FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Defendant Extradited to U.S. to Face Terrorism Charges
Ahmad Ibrahim Al-Ahmad made his initial appearance today in federal court in Phoenix, Arizona, on federal terrorism offenses, announced John P. Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John S. Leonardo, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona and Douglas G. Price, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Phoenix Division. The charges stem from Al-Ahmad’s alleged participation in a conspiracy to use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to attack U.S. military personnel in Iraq from approximately 2005 to 2010.
Al-Ahmad was originally charged under seal with terrorism-related offenses in May 2011. He was subsequently arrested in Turkey on May 17, 2011, based upon those charges and an Interpol Red Notice, and was detained there pending completion of extradition proceedings. Al-Ahmad was extradited from Turkey yesterday and arrived in Arizona on the same day.
Following his appearance, Al-Ahmad was placed in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, pending a status conference on the issue of detention on Sept. 8, 2014. A trial date is set for Oct. 7, 2014.
On Aug. 12, 2014, a federal grand jury in the District of Arizona returned a superseding indictment charging Ahmad Ibrahim Al-Ahmad, a Syrian national, with multiple charges related to Al-Ahmad’s alleged participation in a conspiracy, from approximately 2005 to 2010, to supply component parts to the 1920 Revolution Brigades – an Iraqi insurgent group – for use in IEDs that were employed against U.S. military personnel in Iraq during that time period. The charges include conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction (IEDs); conspiracy to maliciously damage or destroy U.S. government property by means of an explosive; possession of a destructive device during a crime of violence and aiding and abetting; conspiracy to commit extraterritorial murder of a U.S. national, and providing material support to terrorists.
If convicted of the offenses alleged in the indictment, Al-Ahmad would face a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison.
An indictment is merely a formal allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Phoenix Division Joint Terrorism Task Force with substantial assistance from various other government agencies. The case is being prosecuted by the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona and the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance in this matter.
