facilities.
According to the indictment and other documents, after the arrest of a
co-conspirator, the defendant traveled to Libya, en route to Europe, but was
apprehended in early 2005. The defendant then remained in Libyan custody until
June 2011, when he was released by the Libyan government. He was then arrested
by Italian authorities after assaulting officers on board a refugee ship bound
for Italy. As noted, the defendant was indicted in the United States on February
21, 2012, and charged with (1) conspiring to murder United States nationals; (2)
conspiring to bomb United States government facilities; (3) conspiring to
provide material support to al Qaeda; (4) providing material support to al
Qaeda; (5) using firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence; and (6) using
explosives in furtherance of one or more felonies.
On July 5, 2012, the Naples Court of Appeals found the defendant extraditable
to face the charges in the indictment pending against him in U.S. federal court,
pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and
Italy. On September 14, 2012, the Italian Minister of Justice ordered the
defendant extradited. Federal agents took the defendant into custody in Italy on
October 4, 2012, and he arrived in the United States on that same day.
If convicted of all the charges in the indictment, Harun faces a maximum
possible sentence of life in prison.
“As alleged in the indictment, the defendant was a prototype al Qaeda
operative, trained by al Qaeda in terrorist tradecraft, deployed to fight
American servicemen, and dispatched to commit terrorist attacks throughout the
world,” said United States Attorney Lynch. “Whether they try to attack our
servicemen on the battlefield or scheme to kill our diplomats and citizens in
embassies abroad, terrorists will find no refuge. The United States will use
every tool at our disposal to protect our nation’s security and stop terrorist
attacks before they happen.” Ms. Lynch expressed her gratitude to the law
enforcement personnel who took part in the investigation, including Department
of Defense Army investigators. She also thanked the Italian Ministry of Justice,
the Prosecutor’s Office in Palermo, Italy, and other Italian police authorities
in their support of the investigation and extradition of the defendant.
“The indictment unsealed today seeks to hold accountable an alleged al Qaeda
operative who targeted U.S. personnel and diplomatic facilities across two
continents. His arrest and extradition to the United States are important
milestones in our ongoing counterterrorism efforts. I thank the many agents,
analysts, and prosecutors who brought about this significant case,” said Acting
Assistant Attorney General for National Security Carlin.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos said, “Vowing allegiance to al
Qaeda and training to commit violent jihad are not the worst of Harun’s alleged
crimes. The allegations include actually attacking U.S troops and plotting to
use explosives to kill U.S. diplomats. As alleged, Harun not only intended to
but did commit acts of terrorism against Americans. Now he is subject to the
American justice system. We remain committed to protecting the safety of
Americans and our national security.”
Police Commissioner Kelly said, “As more al Qaeda operatives continue to be
flushed from hiding, the NYPD remains vigilant to the fact that terrorists have
repeatedly since 9/11 plotted to kill more Americans. We are determined not to
let that happen. I want to commend our federal partners and the U.S. Attorney in
the prosecution of this important case.”
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorneys David Bitkower, Shreve Ariail, and Amanda Hector of the United States
Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Assistance was provided
by Alamdar Hamdani, Joseph Kaster, and Annamartine Salick of the
Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division
and by William Nardini of the Justice Department’s Office of International
Affairs.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the
defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
DefendantIbrahim Suleiman Adnan Adam Harun, also known as
“Spin Ghul”
Age: 43
