Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM85
2009-02-11 14:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
TERRORIST FINANCING TRIAL IN SWEDEN SHINES LIGHT
how-toVZCZCXRO8736 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSM #0085 0421454 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 111454Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4097 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0311 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE PRIORITY
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000085
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/ESC/TFS (LRECHT AND EUR (BROCKWELL)
TFFC (KLEAHY, MROSEN,ALARSON)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PTER ETTC PHUM EAID SW
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCING TRIAL IN SWEDEN SHINES LIGHT
ON ABUSE OF CHARITABLE SECTOR
REF: STATE 5834
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000085
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/ESC/TFS (LRECHT AND EUR (BROCKWELL)
TFFC (KLEAHY, MROSEN,ALARSON)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PTER ETTC PHUM EAID SW
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCING TRIAL IN SWEDEN SHINES LIGHT
ON ABUSE OF CHARITABLE SECTOR
REF: STATE 5834
1. (SBU) On February 5, Acting Economic Counselor shared
reftel on Countering Terrorist Abuse in the Charitable Sector
with Sofie Hillbom, Desk Officer, Department for Security
Policy, Counter-Terrorism Unit at the Swedish MFA. Hillbom
thanked post and added that Sweden continues to scrutinize
the charitable sector for abuse. She cited the ongoing
terror financing trial of Khalid al-Yousef, head of the
Swedish branch of the al-Aqsa Foundation, as proof. Hillbom
stated that she would pass reftel points to other agencies
and colleagues.
2. (U) Background: On February 2, Khalid al-Yousef, head of
al-Aqsa Spannmal, the Swedish chapter of Palestinian al-Aqsa
Foundation, went on trial for allegedly using donations he
has collected to support Hamas. Swedish prosecutors maintain
that the nearly $500,000 collected by the foundation,
supposedly to help support Palestinian orphans and other
humanitarian efforts, were instead channeled to Hamas.
Al-Yousef is charged with crimes against Sweden's terror
financing and sanctions laws and, if convicted, faces a
penalty ranging from six months to six years in prison.
3. (U) In 2003, the U.S. requested that Swedish authorities
freeze al-Aqsa Spannmal's assets because it suspected the
group was funneling money to Hamas. Sweden froze the group's
accounts in 2006, and al-Aqsa was arrested on suspicion of
preparing acts of terrorism and general destruction. He was
later released due to lack of evidence. In spring 2007,
Swedish police discovered that the al-Aqsa foundation made
additional payments abroad using other bank accounts.
4. (U) Post will report the result of the trial septel.
SILVERMAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/ESC/TFS (LRECHT AND EUR (BROCKWELL)
TFFC (KLEAHY, MROSEN,ALARSON)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PTER ETTC PHUM EAID SW
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCING TRIAL IN SWEDEN SHINES LIGHT
ON ABUSE OF CHARITABLE SECTOR
REF: STATE 5834
1. (SBU) On February 5, Acting Economic Counselor shared
reftel on Countering Terrorist Abuse in the Charitable Sector
with Sofie Hillbom, Desk Officer, Department for Security
Policy, Counter-Terrorism Unit at the Swedish MFA. Hillbom
thanked post and added that Sweden continues to scrutinize
the charitable sector for abuse. She cited the ongoing
terror financing trial of Khalid al-Yousef, head of the
Swedish branch of the al-Aqsa Foundation, as proof. Hillbom
stated that she would pass reftel points to other agencies
and colleagues.
2. (U) Background: On February 2, Khalid al-Yousef, head of
al-Aqsa Spannmal, the Swedish chapter of Palestinian al-Aqsa
Foundation, went on trial for allegedly using donations he
has collected to support Hamas. Swedish prosecutors maintain
that the nearly $500,000 collected by the foundation,
supposedly to help support Palestinian orphans and other
humanitarian efforts, were instead channeled to Hamas.
Al-Yousef is charged with crimes against Sweden's terror
financing and sanctions laws and, if convicted, faces a
penalty ranging from six months to six years in prison.
3. (U) In 2003, the U.S. requested that Swedish authorities
freeze al-Aqsa Spannmal's assets because it suspected the
group was funneling money to Hamas. Sweden froze the group's
accounts in 2006, and al-Aqsa was arrested on suspicion of
preparing acts of terrorism and general destruction. He was
later released due to lack of evidence. In spring 2007,
Swedish police discovered that the al-Aqsa foundation made
additional payments abroad using other bank accounts.
4. (U) Post will report the result of the trial septel.
SILVERMAN