UNITED STATES ANNOUNCES FIRST EXTRADITION FROM
UNITED KINGDOM ON TERRORISM CHARGES

MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, MARK J. MERSHON, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), and RAYMOND W. KELLY, the Police Commissioner of the City of New York, announced that SYED HASHMI, a/k/a "Fahad," arrived in New York late yesterday evening after being extradited from the United Kingdom on federal charges of providing material support to al Qaeda. This is the first time that the United Kingdom has extradited an individual to the United States on terrorism charges. According to the Indictment filed in Manhattan federal court:

From January 2004 through May 2006, HASHMI, 27, a United States citizen, provided material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization, namely al Qaeda. In connection with these charges, HASHMI assisted al Qaeda by providing military gear to others who then transported the gear to al Qaeda associates in South Waziristan, Pakistan. HASHMI also agreed with others to provide military gear to al Qaeda to be used by al Qaeda to fight against United States forces in Afghanistan.

HASHMI is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization, namely al Qaeda; one count of providing material support or resources to al Qaeda; and one count of conspiracy to make a contribution of funds, good or services to, and for the benefit of, al Qaeda. The charges of providing material support or resources to al Qaeda each carry a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment. The charge of conspiring to make a contribution of funds, goods or services to al Qaeda, carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. The total maximum sentence for the charges against HASHMI is 50 years’ imprisonment.

HASHMI will be presented in United States Magistrate’s Court this afternoon. HASHMI is expected to be arraigned before United States District Judge LORETTA A. PRESKA in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 10:30 a.m.

Mr. GARCIA praised the investigative efforts of the Joint Terrorism Task Force ("JTTF"), especially those JTTF members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and New York City Police Department. Mr. GARCIA thanked the Office of International Affairs of the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice and the United States Marshal’s Service for its work in effectuating the extradition. Mr. GARCIA also expressed his gratitude to the British authorities and law enforcement community, including New Scotland Yard and the Crown Prosecution Service, for their cooperation in the investigation.

United States Attorney GARCIA stated: "This is the first extradition on terrorism charges from the United Kingdom and it has yielded a defendant who provided material support to al Qaeda. Syed Hashmi, an American citizen, is charged with providing military gear to al Qaeda to use against United States forces in Afghanistan."

FBI Assistant Director MERSHON said: "If we are engaged in a war against terror -- and we most certainly are -- then Syed Hashmi aided the enemy by supplying military gear to al Qaeda. The JTTF is committed to eradicating terrorism anywhere in the world, from the streets of New York to the hills of Afghanistan. In a global community, terrorism anywhere is a threat to people everywhere."

Police Commissioner KELLY said: "This arrest reinforces the the fact that a terrorist may have roots in Queens and still betray us. Congratulations to the New York City detectives and FBI agents who understood this and kept Hashmi on our radar."

Assistant United States Attorneys EDWARD C. O’CALLAGHAN, LISA A. BARONI and BRENDAN MCGUIRE are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

07-128 

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