Bin Laden Follower Convicted in NY Court
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Swedish terror suspect Oussama Kassir is seen here in a 2006 file photo. He was convicted in federal court in Manhattan Tuesday on terror-related charges.
A follower of Osama Bin Laden was convicted in federal court in Manhattan Tuesday on terror-related charges, including conspiracy to "kill, kidnap and maim" innocent people.
Oussama Kassir was convicted of 11 counts in all, including his attempt to open a terror training camp in Bly, Ore. Kassir was found guilty of trying to train followers here in the U.S. in the use of firearms. Investigators said he traveled through New York during his time in the U.S. and while overseas spent time in terror training camps in Pakistan.
Since 2001, prosecutors said Kassir ran terrorist Web sites that contained instructions on how to build bombs and make poisons to kill Americans. WNBC first reported Kassir's arrest and extradition back to the U.S. after he was captured in the Czech Republic.
The FBI said Kassir is also a follower of radical British Cleric Mustafa Kamel Mustafa a.k.a. Abu Hamza -- a hook-handed cleric in custody in London. U.S. officials said Abu Hamza is behind terror plots including hostage taking in Yemen and the Bly training-camp effort, as well as supplying support to the Taliban.
Kassir is a Lebanese national who also spent time in Sweden. Investigators said he has ties to Haroon Rashid Aswat, who is also in custody in London as investigators look into his alleged ties to al Qaeda, the Bly case and whether he had ties to any men involved in the London subway plots.
Kassir faces life in prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 2.
Jonathan Dienst is WNBC's chief investigative reporter.
