CIA-RDP96-00789R003900260003-9

Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003900260003-9
93-170-P
7 APRE3
THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993 A3
INGTON POST
6th Suspect Identified in Bombing
Of Trade Center; Others Reindicted
By Jim McGee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan yesterday re-
leased a new indictment that names a new suspect in
the Feb. 26 bombing of the World Trade Center.
"Reindicted in the superseding charge were Mohammed
Salameh, 25; Nidal Ayyad, 25, and Mahmud Abohalima,
33. They were charged with a single count of causing the
bombing, which killed six people, injured more than 1,000
and demolished an underground parking garage. They
have pleaded not guilty and remain in custody.
The new suspect is, Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, 25, who also
was cited in the new indictment. Authorities said Yousef
had resided at the same Jersey City, N.J., address once
occupied by Salameh. He had not previously been iden-
tified in the probe and was not in custody last night. Au-
thorities told Reuter he is believed to have fled, possibly
to Egypt. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The new indictment did not name two other men who
have been formally linked to the bombing by federal
officials. One informed official said this was because of
the volume of work faced by prosecutors involved in the
investigation.
Bilal Alkaisi, 26, was arrested last week on a federal
complaint that contained circumstantial evidence of his
relationship with Ayyad. A fifth man, Ibrahim "El-
gabrowny, 42, has been charged with obstructing a
search of his home in Brooklyn and possessing five
fanwAntenf nassports. Elgabrowny, who has pleaded not
guilty, has not been charged with involvement in the
bombing. Both men remain in custody.
Salameh, a handyman from Jersey City, was arrested
March 4 after investigators found part of a van at the
bomb scene and traced it to a rental outlet in Jersey
City. Authorities said Salameh rented the van and then
reported it stolen several hours after the bombing.
Ayyad, a chemical engineer from Maplewood, N.J.,
was arrested March 10 after FBI agents searched a
rental storage shed allegedly rented by Salameh in New
Jersey and found chemicals that authorities said can be
mixed to create a high explosive.
Abohalima was arrested after he was released by the
Egyptian government. His lawyer has said Abohalima
was tortured by Egyptian security officials and ques-
tioned about the bombing for more than a week. Since
FBI agents brought Abohalima back to New York
March 24, there has been no public disclosure of the
evidence implicating him in the bombing.
In response to questions about the contents of a let-
ter to the New York Times purportedly threatening
further attacks, FBI Director William S. Sessions told
the Associated Press: "We have no evidence that a
large group in the United States is preparing for a wave
of terrorist attacks. However, the magnitude of the
World Trade Center attack naturally heightens the lev-
el of concern and awareness for all U.S. citizens .
. . "
Special correspondent Rachel E. Stassen-Berger in New
York contributed to this report.
Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003900260003-9