December 23, 1999
Web posted at: 2:08 p.m. EST (1908 GMT)

In this story: Ressam allegedly trained in Afghanistan Enough explosives to destroy a building Searching for Ressam's associates RELATED STORIES, SITES

BURLINGTON, Vermont (CNN) -- Cell phone records link a woman arrested at the Vermont-Canadian border to an international terrorist group that is believed to be active in Europe and Algeria, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

VIDEO CNN's Frank Buckley looks at Canadian immigration laws which may make it easier for potential terrorists to enter the country (December 22) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K Go inside Ressam's apartment in Montreal, with CNN's Frank Buckley. (December 21) QuickTime Play Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K     ALSO Americans told to beware of mail bombs from Germany     MESSAGE BOARD 2000 threats and fears

The disclosure came as prosecutors successfully sought in federal court to keep behind bars Lucia Garofalo and a man traveling with her, Bouabide Chamchi. Both were arrested Sunday at a border crossing in Beecher Falls, Vermont.

Prosecutors said in court documents that they have linked Garofalo's cell phone to Brahim Mahdi, a member of the Algerian Islamic League. They said the car she was driving also was registered in his name.

The court documents cited intelligence sources as saying the Algerian Islamic League was founded and directed by Mourad Dhina.

"Dhina has been identified from other sources of information as an Algerian international arms dealer who resides in Switzerland and is connected to organizations sponsoring a number of terrorist acts in Europe and Algeria. Dhina is reported to be actively involved in the shipment of arms to terrorist organizations," the documents said.

Garofalo's attorney argued there was no evidence that Garofalo had anything to do with terrorist organizations.

Prosecutors said tests by the FBI found no evidence of explosives or materials used to make them from samples taken from Garofalo's car. When the two were detained, a border patrol inspector said sniffer dogs had indicated there might be explosives in the car.

Chamchi was ordered held without bail pending trial because the court found he posed a substantial risk of flight. Garofalo will be in court again December 30 to continue her detention hearing.

A Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, reported Thursday that an Algerian man accused of trying smuggle bomb-making materials into the United States from Canada learned to make bombs with Saudi exile Osama bin Laden, whom the Clinton administration considers the head of a global terrorist operation.

Sketch of Chamchi in court

Ahmed Ressam was trained at bin Laden's base in Afghanistan, a Canadian Security and Intelligence Service agent told the paper.

"This man is a professional," the unidentified agent said. "We know he had ties to bin Laden."

The paper also quoted Canadian intelligence sources, who said Ressam was tracked for years by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service after he arrived in Canada in 1994.

But the sources said the investigation was called off recently because of a lack of resources.

"He has been known to us for some time," a senior officer with the intelligence agency told the paper.

Ressam was stopped by U.S. customs officers December 14 after he took a ferry from Victoria, British Columbia, to Port Angeles, Washington, about 60 miles northwest of Seattle, Washington.

Ressam, 32, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in Seattle to federal charges of making false statements to the U.S. Customs Service; smuggling nitroglycerin "equivalent" across the border; transporting explosives; committing a felony while carrying explosives, and possessing unregistered firearms -- four apparent timing devices allegedly found in Ressam's car.

Federal prosecutors say he was carrying powerful explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis Diskin told the judge, "This destructive device would easily have taken down a building."

Dressed in prison garb -- light-blue shirt, dark-blue pants, and blue sneakers -- Ressam sat expressionless during his 20-minute arraignment.'

Sketch of Garofalo in court

Asked through a translator if he understood the charges, he nodded that he did. U.S. District Judge John Weinberg ordered him held without bail. Ressam's trial is scheduled for February 22. If convicted on all charges, he could receive 40 years in prison.

His arrest -- and that of Garofalo and Chamchi in Vermont on Sunday -- have stirred fears of terrorist attacks. At the same time, the State Department has warned that U.S. citizens abroad may be in danger.

Authorities are searching for as many as three other people who may have ties to Ressam, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press, on condition of anonymity. The FBI has asked the public for help identifying everyone who traveled on the ferry the day Ressam was arrested.

At a news conference, U.S. Attorney Kate Pflaumer urged anyone who knows of someone who might be planning a terrorist attack to come forward.

"Under conspiracy law, an individual is responsible until he disassociates himself and affirmatively goes to the authorities," Pflaumer said. "For anyone out there with any information about any similar devices or plots, we urge them to come forward."

Correspondent Frank Buckley and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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