Terrorism Charges Announced Against Hezbollah Operative
Washington — The Justice Department has revealed terrorism charges against an operative affiliated with the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah. The charges accuse Samuel Salman El Reda, a 58-year-old dual Colombian-Lebanese citizen, of playing a role in planning the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Argentina. This attack resulted in the deaths of 85 people and left hundreds injured. Federal prosecutors in New York have alleged that El Reda coordinated Hezbollah's activities in South America, Asia, and Lebanon since 1993.
The indictment states that El Reda relayed information to Hezbollah operatives on the day of the bombing in Buenos Aires. Over the years, he has reportedly been involved in recruiting, training, and managing operatives worldwide. According to the indictment, between 2007 and 2015, El Reda deployed operatives to countries such as Thailand, Peru, and Panama to conduct pre-operational surveillance and assist in stockpiling explosive precursor chemicals.
El Reda faces charges of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, aiding and abetting the receipt of military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization, and conspiring to receive military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Click here to read the full statement by federal prosecutors in New York.
Lebanese Terrorist El Reda Remains at Large
The Lebanese terrorist El Reda, who is currently based in Lebanon, is still evading capture by authorities. This comes after the recent indictment issued by the Justice Department against him.
The Assistant Attorney General, Matthew Olsen, stated in a press release that this indictment sends a strong message to all those involved in acts of terror. It emphasizes that the Justice Department is determined to bring them to justice and will not give up in its efforts.
Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist militant and political group backed by Iran and based in Lebanon, has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States since 1997.
