PBS.org Video Shows TV Schedules Shop Donatealdeilis.net/terror/1869.pdfknown by the Arabic word "al-Qaeda", literally, "the base"). Under US. Federal law, the FBI is mandated with

Note: At the end of thisdocument is an early listof fifteen key suspects. Asof April 1999, twelvesuspects have beenindicted, but only fourhave been arrested. Two

This is a declassified executive summary of status and findings of the FBIinvestigation into the embassy bombings as of November 18, 1998. The report wasdistributed to law enforcement agencies in Kenya, Tanzania, and other countries toassist in their investigations and includes identifying information on the suspects.The full report remains classified.

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US Dept. Of JusticeFederal Bureau of InvestigationWashington, D.C. 20535

November 18,1998.

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The informationcontained hereinis extremelysensitive and isbeing sharedwith yourgovernment tohelp you detectand prevent acts

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The Trail Of Evidence - Fbi Executive Summary | Hunting Bin Laden | FRONTLINE | PBS http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/bombings/summary.html

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men on this document listhave not yet beenindicted. Abdullah AhmedAbdullah (AKA Ali Saleh)is listed as a possiblemastermind of the Nairobiattack, but has not beenindicted to date.FRONTLINE learned thatthe government stillknows very little aboutthis man and his role inthe bombings.

of terrorism inyour countryand to identifyinformationyour servicemight be in aposition to

provide which could aid the Federal Bureauof Investigation (FBI) in its investigation ofthe above matter. This information should bekept confidential, and under no circumstancesshould it be further disseminated withoutprior clearance from the government of theUnited States of America.

On August 7, 1998, at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time, two Embassiesof the United States of America, located in the East African cities ofNairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were attacked in coordinatedtruck bombings, later determined to have occurred approximately fourminutes apart. In Nairobi, 213 people were killed in the blast, while 11individuals died in the bombing at Dar es Salaam. The bombings werecarried out by members and associates of Usama Bin Ladin's organization,known by the Arabic word "al-Qaeda", literally, "the base").

Under US. Federal law, the FBI is mandated with the responsibility ofinvestigating certain crimes committed against American persons andproperty abroad. The attacks against the Embassies in Nairobi and Dar esSalaam fall under this mandate. Within hours of the bombings, FBIpersonnel were dispatched to East Africa to assist the Kenyan CriminalInvestigative Division (CID) and Tanzanian CID in conducting crime sceneforensic examinations, as well as investigative interviews, searches and

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arrests. The information detailed herein was primarily developed as a resultof these investigations, still ongoing, at Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.

It should be noted however, that a significant reason for the success of theseinvestigations to date has been the willingness of the Kenyan, Tanzanianand many other friendly foreign governments to assist and facilitate ourinvestigative efforts when possible. The FBI recognizes that this spirit ofcooperation has been, and will continue to be, very important to our abilityin countering the very real threat posed by Usama Bin Ladin and hisaffiliates to the safety of ordinary people worldwide.

Sometime in 1993 to early 1994, individuals associated with al-Qaeda, aterrorist organization founded by Usama Bin Ladin and Muhammed Atef,began to locate to Kenya, primarily to the Nairobi and Mombasa areas.Some were "mujahedin" or "holy warriors" who, like Usama Bin Ladinhimself, had fought against the former Soviet Union after the Sovietinvasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Al-Qaeda opposed the involvement of theUnited States in the Gulf War in 1991, operation "Restore Hope" in Somaliain 1992-1993 and the US presence in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Al-Qaedaalso opposed the United States because of the arrest, conviction andimprisonment of persons belonging to Al-Qaeda and associated groups suchas Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman.

One of the first Usama Bin Ladin associates and former mujahidin to moveto Kenya was Wadih El-Hage, (Hereafter referred to as El-Hage), aLebanese Christian by birth, who later became a naturalized Americancitizen and converted to Islam. Others included Fazul Abdullah Mohammedalso known as (aka) Harun Fazhl, (hereafter referred to as Harun), andMuhammed Sadiq Odeh, aka Mohammed Sadiq Howaida (hereafter


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referred to as Odeh). At this time, Abu Ubaida Al-Banshiri, aka Jalal, akaAadil Habib, (hereafter referred to as Abu Ubaida), a powerful member ofUsama Bin Ladin's leadership, was also in Tanzania. Abu Ubaida was botha landowner and a businessman in Mwanza, Tanzania. Until his death in aferry accident on Lake Victoria in May 1996, Abu Ubaida was a knownHarun associate and is believed to have been one of Usama Bin Ladin's twomost influential military commanders.

One commonality amongst the above individuals is the fact that at one timeor another, all were associated with Kenya based non-governmentalorganizations (NGO's), organizations ostensibly created for the purposes ofhumanitarian relief and aid work. A chapter of one NGO, Help AfricaPeople, allegedly founded in Germany, was established in Nairobi byEl-Hage. At one time, Help Africa employed Harun. Odeh was given anidentity card for Help Africa People to show his wife and her family as anindication of his employment. Aside from their NGO work, many of theseindividuals, who the FBI believes may be part of the original core group ofthe Usama Bin Ladin cell in East Africa, also set up other businesses;commercial fishing and clothing companies were common to many of them.To the casual observer, these individuals would have appeared to liveordinary lives.

Initial planning of the attacks against the US embassy at Nairobi seems tohave begun in Spring 1998, with the movement of key personnel into EastAfrica. In May 1998, Harun rented an estate home in an upscale residentialneighborhood outside the center of Nairobi at 43 Runda Estates. The homewas isolated by high walls that surrounded the property, making it nearlyimpossible for any passerby to observe activity in and around the house.


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Moreover, the gated driveway was large enough to accommodate trucks, aswas the garage. It is believed that the bomb used to destroy the USEmbassy at Nairobi may have been constructed and actually stored at thislocation.

The FBI believes that the following individuals were involved in theoperation to bomb the US Embassy in Nairobi: Harun, Abdullah AhmedAbdullah(hereinafter referred to as Saleh); Odeh; Fahad MohammedAlly(hereinafter referred to as Ally); Abdul Rahman (hereinafter referred toas Rahman); Mohammed Rashed Daoud Al-Owhali, (hereinafter referred toas Al-Owhali); and Jihad Mohammed Ali (hereinafter referred to asAzzam).

Saleh is described as the "mastermind" of both the Nairobi and Dar esSalaam attacks. Odeh is an "explosives consultant" and trained architect.Ally was the owner of a pick-up truck subsequently believed to be used byHarun to lead the bomb delivery truck to the rear of the US Embassy inNairobi. Rahman is described to be a bomb technician. Al-Owhali was apassenger in the bomb delivery truck driven by Azzam. Al-Owhali andAzzam had prepared for their martyrdom in what was to be a suicidebombing. Al-Owhali, however, fled the scene of the bombing when theattack diverged from the original plan. He was subsequently arrested andrendered to the United States on August 27, 1998. Odeh was arrested by theKenyans on August 14th, 1998 and rendered to the United States on August28th, 1998.

On August 4, 1998, Saleh and Al-Owhali reportedly conducted areconnaissance of the US Embassy, in part to finalize the plan concerningthe bomb-delivery truck's placement : It was decided to locate the truck as


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close as possible to the rear of the building, instead of attempting to drive itinto the Embassy's underground garage or place it in the front of theembassy building.

On or about August 5, 1998, Rahman is said to have made the finalconnection between the bomb and the detonation device, which was locatedin the passenger compartment of the bomb-delivery truck. At that time, thebomb-delivery truck was located in the garage at 43 Runda estates.

On August 7, 1998, prior to the bombing, two light colored vehicles exited43 Runda Estates. In the first, a pick-up truck, was Harun, who led thesecond vehicle, a truck, containing the passenger Al-Owhali and the driverAzzam to the US embassy. At that time, Al-Owhali was armed with a pistoland a number of homemade stun grenades. Once in the Embassy parkinglot, Al-Owhali's role was to "scare away" people in the vicinity of theEmbassy compound. The objective was allegedly to reduce the number ofpotential Kenyan casualties. Al-Owhali was also to manually detonate thebomb, in the event that the detonation device malfunctioned. However,upon exiting the bomb delivery vehicle, Al-Owhali forgot his pistol in thetruck and was left only with the stun grenades. Instead of returning to thebomb vehicle, Al-Owhali brandished a stun grenade before throwing it inthe direction of a security guard. Al-Owhali then fled the scene. At aboutthe same time, Azzam (the driver) manually detonated the bomb. It isbelieved that Azzam was killed instantly.

In June 1998, about one month after Harun leased 43 Runda Estates in


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Nairobi, Khalfan Khamis Mohammed (hereinafter known as Khamis)signed a lease to rent a house in the Ilala District of Dar es Salaam. Thishouse shared many of the same characteristics as 43 Runda Estates. Forinstance, it was also located away from the city center, and the whole of theproperty was surrounded by high walls to block the view of passersby. It,too, had a garage large enough to accommodate a truck. Preliminaryanalysis suggests it may have been where the bomb used to destroy the USembassy in Dar es Salaam was constructed and stored.

The following individuals have been identified as being possibly membersof the Dar es Salaam cell : Ally, Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani (hereinafterreferred to as Ghailani); Ahmed Salim Swedan (hereinafter referred to asSwedan); and Khamis. Ghailani purchased the bomb delivery vehicle withthe assistance of Swedan. In addition both Ally and Khamis were associatedwith the bomb delivery vehicle. As noted previously, Saleh has beendescribed as the "mastermind" of both the Dar es Salaam and the Nairobiattacks.

Investigations subsequent to the bombing revealed that Ally and Khamishad been residing with Rashid Saleh Hamed. Hamed is currently in thecustody of Tanzanian officials and has been charged with the murder ofeleven people as a direct result of the bombing. Another individualcurrently in Tanzanian custody and charged with this bombing is MustafaMahmud Said Ahmed (hereinafter referred to as Mahmud). Mahmud wasreportedly involved a past incident of surveilling the US Embassy inNairobi in 1997.

According to information received Saleh aka Abdullah Ahmed Abdullahsaid that Hamden Khalif Allah Awad aka "Ahmed the German," was chosen


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to drive the bomb vehicle in Dar es Salaam. The FBI believes that "Ahmedthe German" was the driver of the bomb delivery vehicle and that he waskilled instantly as a result of the bomb's detonation outside the US Embassyin Dar es Salaam.

The FBI is of the opinion that the bombs used in Nairobi and Dar es Salaamboth employed TNT as a principle explosive component. Certain statementsmade by the subjects and/or witnesses in the case have mentioned the use ofTNT and the FBI Laboratory has confirmed its presence at both bomb sites.The FBI Laboratory is continuing with it's forensic examination of theevidence from the two bombings and, as those examinations are completed,further details of the two explosive devices will become known.

The FBI will continue to investigate all aspects of the bombing, inside andoutside of East Africa; will continue to pursue all known and unknownsubjects who participated in the bombings; and will continue to pursueother Al-Qaeda members suspected of otherwise being involved in criminalactivity directed at American targets. Upon apprehension the FBI will seekto have all subjects tried at the federal level in United States District Courtin the Southern District of New York.

The United States Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New Yorkhas filed an indictment which names the following individuals : Usama BinLadin, Muhammed Atef, Harun, Odeh and Al-Owhali, each charged as


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follows: one(1) count of conspiracy to kill US nationals; two(2) counts ofbombing US Embassies; and two hundred twenty four counts of murder.Wadih El-Hage is charged with one(1) count of conspiracy to kill USnationals, eight (8) counts of perjury before a Federal Grand Jury andthree(3) counts of lying to a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation.

The indictment charges that the above-mentioned-individuals and otherconspired to conduct acts of terrorism against the US interests as membersof the terrorist organization, al-Qaeda. These acts of terrorism include thebombing of US embassies in Nairobi and Tanzania; the killing of USmilitary personnel in Somalia; the recruitment of US citizens to commitacts of terrorism; the shipment of weapons and explosives to Saudi Arabia;and efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction. This conspiracy tocommit acts of terrorism against US interests originated in 1989 and hascontinued to the present time.

The al-Qaeda conspiracy targeted the US Government because the UnitedStates is an "infidel" power, governing in a manner inconsistent withal-Qaeda's interpretation of Islam and because of US support for other"infidel" governments, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt. In addition,al-Qaeda opposed the involvement of the United States in the Gulf War in1991, operation "Restore Hope" in Somalia in 1992-1993 and the presenceof US military currently in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Finally, al-Qaedaopposed the United States because of the arrest, conviction, andimprisonment of persons belonging to al-Qaeda and associated groups, suchas Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman.

The FBI and the Southern District of New York expect to charge others inthe bombing of the US Embassies at Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. The USGovernment will also vigorously investigate members of the al-Qaeda


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organization in the United States and around the world.

USAMA BIN LADINAKA: The Prince; The Emir; Abu AbdullahDOB: Approximately 1957POB: Saudi ArabiaHEIGHT: 6'4" - 6'6" (1.94 -1.98 m)WEIGHT: 140 - 160 lbs. (62-7 1kg.)EYES: BrownHAIR: Brown, by Arab definition has "red" (ie., not truly black)hair.OTHER: Full beard, mustache, walks with cane.CITIZEN: Saudi ArabiaSTATUS: Fugitive

MUHAMMED ATEFAKA: Abu Hafs; Abu Hafs el-Masry el-Khabir; Taysir; SheikhTaysir AbdullahDOB: UnknownPOB: Probably EgyptHEIGHT: Approximately 6'4" - 6'6" (1.94 -1.98)WEIGHT: UnknownEYES: UnknownHAIR: Dark Brown or BlackOTHER: Full beard, mustache,CITIZEN: EgyptSTATUS: Fugitive


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WADIH EL HAGE (Identified as El-Hage in this document)AKA: Abdus Sabbur; Abd al Sabbur; Norman; Wa'da NormanDOB: July 25,1960POB: Sydon, LebanonHEIGHT: 5'7" (1.71 m)WEIGHT: 150 lbs. (66 kg.)EYES: BrownHAIR: Brown, short and wavyOTHER: Full beard, mustacheCITIZEN: United StatesSTATUS: In US Custody

FAZUL ABDULLAH MOHAMMED (Identified as Harun in thisdocument)AKA: Fazhl Abdullah; Harun Fazhl; Fazhl KhanDOB: August 25, 1972; Decenber 25, 1974; February 25, 1974.POB: Moroni, Comoros IslandsHEIGHT: 5'3" -5'5" (1.61 - 1.67 m)WEIGHT: 140 lbs. (62 kg.)EYES: BrownHAIR: Brown, short and curlyOTHER: Fluent in French, Swahili, Arabic and English; good withcomputersCITIZEN: ComorosSTATUS: Fugitive

MOHAMMED SADIQ ODEH (Identified as Odeh in thisdocument)AKA: Mohammed Sadiq Howaida; Abu Moath; Noureldine;Marwan; Hydar


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DOB: March 1, 1965POB: Skaka, Tabuk, Saudi ArabiaHEIGHT: 5'7" (1.71 m)WEIGHT: 150 lbs. (66 kgs.)EYES: BrownHAIR: BlackOTHER: Explosives expert; trained architectCITIZEN: JordanSTATUS: In US custody

ABU UBAIDA AL-BANSHIRI (Identified as Abu Ubaida in thisdocument)AKA: Jalal; Aadil HabibDOB: May 1950POB: Cairo, EgyptHEIGHT: 6'0" - 6'2 " (1.84 - 1.89 m)WEIGHT: 160 - 180 lbs. (71 - 80 kgs.)EYES: BlackHAIR: BlackOTHER: Former military commander for Usama Bin LadinCITIZEN: Egypt, carried Dutch passportSTATUS: Deceased

ABDUL RAHMAN (Identified as Rahman in this document)AKA: Abdul Rahman Al-MuhasarDOB: Believed to be approximately 35 years of agePOB: EgyptHEIGHT: 5'3" - 5'5" (1.61 - 1.67 m)WEIGHT: Medium buildEYES: Unknown


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HAIR: UnknownOTHER: Explosives ExpertCITIZEN: EgyptSTATUS: At Large

MOHAMMED RASHED DAOUD AL - OWHALI (Identified asAl - Owhali in the document)AKA: Khalid Salim Saleh bin Rashid; Mohammed Akbar; AbdulJabba Ali As..; Latif; Abdel Jabbar al- Baloushi; M'aad;Mohammed al-Qatari; Moa..DOB: January 18, 1977POB: Liverpool, EnglandHEIGHT: 5'7" (1.71 m)WEIGHT: 140 lbs. (62 kgs.)EYES: BlackHAIR: BlackCITIZEN: Saudi ArabiaSTATUS: In US Custody

JIHAD MOHAMMED ALI (Identified as Azzam in thisdocument)AKA: Jihad Mohammed Abdou Ali; Azzam; Abu ObaidaDOB: March 19, 1974POB: Saudi ArabiaHEIGHT: UnknownWEIGHT: UnknownEYES: BlackHAIR: BlackOTHER: Light mustacheCITIZEN: Saudi Arabia


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STATUS: Believed Deceased

ABDULLAH AHMED ABDULLAH (Identified as Saleh in thisdocument)AKA: Saleh; Abu Mohammed; Abu MariumDOB: Approximately 35 years of agePOB: UnknownHEIGHT: Approximately 5'8" (1.74 m)WEIGHT: Medium buildEYES: UnknownHAIR: Black; short and curlyOTHER: Possible "mastermind" of both Nairobi and Dar es Salaambombings: may have known some fame as a soccer player in EgyptCITIZEN: UnknownSTATUS: At Large

FAHAD MOHAMMED ALLY (Identified as Ally in thisdocument)AKA: Fahad Mohammed Ally MsalamDOB: Approximately 25 - 35 years of agePOB: UnknownHEIGHT: 5'6" - 5'8" (1.69 - 1.74 m)WEIGHT: Strong buildEYES: Brown or BlackHAIR: Black; short and curlyOTHER: Sometime light mustache and/or beardCITZEN: Possibly Kenya, Yemeni, originSTATUS: At Large

AHMED KHALFAN GHAILANI (Identified as Ghailani in thedocument)


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AKA: Abu Khabar; Abu Bakr; K.Ahmed; possibly Ahmed theTanzanianDOB: Early to mid-20s in agePOB: Zanzibar, TanzaniaHEIGHT: ShortWEIGHT: UnknownEYES: Brown or BlackHAIR: BlackOTHER: Clean shaven; possible light mustacheCITIZEN: TanzaniaSTATUS: At Large

AHMED SALIM SWEDAN (Identified as Swedan in thisdocument)AKA: Ahmed Ally; Sheikh BahamadDOB: April 9, 1969POB: UnknownHEIGHT: 5'6" - 5'8" (1.69 - 1.74 m)WEIGHT: Strong build, not heavyEYES: Brown or BlackHAIR: Black; short and curlyOTHER: Light mustache, short beardCITIZEN: Kenya; of Yemeni originSTATUS: At Large

HAMDEN KHALIF ALLAH AWAD (Identified as Ahmed theGerman in this document)AKA: Ahmed the GermanDOB: August 13, 1970POB: Egypt


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HEIGHT: UnknownWEIGHT: UnknownEYES: BlueHAIR: Light Brown or Dark BlondeOTHER: Full beard; mustacheCITIZEN: EgyptSTATUS: Believed deceased

KHALFAN KHAMIS MOHAMED (Identified as Khamis in thisdocument)AKA: Elfani Hamis AhmedDOB: Approximately 26 years oldPOB: UnknownHEIGHT: 5'5" - 5'6"WEIGHT: Medium BuildEYES: BrownHAIR: Dark, curlyOTHER: Sometimes has a beardCITIZEN: Possibly OmaniSTATUS: At Large

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Documents

PBS.org Video Shows TV Schedules Shop Donatealdeilis.net/terror/1869.pdfknown by the Arabic word "al-Qaeda", literally, "the base"). Under US. Federal law, the FBI is mandated with