Author:
Publication: BBC News
Date: December 17, 2002
URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2583395.stm
Canadian intelligence officers believe
an Algerian man arrested in the capital Ottawa last week is connected with
Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, reports say.
They say Mohamed Harkat, a 34-year-old
immigrant, is associated with one of Bin Laden's top lieutenants, Abu Zubaydah,
according to the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS).
Abu Zubaydah was arrested in Pakistan
in March and is being questioned by US intelligence agents.
A CSIS file quoted by Canada's Globe
and Mail newspaper on Tuesday describes Mr Harkat as "a member of the Bin
Laden network" who used his jobs at a car service station and pizza outlet
as cover.
The CSIS file says an al-Qaeda sleeper
cell is believed to be operating in Canada, consisting of extremists who
"have the capability and conviction to provide support for terrorist activities
in North America".
Al-Qaeda was blamed for the 11 September
attacks in New York and Washington.
Alleged links
Surveillance of Mr Harkat reportedly
began after he and a companion were spotted taking pictures of the parliament
buildings and supreme court from a car.
According to the Globe and Mail,
The CSIS believes Mr Harkat trained in the same camp in Afghanistan as
another terror suspect, Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian man accused of plotting
a terrorist attack during the US Millennium celebrations.
Ressam was arrested in December
1999 while trying to enter the United States from Canada with a carload
of explosives, bound for Los Angeles airport.
The CSIS files reportedly say Mr
Harkat arrived in Canada in 1995 from Malaysia carrying two passports -
one issued by Algeria in his own name and the other a fake Saudi one bearing
the name Mohamed S Mohamed.
Mr Harkat was granted refugee status
in 1997 after claiming that he faced persecution at the hands of the Algerian
Government.
The CSIS says Mr Harkat earlier
had links with the militant Algerian Armed Islamic Group (GIA), which has
been blamed for several terror attacks outside Algeria.
"The Service believes that Harkat
has assisted some Islamic extremists who have come to Canada," the CSIS
file says.
His lawyer, Bruce Engel, rejected
the allegations.
"He categorically and unequivocally
denies any involvement, association - direct or indirect - with any terrorist
organisation," he said after visiting Mr Harkat in detention.
