Muslim arrested over New York bombing
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A MAN said to be a fundamentalist Muslim from New Jersey was arrested by the FBI yesterday in connection with last Friday's bombing of the World Trade Centre which killed five people and injured more than 1,000. But he was not thought to have acted alone.
Unofficial FBI reports named the suspect as Salama Mohammed, 26. However, the acting Attorney General, Stuart Gerson told reporters in Washington: 'We're interested in more than the single individual who has been apprehended.'
He was arrested when trying to reclaim a deposit on a van destroyed in the blast. He gave the rental agency papers covered with nitrate, found in some explosives. Nitrate traces were found at the blast site. According to one report, Mohammed is a Palestinian travelling under an Egyptian passport. He is alleged to have had contact with a radical Muslim group accused of involvement in the assassination of President Anwar Sadat of Egypt in 1981 and the killing of the radical rabbi Meir Kahane in 1990 in New York.
Shortly after the arrest, police searched the apartment of el-Sayyid Nosair, who was convicted of arms charges and assault in connection with the killing of Kahane, police sources said. Mr Nosair had been acquitted of Kahane's murder.
During the search they arrested Mr Nosair's cousin, Ibrahim el-Gabrowny, on charges of obstruction of justice, the sources said. Both Mr Nosair and Mr Mohammed worshipped at a mosque in Jersey City, New Jersey, a focal point for Muslim fundamentalists in the area.
Among its mullahs is Sheikh Omar Abdel- Rahman, a blind cleric acquitted of involvement in the assassination of President Sadat. The sheikh, who lives in Jersey City with three wives, faces deportation from the US.
President Bill Clinton applauded the FBI's swift work, saying it should 'reassure people'.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments