Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN5333
2003-08-21 14:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
MILITARY PROSECUTORS FORMALLY CHARGE 13 IN 2002
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005333
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2013
TAGS: PGOV PTER KISL JO
SUBJECT: MILITARY PROSECUTORS FORMALLY CHARGE 13 IN 2002
PLOT AGAINST US, JORDANIAN INTERESTS
Classified By: Charge David Hale for Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005333
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2013
TAGS: PGOV PTER KISL JO
SUBJECT: MILITARY PROSECUTORS FORMALLY CHARGE 13 IN 2002
PLOT AGAINST US, JORDANIAN INTERESTS
Classified By: Charge David Hale for Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)
1. (U) The Jordanian State Security Court on August 14
formally charged 13 individuals accused of plotting attacks
against U.S. and Jordanian targets late last year. Jordanian
authorities in December 2002 arrested nine individuals, known
locally as the Mafraq cell, for allegedly planning attacks
against the U.S. Embassy in Amman and Jordanian military
bases they believed were hosting U.S. military personnel. The
group included ten Jordanians and three Saudis. Four
individuals named in the indictment remain at large. The case
is slated to begin in September.
2. (U) According to the indictment, the mastermind of the
plot is a Jordanian schoolteacher from Mafraq, Faisal
Khalidi. Two of the Saudi plotters served as conduits of
funds from Saudi Arabia for the operations. The group opted
for targets in Jordan when its original plan to send
operatives to fight U.S. forces in Afghanistan encountered
travel difficulties. Press indicates that during the
December raids, security officials also seized weapons and
ammunition that the plotters smuggled from Iraq via a
Jordanian truck driver, who also is in custody.
3. (C) The suspects profess to share a similar ideology with
al-Qa'ida, and according to Jordanian press, one of the
plotters is a cousin of al-Qa'ida associate Abu Mus'ab
al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian citizen. However, Jordanian
authorities have been unable to confirm a link between the
Mafraq cell and al-Qa'ida.
--------------
Comment
--------------
4. (C) As often happens in Jordan, press reports of the
arrests were several months behind the arrests themselves.
The news of the arrests hit the press only when the
indictment was announced. The GOJ has coordinated its
response to this threat with us at every step.
HALE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2013
TAGS: PGOV PTER KISL JO
SUBJECT: MILITARY PROSECUTORS FORMALLY CHARGE 13 IN 2002
PLOT AGAINST US, JORDANIAN INTERESTS
Classified By: Charge David Hale for Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)
1. (U) The Jordanian State Security Court on August 14
formally charged 13 individuals accused of plotting attacks
against U.S. and Jordanian targets late last year. Jordanian
authorities in December 2002 arrested nine individuals, known
locally as the Mafraq cell, for allegedly planning attacks
against the U.S. Embassy in Amman and Jordanian military
bases they believed were hosting U.S. military personnel. The
group included ten Jordanians and three Saudis. Four
individuals named in the indictment remain at large. The case
is slated to begin in September.
2. (U) According to the indictment, the mastermind of the
plot is a Jordanian schoolteacher from Mafraq, Faisal
Khalidi. Two of the Saudi plotters served as conduits of
funds from Saudi Arabia for the operations. The group opted
for targets in Jordan when its original plan to send
operatives to fight U.S. forces in Afghanistan encountered
travel difficulties. Press indicates that during the
December raids, security officials also seized weapons and
ammunition that the plotters smuggled from Iraq via a
Jordanian truck driver, who also is in custody.
3. (C) The suspects profess to share a similar ideology with
al-Qa'ida, and according to Jordanian press, one of the
plotters is a cousin of al-Qa'ida associate Abu Mus'ab
al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian citizen. However, Jordanian
authorities have been unable to confirm a link between the
Mafraq cell and al-Qa'ida.
--------------
Comment
--------------
4. (C) As often happens in Jordan, press reports of the
arrests were several months behind the arrests themselves.
The news of the arrests hit the press only when the
indictment was announced. The GOJ has coordinated its
response to this threat with us at every step.
HALE