BOMB SUSPECTS TIES TO INMATE PROBED (WASHINGTON POST)

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP96-00789R003900260007-5
Release Decision: 
RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
1
Document Creation Date: 
November 4, 2016
Document Release Date: 
December 2, 2002
Sequence Number: 
7
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 10, 1993
Content Type: 
NSPR
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PDF icon CIA-RDP96-00789R003900260007-5.pdf315.19 KB
Body: 
THE WASH[ nomnu.un Stanley Brezenoff, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, right, testifies at House subcommittee hearing on World Trade Center bombing. At left is New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly. Bomb Saspeets' Ties to Inmate Probed Salameh, Elgabrowny Remain Chief Focus of N. Y. Investigation By William Sposato hane case that those responsible would be involved in Reuter other such acts. NEW YORK, March 9-The investigation into the bombing of the World Trade Center is focusing more closely on the two men already charged in the case and their ties to a prisoner who was jailed on charges stem- ming from the 1990 killing of Rabbi Meir Kahane, in- vestigators and news reports said today. Mohammed A. Salameh is charged with taking part in the Feb. 26 bombing that killed five people and injured more than 1,000. He rented the van believed used to deliver the bomb to the underground garage of the low- er Manhattan landmark. Ibrahim Elgabrowny, arrested for scuffling with au- thorities as they searched his apartment, also has been called a suspect in the case by prosecutors. The two are known to have ties to Sayyid A. Nosair, who is in prison on charges stemming from the killing of Kahane in New York. Nosair was convicted of gun pos- session and assault in the case, but cleared of murder charges. The New York Times reported today that Salameh and Elgabrowny are now thought to be pivotal figures in the case. In Washington, FBI Director William S. Sessions said today that the bombing should not be seen as an indi- Eon of a coming wave of terrorist acts. Observers at Nosair's 1991 trial said that Salameh was among those who regularly attended and New York newspapers today showed pictures of Nosair with someone who appeared to be Salameh. Prison authorities said today that Nosair is part of the investigation, although his possible role was not disclosed. According to news reports, Nosair's cell at Attica prison in upstate New York has been searched for any documents connected with the bombing. Officials say Salameh and Elgabrowny have links to a fundamentalist Muslim group whose spiritual leader is Omar Abdul Rahman. Abdul Rahman has said repeatedly that he had noth- ing to do with the bombing. "I do not condone nor do I incite such acts of violence," he said in a statement is- sued by his lawyer. At the same time, investigators are also looking into whether the bombing involved Middle East terrorist groups. James Fox, New York head of the FBI, told Reuter that he believed those responsible for the blast were part of an organized operation. "They may just be an ad hoc group, but my gut feel- ing tells me it's not the case," Fox said in the interview. "We're looking pretty closely at a possible link between these guys and the old-line terrorist groups." c pa a terror ore searches for evidence lira f h f4~rrn si n~6-0*Q rrests jjj~~~ --?-a --?-- -??~ ~?~~~? n1, uwc an,c vi U LU UJd L~ WU[KCiy. LUUay C fL1nueu naUl- ?~ Ypr , s etinblymon_Dov Hikind said today that ing out the tons of"rt,hhia'arn++,..~ ..~~?? : +