Germany arrests al Qaeda suspect

[MIKE BURN]

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Germany arrests al Qaeda suspect



From CNN Correspondents Stephanie Halasz in Berlin and Al Goodman in Madrid

Saturday, October 16, 2004 Posted: 1050 GMT (1850 HKT)



BERLIN, Germany (CNN) -- German police Friday arrested a Syrian-born al Qaeda suspect in Hamburg who is wanted in a Spanish indictment for playing a key role in Osama bin Laden's terror network, a Hamburg city judicial spokeswoman said in a statement provided to CNN.



Hamburg officials publicly identified the suspect only as Mamoun D., age 46.



But a Spanish investigative source in Madrid told CNN it appears to be Mamoun Darkazanli, alias Abu Ilyas. He is wanted, according to the Spanish indictment issued in 2003, for being a "man of the infrastructure of the organization of Osama bin Laden."



The Spanish investigative source said the suspect was not linked to the deadly Madrid train bombings of last March, but was being sought for prior terrorist activities.



Darkazanli was arrested at his home in Hamburg and "is accused of acting as a key figure in the terrorist network of al Qaeda in Spain, Germany and Great Britain since 1997, in the areas of logistical and financial support of this organization," the Hamburg judicial statement said.



"The accused is supposed to have been involved in the purchase of a ship for Osama bin Laden and to have managed the ship, especially with handing over of documents and the paying of bills and he is supposed to have been the constant assistant of Osama bin Laden in Germany," the Hamburg statement said.



Darkazanli, who also holds German nationality, faces extradition to Spain, and he "has protested the extradition," the Hamburg statement said.

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[DreamTone7]

Yay Germany!