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Seattle man charged with aiding al Qaeda

James Ujaama

SEATTLE, Washington (CNN) -- A federal grand jury has indicted a well-known activist in the Seattle-area on charges of conspiring to set up an al Qaeda terrorist training camp in rural Oregon in an attempt to further promote "violent jihad" against the United States.

Earnest James Ujaama, a U.S. citizen, 36, was charged with two counts in an indictment handed up Wednesday by the grand jury in Seattle.

The indictment says Ujaama "did knowingly conspire, combine, confederate and agree" to aid Osama bin Laden's terror network, dating back to the fall of 1999.

Ujaama, whose birth name is James Earnest Thompson, was taken into custody last month and has been held at a facility in Virginia, although authorities would not say whether he remains there.

Ujaama, who was known as a community activist in Seattle, has denied he had any terrorism links. (More on Ujaama's background)

RESOURCES Read the indictment: U.S. v. Ujaama (FindLaw document; PDF format)   MORE STORIES • Ujaama known as community activist in Seattle  • Indictment alleges Detroit 'sleeper cell'     CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk   LEGAL RESOURCES Latest Legal News Law Library FindLaw Consumer Center Select a topic Bankruptcy Discrimination Divorce Estate Planning Landlord-Tenant Personal Injury Taxes

"If I have broken any laws and am guilty of crimes against the American people, then I must be held accountable. The fact is that I am innocent of any wrongdoing and am fully prepared to face my accusers and defend myself in a court of law," Ujaama said in a statement released Wednesday by his attorney.

The indictment says the reason for the alleged plot was to "prepare for, and to carry out, a conspiracy to destroy property -- and to murder and maim others."

"The purpose of the conspiracy was to offer and provide facilities in the United States of America for training of persons interested in violent jihad; to provide safe houses in the United States of America for the conspirators; to recruit persons interested in violent jihad and jihad training; to provide actual training of such persons in firearms, military and related activities," the indictment says.

It goes on to say Ujaama allegedly conspired to "sponsor partially trained personnel for further violent jihad training and operations coordinated by al Qaeda."

The indictment says Ujaama himself told his conspirators, who are not named, that he "had attended violent jihad training camps, which were operated by al Qaeda." One of the alleged conspirators is referred to as a bin Laden "hitman."

During October 1999 and November of that year, Ujaama led discussions with others in Seattle and Bly, Oregon, about the need for further training in Afghanistan terror camps, "the commission of armed robberies, the building of underground bunkers to hide ammunition and weapons, the creation of poisonous materials for public consumption, and the firebombing of vehicles," the indictment charges.

It was near Bly that Ujaama allegedly set up the terror training camp. In a fax to one of his alleged conspirators, the indictment says Ujaama compared the property to terrain in Afghanistan and said could be good for storing and concealing "guns, bunkers and ammunition."

According to the indictment, he and his alleged conspirators "established security for the Bly property through the use of guard patrols and passwords, and they and others participated in firearms training and viewed a video recording on the subject of improvised poisons."

During this time, Ujaama is also accused of helping operate a Web site for Supporters of Shariah, which the government says was used to "advocate violent jihad against the United States of America and other Western nations."

The government says Ujaama was involved in a plan to set up a training camp on this Oregon farm.

Earlier this year, while Ujaama was under investigation, he contacted a cooperating witness in May and June to find out whether another individual "who participated in the activities at Bly was cooperating with the government's investigation," the indictment says.

The indictment also says the self-described bin Laden "hitman" also contacted a cooperating witness during that time and asked "whether he should travel to Seattle to assess the situation."

In addition to the conspiracy charge, Ujaama was charged with using, carrying and discharging firearms during a crime of violence.

His attorney, Greg Stambaugh, said Wednesday he would have no comment until he had seen the indictment.

Meanwhile, four men who had been in the United States since at least 2000 were charged in Detroit with operating a "covert underground support unit" and a "sleeper operational combat cell" for a radical Islamic movement allied with al Qaeda. A fifth man whose full name isn't known by the government was also named in the indictment. (Full story)

Elsewhere, German prosecutors have revealed how they believe al Qaeda terrorists operating in Hamburg organised the September 11 attacks on the U.S. in which over 3,000 people died. (Full story)

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