New Haven Register : Terror suspect to remain jailed

Terror suspect to remain jailed

by Randall Beach, Register Staff | 05/25/2007

NEW HAVEN — A federal judge Thursday denied a defense attorney's motion to release a man charged with supporting terrorists by disclosing secret information about the locations of U.S. Navy ships and the best ways to attack them.

Hassan Abujihaad, 31, of Phoenix, formerly known as Paul Hall, must remain incarcerated in Connecticut and await trial as a result of U.S. District Judge Mark R. Kravitz's ruling.

A federal grand jury in Bridgeport previously indicted Abujihaad for material support of terrorism and disclosing previously classified information relating to national defense. The indictment alleges he provided material support or resources, knowing or intending they were to be used in preparation for, or in carrying out, a conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens. Abujihaad was arrested in Phoenix March 7 and brought to Connecticut because, prosecutors alleged, one of the Web sites he used was based in Trumbull.

Defense attorney Dan LaBelle told Kravitz that Abujihaad is neither dangerous nor a flight risk. He said Abujihaad, who is divorced, has custody of two daughters, who rely on him. He also had a record of steady employment with United Parcel Service in Phoenix.

"The case ain't all that great," LaBelle said in reference to government allegations. He said it boils down to e-mails sent by Abujihaad to a London-based organization called Azzam Publications with alleged terrorist ties. LaBelle said there is no concrete evidence Abujihaad provided information about the battleships.

LaBelle also said if his client were a flight risk, he would have fled years ago, when he knew he was being investigated.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Reynolds said Abujihaad is much more of a flight risk since he has been indicted. He noted Abujihaad has a fiancee in Morocco, and might go there if released.

In addition to "troubling" activities and mission of Azzam Publications, Reynolds said, government wiretaps of Abujihaad's phone conversations disclosed he praised jihad and its violent methods.

Reynolds said another wiretap showed Abujihaad threatening to kill his ex-wife after she threatened to "spit out" to authorities what she knew about his alleged activities. He also cited a wiretap in which Abujihaad spoke with a government informant about buying assault weapons.

Reynolds also mentioned a wiretap showing Abujihaad recommended a violent jihad article to Derrick Shareef, who three days later bought weapons, allegedly to attack Christmas shoppers at a mall in suburban Chicago. Shareef was arrested before he could carry out the alleged plan.

Reynolds did say there is "no forensic footprint connecting Mr. Abujihaad to the battlegroup document" found on a floppy disk at the home of one of the alleged terrorists in London. But Reynolds added, "He (Abujihaad) is the only confirmed member of the U.S. military who contacted this Web site."

According to prosecutors, from 1997 through at least August 2004, British nationals Babar Ahmad, Syed Talha Ahsan and others, through Azzam Publications, allegedly conspired to provide material support and resources to terrorists who had created internet Web sites.

During a December 2003 search of Ahmad's residence in London, British authorities recovered a computer floppy disk that contained a password-protected document with classified information regarding movements of a U.S. Navy battle group charged with enforcing sanctions against the Taliban and engaging in missions against al-Qaida.

Ahmad and Ahsan were previously indicted in Connecticut on terrorism charges. Their extradition from England to Connecticut is pending.

If convicted of both charges, Abujihaad faces a maximum prison term of 25 years.


©New Haven Register 2007