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Inside the Osama Bin Laden Investigation

NCJ Number
175483
Journal
Journal of Counterterrorism & Security International Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: Fall 1998 Pages: 16-26
Author(s)
S Emerson
Date Published
1998
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article describes US activities resulting in indictments of Osama Bin Laden and some of his top aides, and strategies to disrupt activities of his terrorist empire.
Abstract
Following the bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in August 1998, US prosecutors were able to quickly marshal evidence against the Bin Laden terrorist empire. By November, prosecutors had indicted four of Bin Laden's top aides and his military commander. A 50-page indictment of October outlined a terrorist conspiracy dating back to 1989. A 238-count indictment of November cited: (1) efforts by Bin Laden's aides to acquire weapons of mass destruction to use against the United States; (2) operations of a terrorist network in approximately 20 countries; and (3) the active collaboration of other terrorist groups and movements in attacking American targets. The article describes specific US actions against the Bin Laden empire and considerations for future actions against this and other terrorist organizations. Figures