US arraigns al-Qaeda man over failed bombing in Nigeria

Wooden Gavel

The United States has instituted terrorism charges against Ibrahim Suleiman Adnan Adam Harun for allegedly planning to bomb its diplomatic buildings in Nigeria in 2003.

Among the six charges instituted against him by the US government was also conspiracy to bomb its military personnel in Afghanistanin between 2002 and 2003.

Forty-three years old Harun is to appear before a District Judge, Edward Korman, at a US Courthouse in  Brooklyn, New York, on Friday.

The Saudi Arabia-born citizen of Niger allegedly received al-Qaeda training in Pakistan and traveled to Africa in 2003 with the intent to conduct attacks on United States diplomatic facilities in Nigeria.

While in Nigeria, Harun allegedly conspired with others to bomb such facilities.

He was said to have  been extradited from Italy to the US on October 4, 2012, and arraigned in “a sealed proceeding” in federal court in Brooklyn on October 5, 2012.

The case is now said to have been scheduled for “a public status conference” when it comes up before Justice Edward on March 22.

Federal and state government agencies revealed the charges preferred against him on Wednesday.

Earlier, he was said to have also arrived in Afghanistan shortly before the September 11, 2001 attacks.

According to the government agencies, Harun  joined al Qaeda, received military-type training at al Qaeda training camps, and ultimately fought against the US and coalition forces in Afghanistan with an al Qaeda fighting group based in Pakistan.

Harun allegedly attempted to kill US military personnel in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2003.

The charges which were first filed on February 21, 2012, accused Harun of  “conspiring to murder United States nationals; conspiring to bomb United States government facilities; and conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda.

He was also accused of “providing material support to al Qaeda;  using firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence; and using explosives in furtherance of one or more felonies.”

The charges were announced by Loretta  Lynch of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York;  the Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John Carlin.

Others are the Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, George Venizelos, and Commissioner, New York City Police Department, Raymond Kelly.