Counterterrorism Blog

Christopher Paul of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to conspiring with others to use a weapon of mass destruction, namely explosive devices, against targets in Europe and the United States. Paul is the last of three Ohio men charged with terrorist activities after the FBI opened an investigation over five years ago. Iyman Faris pleaded guilty in May, 2003, in the plot to destroy the Brooklyn Bridge (see Evan Kohlmann's July 2007 post on the NEFA Foundation report on that plot). Nuradin Abdi, pleaded guilty last year in the plot to bomb a Columbus-area shopping mall (see Evan's August 2007 post on the NEFA Foundation report on that plot). But attorneys for the Faris and Abdi told reporters last year that as many as 10 men might have been involved in Paul's circle of jihadists. See Patrick Poole's excellent website on jihadists in Central Ohio for more.

The statement of facts released by the Justice Department reveals that Paul is probably the earliest known "American Al Qaeda," having joined the group in the early 1990s. He was clearly committed to Al Qaeda's goals and assisted Al Qaeda-linked terrorists in Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Germany until he was arrested last year. Some excerpts:

"In the early 1990s, defendant traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan to join the mujahadeen. Upon his arrival in Pakistan, defendant stayed at the Beit Ul Ansar guest house, located in Peshawar, Pakistan. Beit Ul Ansar was a guest house affiliated with al Qaeda. While at Beit Ul Ansar, defendant went to Afghanistan and received initial training at an al Qaeda training camp. The training included, but was not limited to, map reading, climbing, use of assault rifles, grenades, rocket-propelled grenades, small unit tactics, and hand-to-hand combat. Successfully completing his initial training defendant joined al Qaeda and then stayed at Beit ur Salam guesthouse, which was exclusively for al Qaeda members. Distinguishing himself to al Qaeda, defendant was selected for and obtained advanced training in rappelling, military history, and explosives and explosive devices. Upon joining al Qaeda and having received their training, the defendant fought with other mujahadeen in Afghanistan.

Over time and through his association with al Qaeda, the defendant became an individual dedicated to committing jihad, including causing the death of human beings and the destruction of property and furthering the objectives of al Qaeda and other radical Islamic fundamentalists.

From 1993 through 1995 defendant, using various passports and aliases, returned to the Balkans area in Europe and fought jihad in conflict zones such as Bosnia establishing further contacts with the radical Islamic fundamentalist movement and creating a master list of contact numbers for senior al-Qaeda leadership and other radical Islamic fundamentalists and operatives world-wide. On this master list, investigators also found listings of component parts for bombs/detonation devices. Defendant’s master list of terrorist contacts and bomb-making information was seized by the Columbus JTTF in a search warrant at defendant’s residence.

As established by defendant’s passport and cooperating witnesses, on April 16, 1999, defendant traveled to Germany to meet with members of a radical Islamic fundamentalist terrorist cell in Germany. Paul, who was known to the cell as an expert in bomb-making/detonation devices, was asked to travel to Germany to provide explosives training and information to this German terrorist cell.

The government’s investigation and witnesses establish that defendant provided such training knowing that the German terrorist cell was planning to use such training and information to construct bombs, car bombs, and similar devices to be used against Americans while they vacationed at foreign tourist resorts. The government’s investigation and witnesses establish that the German terrorist cell also planned to use bombs and similar devices against Americans within the United States and against property that was owned, leased, or used by the United States outside the United States such as U.S. embassies, diplomatic and consular premises and military bases located in Europe.

In November 1999, defendant’s bank records show defendant wired transferred $1,760 to one of the principal members of the German terrorist cell."