Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2003
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
AG
(202) 514-2007
TDD (202) 514-1888

STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT
REGARDING THE FILING OF CHARGES AGAINST PAKISTANI MAN
FOR AGREEING TO ASSIST AN AL-QAEDA OPERATIVE


Today, in the Southern District of New York, the Justice Department charged Uzair Paracha, a Pakistani national residing in the United States, with conspiring to provide material support and resources to Al Qaeda. The criminal complaint alleges that Paracha met with a known Al Qaeda operative in Pakistan, and agreed to help that operative obtain documents to enter the United States.

Attorney General John Ashcroft released the following statement regarding the charges:

“This case demonstrates that Al Qaeda will go to great lengths to enlist support here in the United States. Our efforts are focused on identifying and dismantling those rings of support on which our terrorist enemies seek to rely.”

“I congratulate the FBI, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the Criminal Division of the Justice Department and the New York City Police Department, whose hard work led to this important action.”

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