(Updated) 2 Brooklyn Men Accused Of Supporting Al Qaeda
New York - A more modern, more frightening brand of terrorism was broken up in New York City after two men from Brooklyn were arrested for allegedly working to give al Qaeda a 21st century upgrade.
The suspects, identified as Wesam "Khaled" El-Hanafi and Sabirhan "Tareq" Hasanoff, who are both American citizens, are accused of aiding terrorists by way of tech support.
According to the indictment, they conspired "to modernize al Qaeda by providing computer systems expertise and other goods and services."
Prosecutors say El-Hanafi also took orders directly from al Qaeda. According to the indictment, El-Hanafi purchased a subscription for a software program that enabled him to communicate securely over the Internet, and he also purchased seven Casio digital watches. The belief is: the watches could have been used as timers in bombs.
The two men appeared in federal court in Virginia Friday afternoon – Hasanoff with gelled hair and a pink shirt, Hanafi in a white button-down shirt, neither wearing handcuffs.
New York-born El Hanafi is accused of traveling from his home in Brooklyn to Yemen, where he allegedly took an oath of allegiance to al Qaeda and received instructions from the terrorist group.
Hanafi's sister answered the door at his home and it wasn't clear she even knew he'd been arrested.
A relative of a family across the street said El Hanafi's demeanor had raised suspicions.
At a nearby luggage store, an acquaintance of Hasanoff's called him a good man who wouldn't be involved with terrorism.
According to the indictment, however, Hasanoff received approximately $50,000 from a co-conspirator and was instructed not to fill his United States passport with stamps to retain the passport's value to al Qaeda.
Police commissioner Ray Kelly said the case is a reminder the city faces a constant threat from al Qaeda.
Both men are being held in Virginia but will be tried here in New York.
El-Hanafi, 33, is a U.S. citizen who was born and lived in Brooklyn, N.Y. Hasanoff, 34, is a dual citizen of the United States and Australia, who also resided in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and face up to 15 years in prison.
The suspects, identified as Wesam "Khaled" El-Hanafi and Sabirhan "Tareq" Hasanoff, who are both American citizens, are accused of aiding terrorists by way of tech support.
According to the indictment, they conspired "to modernize al Qaeda by providing computer systems expertise and other goods and services."
Prosecutors say El-Hanafi also took orders directly from al Qaeda. According to the indictment, El-Hanafi purchased a subscription for a software program that enabled him to communicate securely over the Internet, and he also purchased seven Casio digital watches. The belief is: the watches could have been used as timers in bombs.
The two men appeared in federal court in Virginia Friday afternoon – Hasanoff with gelled hair and a pink shirt, Hanafi in a white button-down shirt, neither wearing handcuffs.
New York-born El Hanafi is accused of traveling from his home in Brooklyn to Yemen, where he allegedly took an oath of allegiance to al Qaeda and received instructions from the terrorist group.
Hanafi's sister answered the door at his home and it wasn't clear she even knew he'd been arrested.
A relative of a family across the street said El Hanafi's demeanor had raised suspicions.
At a nearby luggage store, an acquaintance of Hasanoff's called him a good man who wouldn't be involved with terrorism.
According to the indictment, however, Hasanoff received approximately $50,000 from a co-conspirator and was instructed not to fill his United States passport with stamps to retain the passport's value to al Qaeda.
Police commissioner Ray Kelly said the case is a reminder the city faces a constant threat from al Qaeda.
Both men are being held in Virginia but will be tried here in New York.
El-Hanafi, 33, is a U.S. citizen who was born and lived in Brooklyn, N.Y. Hasanoff, 34, is a dual citizen of the United States and Australia, who also resided in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and face up to 15 years in prison.
CBS 2
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