Two suspected members of Hamas have been detained in the United States and charged with supporting a foreign "terrorist" organization, money laundering and racketeering, US Attorney General John Ashcroft announced.
"Three men who allegedly ran a US-based terrorist recruiting and financing cell associated with foreign terrorist organization Hamas were indicted for their roles in a 15-year racketeering conspiracy in the United States and abroad," Ashcroft stated, according to the AFP.
Mohamed Salah was detained in Chicago late Thursday, and Abdelhaleem Ashqar was arrested in the Washington area, he disclosed.
Ashcroft said that an arrest warrant had also been issued for a third man, who at one time lived in Louisiana and near Washington and is thought to now live in Syria.
"This cell allegedly financed the activities of a terrorist organization that was murdering innocent victims abroad, including American citizens," Ashcroft said. (albawaba.com)
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