Dar us-Salaam Mosque
Seattle, WA
Oussama Kassir, a Swedish citizen, was found guilty of providing material support to the terrorist organization Al Qaeda in May 2009. The charges against Kassir related to his efforts to establish a jihad training camp in Bly, Oregon and operating several radical websites, posting information about poisons and explosives.[1] He was found guilty on eleven counts, including conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material support to al Qaeda and even distributing information related to explosives and weapons of mass destruction. Kassir lived at Dar us-Salaam Mosque in Washington for about two months, after leaving the camp in Bly in late 1999. [2] During his time at the mosque, Kassir provided some men at the mosque with jihad training lessons; in particular, he taught them how to assemble and disassemble AK-47's and how to alter an AK-47 to launch a grenade.[3] The criminal complaint states that Kassir and a cooperating witness travelled to both Seattle, Washington and Bly, Oregon to inspect "property designated for the jihad training camp" which they were trying to establish. [4] Kassir complained to the cooperating witness that there were only "a few men available to train in Seattle, and that he was not going to waste his time with such a small number of men."[5]
Earnest James Ujaama (aka Bilal Ahmed) was arrested in Denver, Colorado on August 30, 2002 for conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.[6] That charge was later changed to conspiracy to provide support, including computer software, technology and services, to the Taliban.[7]
Ujaama's arrest followed an investigation into the Dar Us-Salaam mosque, as well as other mosques in the Seattle area.[8] Ujaama's brother helped to found the Dar Us-Salaam mosque.[9] Investigators believe Ujaama was trying to establish the same terrorist training camp in nearby Bly, Oregon mentioned above.[10]
Ujaama pleaded guilty in 2003 to violating the Emergency Economic Powers Act by conspiring to "accomplish a common and unlawful plan, namely, to willfully export, sell, or supply, directly or indirectly" goods and/or services to "the territory of Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban or to the Taliban or to persons associated with the Taliban." [11] He agreed to cooperate fully with the government in other terrorism cases.[12] He was a key government witness in the Kassir trial.[13]
A former prayer leader at the Dar us-Salaam mosque, Semi Osman, a British national and a US Navy reservist, was arrested for immigration and weapons charges in May 2002.[14] He pleaded guilty to the weapons charge.[15] Though he was not charged with terrorism, government officials say that a search of Osman's apartment yielded copies of instructions on how to poison water supplies.[16]
See: US v. Kassir, Oussama, et al.
[1] "Al Qaeda Supporter and Organizer of Jihad Training Camp in Oregon Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court," U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York, September 15, 2009. ; USA v. Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, et. al., S2-04-CR-356, "Indictment," (S.D.N.Y. September 25, 2007).
[2] Press Release, U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, "Swedish Citizen Oussama Kassir Found Guilty of Providing Material Support To Al Qaeda," May 12, 2009. See this source for entire paragraph.
[3] Press Release, U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, "Swedish Citizen Oussama Kassir Found Guilty of Providing Material Support To Al Qaeda," May 12, 2009. See this source for entire paragraph.
[4] USA v. Oussama Kassir, 04-MJ-898, "Complaint," (S.D.N.Y. May 5, 2004).
[5] USA v. Oussama Kassir, 04-MJ-898, "Complaint," (S.D.N.Y. May 5, 2004).
[6] USA v. Earnest James Ujaama, 02-CR-283, "Warrant for Arrest," (W.D.W.A. August 28, 2002). ; USA v. Earnest James Ujaama, "Indictment," (W.D. Wash. August 28, 2002).
[7] USA v. Earnest James Ujaama, 02-CR-283,"Indictment," (W.D. Wash. August 28, 2002).
[8] Gene Johnson, "Ujaama Sentencing Set for Aiding Taliban," Associated Press, February 13, 2004 and Patrick McDonnell, "FBI Focuses on Black Muslims in Seattle," Los Angeles Times, July 20, 2002.
[9] "Muslim Author Arrested for Al Qaeda Ties," Philadelphia Daily News, July 24, 2002
[10] USA v. Earnest James Ujaama, 02-CR-283,"Indictment," (W.D. Wash. August 28, 2002).
[11] USA v. Earnest James Ujaama, 02-CR-283, "Plea Agreement," (W.D. Wash. April 14, 2003).
[12] USA v. Earnest James Ujaama, 02-CR-283, "Plea Agreement," (W.D. Wash. April 14, 2003).
[13] Mike Carter, "Ujaama's credibility is key in terror case," Seattle Times, April 30, 2009,
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009148967_ujaama30m0.html (accessed May 19, 2009).
[14] USA v. Semi Osman, 02-CR-175, "Warrant for Arrest," (W.D. W.A. May 23, 2002).; USA v. Semi Osman, 02-CR-175, "Complaint," (W.D.W.A. May 23, 2002).; Paul Shukovsky, "London suspect in Seattle? FBI is checking," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 22, 2005, http://www.seattlepi.com/local/233646_aswat22.html (accessed July 16, 2010).
[15] USA v. Semi Osman, 02-CR-175, "Plea Agreement," (W.D.W.A. July 30, 2002).
[16] Patrick McDonnell, "FBI Focuses on Black Muslims in Seattle," Los Angeles Times, July 20, 2002; Robert Jamieson, "Seattleite Accused of Ties to Terror in Custody," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 23, 2002; Chris McGann and Robert L. Jamieson, Jr., "Seattle Muslim denies allegations of ties to terror network," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 17, 2002.
