Al-Qaeda operative sentenced to life in prison for 1998 Embassies terror attacks

Al-Qaeda operative sentenced to life in prison for 1998 Embassies terror attacks

2011-01-26 02:37:28 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- An Al-Qaeda operative on Tuesday was sentenced to life in federal prison for his role in the 1998 bombings of the American Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, prosecutors said.

Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, 36, was the first ex-detainee from Guantanamo to be tried in a civilian court. He was arrested for his involvement on the terrorist attacks of the U.S. Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, his native country.

"Ahmed Ghailani is a remorseless terrorist, mass murderer, and Al Qaeda operative, and now he will spend the rest of his life in prison," said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. "Finally, twelve-and-a-half years after those devastating and despicable attacks, Ahmed Ghailani will pay for his crimes."

Ghailani was convicted on one count of conspiracy to destroy government buildings and property. He was acquitted of the other 284 counts including charges of murder and murder conspiracy in November 2010.

The defendant was accused of helping al-Qaeda operatives to prepare the attack in Tanzania. He helped to purchase a Nissan Atlas truck which was used to carry the bomb and gas tanks that were used to cause the blast at the embassy.

Ghailani also stored an explosive detonator in an armoire he used. His mobile phone became the operational phone for the operatives in the weeks leading up to the attacks. He was arrested in Pakistan in 2004 and was held for nearly five years at a secret camp run by the CIA at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The prosecution faced many legal hurdles to get this case to trial. A judge of the Federal District Court prohibited them from using a key witness as the government learned about the witness during the defendant’s interrogation at the CIA secret location, after the defense alleged that the information was obtained through torture.

The witness was reportedly going to testify that he sold Ghailani large amounts of TNT that were used to blow up the U.S. facility in Tanzania. In addition, defense lawyers claimed that statements that the government intended to present as part of Ghailani’s confession were coerced and inadmissible.

The 1998 bombings of the American Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania caused the death of 224 innocent people and wounded thousands of others.

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