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Note: These notes are published here exactly as in the original document
given to FRONTLINE. No changes have been made to grammar or punctuation.
Also, Mohammed Sadiq Howaida
is an alias which was used by Mohammed Sadiq Odeh.
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Following details have been revealed by MOHAMMAD SADIQ HOWAIDA a suspect of
Daresalam and Nairobi blasts at US Embassies:
He is Palestinian by origin, born in Saudi Arabia at Tabuk on 1 March 1965, and
later educated in Jordan, where he was affiliated with PLO. Acquired a diploma
in architecture from Philippines in 1990.
He came to Pakistan in 1990 and immediately went to Afghanistan to participate
in Jehad, where he took part in Khost operations. Stayed there for 2 years and
5 months, and acquired expertise in explosives. In Afghanistan he came in
contact with Osama Bin Laden's group, and a Somali, Sheikh Hassan.
In 1992 on the direction of Saiful Adil of Bin Laden group, he along with some
Arabs went to Somalia and joined Sheikh Hassan. There he participated in a
number of acts of terrorism including the killing of some Belgian Nationals.
In 1994 he went to Kenya, on the invitation of Mustapha, an ex-Afghan Jehadist.
He married a Kenyan woman of Arab origin, and settled down in a small town
called Witu, where he started trading in furniture.
At Witu he joined an Arab terrorist group led by an Egyptian, Ali Saleh, who
was working for Osama Bin Ladin. Between 94 and 97 he visited Somalia a number
of times. In Kenya Bin Laden's coordinator/local leader was Salah Abdullah.
In July 1998 Ali Saleh prepared a plan to bomb American Embassies in Kenya and
Tanzania with following members of the gang:
 
Ali
Saleh
|
Egyptian
Leader
|
Abdur
Rehman
|
Egyptian
|
Fahad
|
Kenyan
of Yemeni origin
|
Haroon
|
Of
Commoro Islands
|
Sheikh
Bahamand
|
Kenyan
of Yemeni origin
|
2-3
Locals
|
|
Mustafa
|
Egyptian
Leader
|
Ahmad
Khalfan
|
Tanzanian
of Omani origin
|
Abdullah
Ahmed
|
Tanzanian
|
Mohammad
Sadiq Howaida
|
|
2-3
Locals
|
|
The gang acquired explosives from Luanda. Howaida claims that he was given the
task of preparing the explosives. He stated that actual operation was
conducted by local Kenyans/Tanzanians. He designed a 250 Kg TNT device with a
mechanical detonators and 10 m RDX Cord. This was to be used at Darasalam.
Ali Saleh instructed all members of his group except Haroon and locals to leave
Kenya/Tanzania, and go to Afghanistan before 6 August.
He further revealed that Osama Bin Laden's group now named "Al Qaida" was
operating with "Al Jehad" of Egypt.
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