Accused Swedish Militant Extradited to the U.S.

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September 25, 2007 12:36 PM

A suspect sought by the United States for allegedly plotting to establish a terror training camp in the northwest United States was extradited from the Czech Republic to the United States, where he arrived today.

Oussama Kassir, a Lebanon-born Swedish citizen who is an alleged associate of Abu Hamza al Masri, the radical cleric currently jailed on terror-related charges in Britain, was arrested on Sunday in the Czech Republic after a court ruled there was no reason to refuse a 2006 U.S. extradition request.

In August, an American credited with a key role in the terror training camp scheme pleaded guilty to terrorism charges n federal court in New York. James Ujaama, a Muslim convert from Seattle, admitted he tried to set up the camp in Bly, Ore., in 1999 and had informed Abu Hamza  that he and others were stockpiling weapons and ammunition in the United States. The charges carried a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years. 

The allegations against Kassir are similar to those leveled against Ujaama, who has cooperated with authorities, and other alleged co-conspirators: he allegedly wanted to teach military-style methods to Muslims seeking to travel to Afghanistan to fight or receive further training there. 

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According to a Seattle Times account in 2002, Kassir, an unemployed engineer, told the newspaper he was a "supporter" of Osama bin Laden: "I love al Qaeda ... I love Osama bin Laden."

"I am against President Bush because he killed too many Muslims," he said at the time, in a telephone interview from Stockholm. "I hate him to death."

Court documents say Ujaama found the rural property in Bly and then sought help from Abu Hamza to set up the camp. Abu Hamza allegedly responded by sending Kassir and Haroon Aswat to Seattle.

Both Abu Hamza and Aswat have been charged in connection with the Bly camp. Both are in custody in London. 

An announcement related to Kassir's extradition is expected later today in New York.

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