INDEPENDENT NEWS

13 Suspected bin Laden Terrorists Arrested

Published: Thu 16 Dec 1999 11:54 AM
Thirteen people believed to have links to Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden have been arrested in Jordan on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks against Americans over the New Year.
The arrested include 11 Jordanians, an Iraqi and an Algerian and have recently arrived in Jordan from Afghanistan where US Officials say they had received training in weapons and explosives.
White House, spokesperson Joe Lockhart refused to discuss details other than to say that the arrests were carried out by Jordanian forces at the direction of the Jordanian government.
"We certainly believe these were members of bin Laden's organization that posed a threat to Americans… We are following closely a number of threats and continue to be very vigilant on that front," he said.
The US is currently in contact with Pakistani authorities after it was reported a suspected terrorist was arrested in Peshawar. It is unclear whether this person is linked to bin Laden.
Osdama bin laden is a wealthy Saudi exile who has called for a holy war against America. He has been indicted by an American Grand Jury on charges of conspiracy and murder in the 1998 bombings of US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania which killed a total of 259 people.
He is number one on the FBI’s ‘Most Wanted’ list and is currently living in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban militia which rule the country.
The US has dispatched their top counter-terrorism official to Afghanistan to warn the Taliban that they would be responsible for any attacks committed by bin Laden’s network.
With only two weeks until the 2000 birthday of Christ the stakes are fast becoming higher.
ends

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