Ressam fingered 100 terror suspects & A Refresher: Ahmed Ressam was Caught by an Alert Customs Agent, Not a Computer

None here?

U.S. court filing says Ahmed Ressam fingered 100 terror suspects Apr. 13, 05, CNEWS

SEATTLE (AP) - An Algerian convicted of plotting to bomb Los Angeles International Airport on the eve of the millennium later provided information about more than 100 potential terrorists, his lawyers said.

Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian national who lived in Montreal, was caught driving into Washington state after crossing on a ferry from Victoria with bomb-making materials in the trunk of his rented car in December 1999.

[. . . . ] Facing up to 130 years in prison, he cut a deal with the U.S. Justice Department and began co-operating with authorities in exchange for a promised 27-year sentence.

[. . . . ] From May 2001 to April 2003, Ressam spent more than 200 hours speaking with authorities about terrorist networks and people with potential connections to them. He also spent 65 hours testifying during depositions or trials, his lawyers wrote.

Among the topics Ressam is reported to have covered were training camps in Afghanistan, terrorist recruitment, training, cell locations, the use of safe houses and general targets. [. . . . ]

Search:

terrorist conspiracy
filed under seal.
Algerian national
startlingly helpful
Mokhtar Haouari
Haydar Abu Doha
Haydar Abu Doha
a Moroccan
Mounir el Motassadeq




In quiet Port Angeles, local folks tackle a terrorist - and nothing has been quite the same since

Note, it was the intuition of an alert human being that counted. It was a woman, incidentally, who caught Ressam at the border. Do read her story. This is an article from 2001, still informative and, considering the current talk of Canada's insecure border with the US, extremely relevant.

Paula Bock is a Pacific Northwest magazine staff writer. Benjamin Benschneider is a magazine staff photographer.

EVER SINCE terrorist Ahmed Ressam drove off the ferry from Victoria, B.C., with 135 pounds of bomb ingredients hidden in his trunk, the folks at U.S. Customs — who caught and chased him on foot through the streets of Port Angeles — have wondered many things.

Was the Los Angeles airport really his only target?

[. . . . ] Instead of a spare tire, the wheel well of Ressam's rental car held . . . .

All the other passengers were "regular, normal people," Dean recalls. Ressam's rental car is the only one she remembers. Did he pick her line, she wonders now, "maybe, because I'm a woman?"

It was the last vehicle off the boat, a dark green Chrysler 300M with B.C. plates, a luxury sedan usually favored by the older set. The driver was small and wore long sideburns and a too-big camelhair coat. He looked to be in his early 30s. He rolled down the window. . . .

This is a lengthy detailed account of what transpired, and background for the post above.