An American citizen facing federal charges of providing material support to Al Qaeda has been extradited by British authorities to the U.S.
Syed Hashmi, 27, is accused of providing military equipment to others who transported the gear to Al Qaeda associates in South Waziristan, Pakistan, according to an indictment filed in Manhattan federal court. Prosecutors allege that he provided the equipment to Al Qaeda to use against American troops in Afghanistan. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Hashmi’s extradition to New York on May 25, 2007, is the first time that the United Kingdom has extradited an individual to the U.S. on terrorism charges. Under U.S. law, any American citizen participating in terrorist activities overseas may be charged in an American court.
Hashmi, born in Pakistan and raised in Queens, New York, was arrested in London’s Heathrow Airport on June 2006 while trying to board a plane for Pakistan.
According to prosecutors, Hashmi was a member of Al Muhajiroun, a British-based radical Islamic group headed by Omar Bakri Mohammed until the group disbanded in 2004. After the July 7, 2005, terror attacks in London, Mohammed fled to Lebanon and is barred from returning to the U.K.
Hashmi reportedly became involved in with Al Muhajiroun while attending Brooklyn College. The Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), an apparent offshoot of Al Muhajiroun, is located on the Jackson Heights section of Queens. ITS, which supports the imposition of Islamic hegemony worldwide, has held numerous protests in New York that include anti-Semitic and anti-American messages, endorsement of terrorism and calls for the destruction of Israel.
After graduating from Brooklyn College in 2003, Hashmi moved to London to complete a master’s degree in international relations at London Metropolitan University. Hasmi is accused of using his London apartment to store ponchos, waterproof socks and raincoats headed to Al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan to help them stay dry while fighting U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Law enforcement officials have indicated that Hashmi was associated with another Queens man, Mohammed Junaid Babar, who pleaded guilty in 2004 to supplying money and materials, including night-vision goggles, sleeping bags and other items to an Al Qaeda official setting up a jihadist training camp in Pakistan. Since pleading guilty, Babar has been cooperating with law enforcement officials in ongoing terrorism investigations.
Hashmi faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted.
