Judge Won’T Drop Terrorism Charge

Sun., Nov. 12, 2000

From Staff

A federal judge has refused to drop a charge of international terrorism against Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian accused of attempting to bring bomb-making materials into the United States.

U.S. District Judge John Coughenour’s Tuesday ruling was his third rejection of defense attempts to scale back the government case.

Ressam, 32, was arrested last December in Port Angeles after U.S. Customs Service agents reported finding bomb-making chemicals and equipment in his rented car.

Federal prosecutors believe he was part of a wide-ranging conspiracy, mostly consisting of Algerian nationals living in the United States and Canada.

Ressam’s trial is scheduled to begin March 12 in Los Angeles.

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