the Mauritanian Fawaz Ould Ahmed Ould Ahemeid, also known as “Ibrahim Idress” and “Ibrahim Dix”, 44, has been arraigned today by a federal court in the Eastern District of New York, according to the US Department of Justice.
This individual, extradited from Mali, is charged with six charges of terrorism, including the attack carried out on March 7, 2015 at the La Terrasse restaurant in Bamako, Mali, in which five people died; the August 7, 2015 attack on the Byblos Hotel in Sevare, Mali, which killed 13 people, including five United Nations workers; and the November 20, 2015 attack on the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali, which killed 20 victims, including US citizen Anita Ashok Datar.
“Ahemeid planned and carried out deadly attacks against Westerners, including Americans, and will now be brought to justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s Homeland Security Division. “Let this be a reminder to anyone who use violence against our people: No matter how far you run or how long you hide, we will not let up in our efforts to hold you accountable.”
“Today, we have once again made it clear that we are, and will remain, steadfast in our commitment to work with our law enforcement partners here and abroad to bring to justice those who commit violent acts of terrorism against civilians. innocent Americans; wherever they are, they will be found,” said Breon Peace, also a federal prosecutor.
“Bringing Ahemeid to the United States to face the charges against him is an important step towards achieving justice for people harmed by acts of terrorismincluding the U.S. citizen killed in the Radisson Blu hotel attack,” said Deputy Director Robert R. Wells of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division.
Ahemeid joined AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) around 2007. He planned and carried out at least three major terrorist attacks against Western targets in Mali.
The indictment charges the Mauritanian with the murder of Anita Ashok Datar; the illegal use of firearms in connection with a crime of violence; conspiracy to provide material support to the designated foreign terrorist organizations al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and al-Murabitun; provision and attempted provision of material support to AQIM and al-Murabitoun; and illegal use of explosives. If he is found guilty, he faces a sentence of life in prison.
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