Bin Laden aide guilty in embassy bombings
A former aide of Osama bin Laden was found guilty on Feb. 26 of plotting the 1998 al-Qaeda bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 224. Extradited from the UK in 2012, Saudi national Khalid al-Fawwaz was convicted on four counts of conspiracy by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York after three days of jury deliberations, and faces a possible life sentence. US Attorney Preet Bharara said al-Fawwaz "played a critical role for al-Qaeda in its murderous conspiracy against America." He described al-Fawwaz as one of bin Laden's "original and most trusted lieutenants" who was leader of an al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan, and later acted as bin Laden's spokesperson in London. Al-Fawwaz was arrested in the UK in 1998, the same year as the bombings. His trial lasted a month under heavy security in Manhattan. Al-Fawwaz did not testify.
From Jurist, Feb. 27. Used with permission.
Bin Laden aide sentenced in embassy bombings
A top Osama bin Laden aide was sentenced May 15 to life in prison for conspiring with other al Qaeda members in the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in Africa. A judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of New York rejected Khaled al-Fawwaz's claims that he is not a violent man. Prosecutors said Fawwaz was an al Qaeda leader and director of a military camp in Afghanistan. He was supposed to stand trial for the bombings with Abu Anas al-Libi, but Libi passed away in January.
From Jurist, May 15. Used with permission.