US authorities have arrested two members of the Hamas terror group operating on American soil. The two are being brought to trial on racketeering and terrorism charges.

Muhammed Hamid Khalil Salah and Abdelhaleem Hasan Abdelraziq Ashqar were arrested on Thursday in Chicago and Virginia, respectively. A warrant was issued for senior Hamas chief Mousa abu-Marzouk, who is now living in Syria, as well.

Marzouk was imprisoned on terror charges after being extradited to the US from Jordan in 1996. The American government ignored Israeli calls to extradite him to Israel and eventually sent him back to Jordan in may 1997

The Hamas terrorists “were indicted for their roles in a 15-year racketing conspiracy in the US and abroad”, said US Attorney General John Ashcroft, adding that the suspects “allegedly ran a US-based terrorist and financing cell\u2026[funding] the activities of a terrorist organization that was murdering innocent victims abroad, including American citizens.”

The three are accused of using US bank accounts to launder millions of dollars to support Hamas activities. There is currently $2.7 million in accounts controlled by the accused that the prosecution seeks to confiscate. If convicted of racketeering, the three face a maximum penalty of life in prison.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 25th, 2004 and is filed under news.