Tunisian indicted in New York for links to Canada terror plot

 

Tunisian indicted in New York for links to Canada terror plot

By David BarnettMay 9, 2013

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/05/tunisian_indicted_in.php

 

 

Today authorities in New York, including the NYPD, FBI, and US Attorney for

the Southern District of New York, announced the arrest of Tunisian national

Ahmed Abassi for links to a terror plot to destroy a passenger train

traveling between the United States and Canada. On April 26, press reports

had indicated that US authorities were expected to announce the arrest of

additional individuals tied to a the plot.

 

According to today's Justice Department press release, Abassi fraudulently

applied "for a work visa in order to remain in the United States to

facilitate an act of international terrorism." Abassi was arrested on April

22, the same day that authorities in Canada exposed the plot, the release

stated. Canadian authorities have alleged that the plot is linked to al

Qaeda elements in Iran.

 

Abassi previously lived in Canada, but in March 2013 he traveled to the US.

While in the US, Abassi "was under surveillance by law enforcement agents at

all times, maintained regular contact with an FBI undercover officer (the

"UC"), and also met with Chiheb Esseghaier in New York City," the Justice

Dept. said.

 

The press release appears to indicate that Abassi met with Esseghaier on a

number of occasions, as it stated that Esseghaier was radicalized by Abassi.

While under surveillance, Abassi is said to have "discussed his desire to

engage in terrorist acts against targets in the United States and other

countries, and his intention to provide support and funding to organizations

engaged in terrorist activity -- including the al Nusrah Front ... and to

recruit other individuals for terrorist plots."

 

The indictment against Abassi charges him with two counts of visa fraud,

involving making false statements "in an application to the immigration

authorities for a green card and work visa." According to the indictment,

Abassi stated "that he intended to remain in the United States for

employment, when in fact he sought to remain in the United States to

facilitate an act of international terrorism." Each count has a maximum

sentence of 25 years in prison.

 

Terror plot

 

On April 22, Canadian officials said the plotting of Chiheb Esseghaier and

Raed Jaser to destroy a passenger train as it traveled between the United

States and Canada was linked to al Qaeda's network inside Iran.

 

The two suspects had received "support from al Qaeda elements located in

Iran" in the form of "direction and guidance," said Royal Canadian Mounted

Police (RCMP) Assistant Commissioner James Malizia. Iran's Foreign Minister

called Canadian officials' claims linking the plotters to al Qaeda

operatives in Iran "ridiculous."

 

Chiheb Esseghaier

 

Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, was born in Tunisia, and is believed to be the

mastermind of the terror plot. Esseghaier, a doctoral student at the

Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) in Montreal, holds a

bachelor's degree in Industrial Biology and a master's degree in Industrial

Biotechnology, according to his LinkedIn page. Esseghaier's LinkedIn page

also displayed an image of al Qaeda's black flag, which was first used by al

Qaeda in Iraq but has been adopted by other al Qaeda affiliates.

 

During his court appearance on April 23, Esseghaier, who has been in Canada

only five years, denounced the court's authority. "This criminal code is not

a holy book," he said, and declined a court-appointed lawyer. In court

documents, Esseghaier was listed as homeless, and he "was granted permanent

residency under Quebec's skilled worker program" in 2012, according to the

National Post.

 

Esseghaier's behavior has drawn the ire of some in the past, according to

Canadian press reports. At some point after 2010, Esseghaier ripped down

posters at INRS that included a picture of a woman. In another incident, he

reportedly told another Muslim from Tunisia that they should not pay taxes

to Canadian authorities. Prior to his eviction in December, neighbors

complained that Esseghaier "prayed loudly and at all hours of the day" in

his apartment. And last spring, Esseghaier reportedly engaged in erratic

behavior during a flight to Mexico, which was monitored by undercover

surveillance officers, according to CBC News.

 

On April 25, US officials revealed to Reuters that Esseghaier had traveled

to Iran at least once in the past two years. According to Reuters,

Esseghaier's time in Iran "was directly relevant to the investigation of the

alleged plot." Additionally, sources involved in the investigation told the

Toronto Star that prior to arriving in Canada in 2008 on a student visa,

Esseghaier had met with an al Qaeda operative.

 

Raed Jaser

 

Raed Jaser, 35, was born in Abu Dhabi but never obtained UAE citizenship,

and he reportedly travels on a Jordanian passport. In 1993, the Jaser family

arrived in Canada on false passports after claiming they had been

"terrorized" by anti-immigration groups in Germany, where they had been

living for at least two years. Although his parents were not given refugee

status, according to the National Post, through Canada's "deferred program"

they were allowed to stay and eventually obtained Canadian citizenship.

 

 

Raed Jaser did not obtain citizenship, however, due to a criminal record

that included five counts of fraud, among other charges. In 2004, Canadian

authorities tried to deport Jaser, but "as a stateless Palestinian, he could

not be sent to any other country," the National Post reported.

 

Eight years later, Jaser was granted permanent resident status. Around the

same time he was given the new status, a death threat conviction from 2001

against Jaser was pardoned, the National Post stated.

 

In 2011, according to the Globe and Mail, the RCMP and the Canadian Security

Intelligence Service (CSIS) received reports that Jaser "was spreading

extremist propaganda to youth in Toronto." Press reports suggest that

Jaser's father, Mohammed, approached a Muslim leader in the community

between 2009 and 2011 over concerns of his son's "understanding of Islam."

 

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