Kosovo Albanian ninth charged in terror plot

PRISTINA, Kosovo

The man, 29-year-old Bajram Asllani, was arrested following an extradition request from the United States, police said.

The United States intends to seek extradition of Asllani, also known as "Bajram Aslani," or "Ebu Hatab," from Kosovo to stand trial in Raleigh. If convicted, he faces a potential maximum of 40 years in prison.

According to a police statement, he faces charges in North Carolina of providing material support to terrorists, support for terrorism and conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim, or injure persons or damage property.

Kosovo police said the arrest and a search of the suspect's home were authorized by a judge with the European Union's Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo -- known as EULEX.

Last year eight men were arrested in Johnston County after agents raided a home where the suspects allegedly met to formulate plans for terrorist attacks.

In July 2009, those suspects were indicted on charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists; conspiracy to murder, kidnap, maim and injure persons abroad; and other violations.

Those charged include Daniel Patrick Boyd, a U.S. citizen and resident of North Carolina; Hysen Sherifi, a native of Kosovo and a U.S. legal permanent resident in North Carolina; Anes Subasic, a naturalized U.S. citizen and resident of North Carolina; Zakariya Boyd, a U.S. citizen and resident of North Carolina; Dylan Boyd, a U.S. citizen and resident of North Carolina; Jude Kenan Mohammad, a U.S. citizen; Mohammad Omar Aly Hassan, a U.S. citizen and resident of North Carolina; and Ziyad Yaghi, a U.S. citizen and resident of North Carolina.

Daniel Patrick Boyd, Hysen Sherifi and Zakariya Boyd face additional charges from an indictment that was issued on September 24, 2009. Authorities alleged that Daniel Boyd Sherifi conspired to murder U.S. military personnel as part of a plot to attack troops at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Va.

Additionally, the three were charged with possession of weapons and Boyd was charged with providing a firearm to a convicted felon, according to the September 2009 indictment documents.

A federal complaint, which was unsealed today, alleges that Asllani was a member of the group that was arrested in Johnston County.

Agents allege Asllani "had repeated communications with the conspirators; solicited money from the conspirators to establish a base of operations in Kosovo for the purpose of waging violent jihad; tasked the conspirators with completing work to further these objectives and accepted funds from the conspirators to help him travel."

Also revealed in that complaint is the allegation that Sherifi traveled to Kosovo from Raleigh in 2008 to pursue what authorities call a "violent jihad."

During that time Sherifi allegedly formed a relationship with Asllani.

Asllani is accused of providing Sherifi with videos related to violent jihad for "the purposes of translating them so they could be used to recruit others for violent jihad or to motivate those currently involved in violent jihad."

Authorities say Sherifi translated the videos. Once that task was completed, investigators say Asllani directed Sherifi to collect money that would be used to purchase land and establish a community in Kosovo. It's at that location that authorities allege the suspects were planning to store weapons and ammunition.

The community also would serve as a base of operations for conducting violent jihad in Kosovo and other countries.

Federal documents say Sherifi returned to the U.S. in April 2009 and collected money to establish the community. He was arrested on July 27, 2009 before he could take the money back to Kosovo.

Investigators allege Daniel Boyd wanted to assist Sherifi in his plan to raise money. According to federal documents, Boyd wanted to send his sons, Zakariya Boyd and Dylan Boyd, and himself to Kosovo after Sherifi returned.

In April 2010, the original eight suspects were indicted in Raleigh. Only seven of the men were in custody at that time, the eighth suspect, Jude Kenan Mohammad, remains at large.

Asallani's arrest makes the eighth arrest in the case although nine suspects are named and have been charged.

Send pictures | Classifieds | Report A Typo |  Send Tip |  Get Alerts
Most Popular  |  Follow abc11 on Twitter  |  abc11 on Facebook

Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.